The Role of Theological Reflection in Education for Ecclesial Ministry

Christian tradition offers a framework and a lens through which the world of human behaviour can be seen, understood and evaluated. In Education for Ecclesial Ministry, theological reflection ensures that there is an on-going conversation between the Christian tradition, theology in the academy and theology in ministry; various dimensions of the one enterprise. Theological reflection, in addition, offers a forum whereby implicit theological assumptions and personal biases are brought from the background to the foreground so that they may be identified, examined and critically addressed in pastoral practice. The role of the theological reflection seminar in the Education for Ecclesial Ministry programme in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth is the focus of this thesis. The literature on theological reflection and formation for ecclesial ministry has been assessed. Action-research examined the role of the theological reflection seminar in helping students to integrate the human, spiritual, academic and pastoral dimensions of the programme and to name their operative theology in ministry. It also aimed to identify how the seminar enabled the participants to form and appropriate a ministerial identity. Using a case study method, the researcher identified the experience of the research participants through data received from a focus group, an individual questionnaire and an interview. The results of the study strengthened the need for the inclusion of regular, formal and disciplined theological reflection in formation for ministry. Theological reflection is an invaluable tool in enabling ministry students to integrate the four elements of ministry formation and in developing an operative theology for ministry. The thesis identified a need for further research into the formation and appropriation of a ministerial identity in the Education for Ecclesial Ministry programme. It confirmed a need for further study to identify ways in which theological reflection could be incorporated into the schedule of full-time ecclesial ministers in order to facilitate on-going development of ministerial identity.Doctor of Ministry (DMin