Preface

PART I: DESCRIBING THE PROCESS

Chapter 1: Transforming Theology

Why do theology?

Participating in Theology

Let's Do Theology!

Living through exciting times:

1. Salvation and the Kingdom of God

2. All theology has context

3. Theology includes action

4. The question of power

5. God's concern for the marginalised

6. courageous spirituality

Chapter 2: A New Way to Do Theology

Developing a method

The Doing Theology Spiral

Some Health warnings

An African Example

A British urban example

Getting stuck

Mind the Gap

PART II: THE FOUR PHASES

Chapter 3: Starting from Experience

Making the experience come alive

1. Getting to know the group

2. Discerning the Focus

3. Sharing First impressions

4. Explaining the process

5. Getting the best from the group

6. The Group

7. Personality differences

8. the Leadership

9. confidence building

10. Tools to encourage the theological process

a. Stating the Problem

b. Word-association

c. Keeping a record

d. Multi-media

Chapter 4: Exploring

1. From Anecdote to analysis
2. Using the analytical tools
3. Gathering analytical information
4. Gathering historical information
5. Gathering geographical information
6. Gathering social information
7. Gathering economic information
8. Discerning the culture
9. Religious factors
10. The exploration of ourselves
11. Making sense of the information
12. Looking for connections
13. Looking for causes
14. Looking for values

6. Celebrating the Group

Chapter 5: Reflecting

1. Challenge from the Christian tradition

2. [Why do theological reflection?]

3. The liberation of the imagination

4. a selection of set pieces

a. Biblical Approaches

i. Simple list

ii. The check list

iii. Bibliodrama

iv. Public enactment

v. Bible themes & characters

vi. Narrating the Bible

vii. Prepared questions

viii. Using art materials

5. Connecting with other Christian treasures

6. Making the connections

7. The Baby and the Bathwater

8. Checking our intuitions

9. Focusing the Vision

Chapter 6: Responding

1. Fulfilling the Dream
2. Knowing what is to be done
3. Criteria for selection
4. Importance and viability
5. Who will benefit?
6. Causes not symptoms
7. Who will be involved?
8. Will the response preach the gospel?
9. Aims and Strategies
10. Implementation
11. Dealing with our fears
12. Continuing round the spiral

PART III: THINKING IT THROUGH

Chapter 7: Challenging implications

1. The problem of hermeneutics

2. The question of authority

3. Who should do theology?

4. The People's Theologian

Chapter 8: Other Styles of Theologising

1. Styles determined by Role

   i. Personal Walk with God

   ii. Me and my Group

   iii. Me in the Ministry

   iv. The Church in Society

2. Styles determined by Learning Preference

   i. The living human document

   ii. Constructing Stories

   iii. Acting out the Mind of Christ

   iv. Living the Body of Christ

   v. Speaking out about God

   vi. Value-committed Action

   vii. Theology with a local accent

3. Where Do I see God?

   i. Treasure Hunt Theology

   ii. God on the attack

   iii. Planting the Gospel

   iv. God in the Mix

   v. The Praxis Model

   4. Four criticisms

5. A Rule of Life

Chapter 9: Spirituality ~ Where will we find God?

1. A Rabbinic Story

a. Finding God where you are

b. Finding God in servanthood

c. Finding God at the edges

d. Finding God in the Issues

e. Finding God in repentance

f. Finding God in money, sex and power

2. Joys and Sorrows in the Spirit

a. Theology and self-sacrifice

b. Celebration with the struggle

3. Worship and prayer

4. The Practice of Prayer

5. Converting the Church

6. Church as Privileged Instrument of the Kingdom

Appendix

A survey of sub-disciplines usually considered to be the content of academic or conventional theology

Selected bibliography and contact addresses