Transforming theological education in the Church of the Province of Uganda (Anglican)

Date
2005-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study presents a practical-theological examination of the changing face of theological education in the Church of Uganda (COU). It explores the hypothesis that both the effectiveness of the Church’s training and its mission are inextricably tied to their responsiveness and integrity in the midst of multiple transitions. As an example of practical theology, it identifies itself with the praxis-centred stance of the contemporary practical theology movement, an identification that makes it both action-oriented and contextual. The action-oriented nature of the research is introduced in Chapter One, where it is described using social-science categories, and is developed in Chapter Two through an introduction to a specific theological framework for transforming theological education. This framework guides the study along practical, biblical, missional and local lines. The contextual concern is maintained throughout the study. Chapters Three, Four and Five draw on an extensive primary database and explore the Ugandan context from the socioeconomic, socio-cultural and ecclesiastical perspectives. That contextual analysis is shaped by, and continually connects with the concerns of theological education and those chapters raise and explore a number of issues. These include socio-economic challenges such as dramatic regional variation and demographic change, the need for theological education to connect with culture, particularly in relation to its heterogeneity and its oral-literary nature, and the significance of the unique narrative and identity of the COU for its theological education. However, through the synthesis of these contextual findings, two dominant requirements for the transformation of theological education in the COU emerge, namely integration and flexibility. The history, curriculum, pedagogy and structures of theological education in the COU are then evaluated in Chapters Six and Seven in the light of those two requirements, as well as from the perspective of the discipline of curriculum development. The analysis recognises where recent developments in the sphere have already begun to incorporate these values, but it also highlights the need for more radical transformation. With this in mind, Chapter Eight then examines the implementation of a recent model of training, Integrated Leadership Development (ILD), into the COU. It suggests that ILD is not only a valuable programme of transformational training in itself, but that it also serves as a pointer to and catalyst for wider changes in the education programmes of the COU. Finally, the study concludes by synthesising the findings into a dynamic curriculum development model for use in transforming theological education in the COU. Furthermore, the application of the model demonstrates its relevance and generates some specific strategic recommendations for change. As such the study contributes to both the local and global discourse on theological education, and to the field of practical theology.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie is ‘n prakties-teologiese ondersoek wat die veranderende gelaat van teologiese opleiding in die Anglikaanse Kerk van Uganda navors. Die navorsing ondersoek die hipotese dat beide die effektiwiteit van die kerk se opleiding sowel as sy roeping integraal verweef is met die kerk se vermoë om met integriteit te reageer op die stroom van veranderinge waarmee dit gekonfronteer word. As praktiese-teologiese ondersoek volg dit ‘n praxis-georiënteerde, kontekstueel betrokke benadering. Hoofstuk een lei dit in, stel die probleem en hipoteses en verduidelik voorts die sosiaal-wetenskaplike aard van die studie. Die tweede hoofstuk beskryf ‘n bepaalde teologiese raamwerk vir die transformasie van teologiese opleiding. Dié raamwerk begelei die studie prakties, bybels, missionêr en kontekstueel. Die studie ontwikkel kontekstueel. Hoofstukke drie tot vyf gebruik belangrike primêre navorsingsdata wanneer dit die Ugandese konteks uit verskillende verbandhoudende perspektiewe beskryf: sosio-ekonomies, sosio-kultureel en ekklesiologies. Die analises is voortdurend in dialoog met die sentrale tema van teologiese opleiding wat van verskeie hoeke oopgedek word. Wat uitstaan is die sosio-ekonomiese uitdagings wat teweeggebring is deur die demografiese veranderings wat plaasgevind het. Die belang van die verband tussen teologiese opleiding en die kulturele situasie word hoe langer hoe skerper belig en mens besef die implikasies van die land se kulturele heterogeniteit en sy mondelinge tradisie. Dit het ‘n bepalende effek or die storie van die Anglikaanse Kerk in Uganda en die aard van sy teologiese opleiding. Die sintese van die kontekstuele analise wys twee wesentlike vereistes vir die transformasieproses van teologiese opleiding in die kerk uit: integrasie en soepelheid. Die geskiedenis, kurrikulum, opvoedkunde en strukture van teologiese opleiding in die Anglikaanse Kerk in Uganda word in Hoofstuk Ses en Sewe in die lig van die twee vereistes ge-evalueer. Dit word ook getoets aan die vereistes van kurrikulum ontwikkeling. Die analise wys daarop dat resente ontwikkelinge in die vakgebied reeds geïnkorporeer is in die praktyk, maar toon aan dat radikaler stappe nodig is. Teen die agtergrond toon Hoofstuk Agt aan hoe die model van Geïntegreerde Leierskap Ontwikkeling in die kerk geïmplementeer word. As sodanig toon dit aan dat Geïntegreerde Leierskap Ontwikkeling ‘n waardevolle transformasiegerigte opleidingsprogram is wat die weg kan aantoon vir verreikende veranderinge in die opleidingsprogramme van die kerk. Die studie sluit af deur die bevindinge van die studie saam te voeg in ‘n dinamiese model vir kurrikulum ontwikkeling wat die transformasieproses in teologiese opleiding in die Anglikaanse Kerk van Uganda kan begelei. Die toepassing van die model wys reeds die toebaarheid daarvan uit en genereer voortdurend belangrike strategiese voorstelle op die pad van die transformasieproses in teologiese opleiding. As sodanig lewer dit ‘n praktiesteologiese bydrae in die plaaslike en globale gesprek oor teologiese opleiding.
Description
Thesis (DTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2005.
Keywords
Church of Uganda (COU), Anglican Church, Transformation in the church, Dissertations -- Practical Theology and Missiology, Theses -- Practical Theology and Missiology
Citation