Using the ‘four voices of theology’ in group theological reflection

TY - JOUR

T1 - Using the ‘four voices of theology’ in group theological reflection

AU - Dunlop, Andrew

N1 - Andrew Dunlop has been teaching in theological education institutions in the UK for six years, the last three of those at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, where he oversees pioneer ministry and contextual training. Andrew's research interests relate to contemporary ecclesiology, church planting, and the mixed economy/ecology, which have arisen from his previous experience in overseeing pioneering projects in the Church of England. He is partway through his PhD research at the University of Roehampton, using Theological Action Research to investigate the practice of the mixed ecology in a rural Anglian team of churches.

PY - 2021/8/21

Y1 - 2021/8/21

N2 - The ‘four voices of theology’ were developed as part of the Theological Action Research (TAR) approach (Cameron et al. 2010). Since publication, some practical theologians used the four voices outside of the TAR approach for data analysis or theological reflection. The voices are also taught outside of the TAR approach in theological education alongside other theological reflection models. This article discusses the different uses of the four voices in writing by some of the original authors and by other researchers who have used four voices outside of the TAR approach. Giving examples from my own practice in theological education in a reflective group made up of Church of England ordinands, I discuss three recommendations and two benefits of such an approach for group theological reflection. The recommendations are, first, to treat the voices as the mechanics of the method, not the structure; second, to reflect on a shared experience; third, to attend to the learning. The two benefits concern the threshold concept of complexity in theological education and the highlighting of aspects of theology that might otherwise be missed in other models.

AB - The ‘four voices of theology’ were developed as part of the Theological Action Research (TAR) approach (Cameron et al. 2010). Since publication, some practical theologians used the four voices outside of the TAR approach for data analysis or theological reflection. The voices are also taught outside of the TAR approach in theological education alongside other theological reflection models. This article discusses the different uses of the four voices in writing by some of the original authors and by other researchers who have used four voices outside of the TAR approach. Giving examples from my own practice in theological education in a reflective group made up of Church of England ordinands, I discuss three recommendations and two benefits of such an approach for group theological reflection. The recommendations are, first, to treat the voices as the mechanics of the method, not the structure; second, to reflect on a shared experience; third, to attend to the learning. The two benefits concern the threshold concept of complexity in theological education and the highlighting of aspects of theology that might otherwise be missed in other models.

KW - Theological Reflection

KW - Practical Theology

KW - ministerial training

KW - Theological Action Research

KW - four voices of theology

KW - reflective practice

U2 - 10.1080/1756073X.2021.1957075

DO - 10.1080/1756073X.2021.1957075

M3 - Article

VL - 14

SP - 294

EP - 308

JO - Practical Theology

JF - Practical Theology

SN - 1756-073X

IS - 4

ER -