This document outlines an approach to theological research called "transformational conversations." It involves starting with stories from urban contexts, reflecting on parallel biblical stories, and developing new actions and stories. This process is presented as a framework for MATUL research theses. Key aspects include developing oral theologies from urban contexts, interfacing different conversations, and relating the research to Eliston's model of missiological study with attention to context, research questions, and formatting chapters. The transformational conversations model aims to do theology through action and engagement with issues faced in cities.

1. Transformational
Transformational
Conversations
ConversationsAppliedtoa
Appliedtoa
ResearchThesis
ResearchThesis
A Theological
Framework for the
MATUL degree
Finding God (3-6) in a context of
oppression (7) through solidarity (8),
spiritual power (15,20), advocacy (10),
entrepreneurial vision (17), community
organization (16-22) - Exodus 3

2. Urban
UrbanTheological
TheologicalFoundations
Foundations
• Is God or was God?
Is God or was God?
• Is God or does God?
Is God or does God?
• Is God incarnate or
Is God incarnate or
cosmic?
cosmic?
• Is God a holistic Story
Is God a holistic Story
teller or a rationalist
teller or a rationalist
philosopher?
philosopher?

3. Alltheologies
Alltheologies
areContextual
areContextualTheologies
Theologies

4. Epistemology
EpistemologyofMATUL
ofMATUL
• The MATUL is based of a
The MATUL is based of a
different understanding of
different understanding of
knowledge and theology to
knowledge and theology to
that of modernist
that of modernist
systematic theology
systematic theology
• It does not grow from logical
It does not grow from logical
Catholicism
Catholicism• The centre of Jesus’
The centre of Jesus’
theological approach was
theological approach was
not systematic theology
not systematic theology
• Systematic theology is one
Systematic theology is one
type of contextual theology
type of contextual theology
from Western Europe
from Western Europe

5. Transformational
Transformational
Conversations
Conversations
• Developing Oral
Developing Oral
Theologies
Theologies• For Oral Cultures
For Oral Cultures
• Developing Formal
Developing Formal
Theologies
Theologies• From Oral Cultures
From Oral Cultures
• In Urban Contexts
In Urban Contexts

6. MATUL
MATUL
Based on Urban Contextual
Based on Urban Contextual
Theology
Theology
• Poor people are largely
Poor people are largely
oral learners.
oral learners.• They are story-tellers not
They are story-tellers not
linear Aristotolean
linear Aristotolean
logicians
logicians• Jesus reached the poor
Jesus reached the poor
through oral techniques
through oral techniques
Storytelling, parables, proverbs,
Storytelling, parables, proverbs,

7. MATULTheological
MATULTheologicalProcess
Process
• Every course in the degree
Every course in the degree
is a theological course
is a theological course
• But we utilise a
But we utilise a
““transformational
transformational
conversations
conversations”” approach
approach
• We start with situations in
We start with situations in
the slums and the stories
the slums and the stories
of those situations then
of those situations then
reflect on parallel Biblical
reflect on parallel Biblical
stories to understand
stories to understand
Biblical praxis for those
Biblical praxis for those
situations
situations

8. Jesus,Paul&
Jesus,Paul&
Plato
Plato
• 1 Cor 1:30 Paul trained
1 Cor 1:30 Paul trained
by Gamalial, disciple of
by Gamalial, disciple of
Plato and Socrates, as
Plato and Socrates, as
well as Hebrew rabbi
well as Hebrew rabbi
• Paul rejects philosophic
Paul rejects philosophic
knowledge approach
knowledge approach
• Centers on wisdom
Centers on wisdom
• Christ is our wisdom
Christ is our wisdom
• Holy Spirit as centre of
Holy Spirit as centre of
revelation
revelation

9. Elementsofa
ElementsofaWebofBelief
WebofBelief
Belief6
Belief4
Belief3
Belief1
Belief2
Belief5
Belief1
Belief2
Belief3
Belief4
Integrating
Belief
Belief6
Belief4
Belief3
Belief1
Belief2
Belief5
Synchronic Web of Belief
Exper
ience
Scripture
T
radition
Diachronic
Webs of Belief
(Based on Quinian, MacIntyre,
Murphy)
Community
Time
Past Webs
Formative Tradition

10. PartofNewGlobal
PartofNewGlobalTheologies
Theologies
This is part of a trend inThis is part of a trend in
developing global theologiesdeveloping global theologies
around the world inaround the world in
developing nations anddeveloping nations and
represents an information agerepresents an information age
tribal/global culture 21tribal/global culture 21stst
centurycentury
shift.shift.

11. Emerging Styles of Theology
Historic Systematic Western
Theology
God is (Theology of being and
definitions)
God was (Historical theology of
books, diachronic)
The cosmic God of grand
principles above all things
(systematic theology)
God the rationalist philosopher
(search for THE truth,
closed-minded)
Theology of experts - popes,
bishops and professors, tested
by councils
Modern rationalist, evangelical
Western
Global Conversational Theologies
God does (Do theology, praxis,
action theology)
God is (Theology tested across
cultures in present, synchronic)
God the story-teller living
among us (contextual theology,
oral theology)
God the creative imaginer
(search for his truth into the
present, open-ended)
Theology of the people lead by
Spirit tested by the faith
community
Postmodern, Pentecostal
Indigenous people, Emergent
world

12. I. Beyond the Pastoral CycleI. Beyond the Pastoral Cycle
To Urban TransformationTo Urban Transformation
II How to apply this to MATUL research andII How to apply this to MATUL research and
coursescourses

13. Beyond Dialogue:Beyond Dialogue:
Transformational ConversationsTransformational Conversations• The Bible isThe Bible is
storiesstories
(narrative)(narrative)
• Theology isTheology is
storiesstories
• Theology isTheology is
conversationsconversations
• An Example: A Hui forAn Example: A Hui for
migrant ethnic leadersmigrant ethnic leaders
• Issue: 2Issue: 2ndnd
generation kidsgeneration kids
• Role of the theologian asRole of the theologian as
thematizerthematizer
• The issue, decoding theThe issue, decoding the
issue in the midst of theissue in the midst of the
stories in small groupsstories in small groups
• Integration of the issueIntegration of the issue

14. Transformational Conversation onTransformational Conversation on
an Issuean Issue
4. City
Transformational
Conversation
2.Theological
Conversation
3.Postmodern/
Modern City
Conversation
The Issue
1.Entrance
Stories
Socio-Economic Analysis
Biblical Reflection
Theological Analysis
5. New Action Story
Structures as
ConversationalistsInterfacing the
conversations

15. Transformational Conversation onTransformational Conversation on
Land RightsLand Rights
4. City
Transformational
Conversation
2.Theological
Conversation
3.Postmodern/
Modern City
Conversation
Land
Rights
1.Entrance
Stories:
Violence,
Dispossession
Socio-Economic Analysis:
UNHabitat Literature,
Best Practices,
Community Organization,
Cross-nation Legislation
Biblical Reflection on
Land and Land Rights,
Jubilee, Prophets,
Exodus,
Theological Analysis:
Brueggeman -3
Movements
5. New Action Stories:
Rebuilding, marches, new
legislation, comm orgn….
Structures as
Conversationalists: Rebuilding
Communities, Community
Organizations Voicing Biblical
Values
Interfacing the
conversations:
Engagement
with NHA
(public
theology),
Jubilee Year,
Research on
Latrines
(Dignity)

16. Transformational Conversation onTransformational Conversation on
an Slum Latrinesan Slum Latrines
4. City
Transformational
Conversation
2.Theological
Conversation
3.Postmodern/
Modern City
Conversation
The Issue
1.Entrance
Stories
Socio-Economic Analysis Biblical Reflection
Theological Analysis
5. New Action Story
Structures as
ConversationalistsInterfacing the
conversations

17. Transformational Conversation onTransformational Conversation on
an Entrepreneurshipan Entrepreneurship
4. City
Transformational
Conversation
2.Theological
Conversation
3.Postmodern/
Modern City
Conversation
The Issue
1.Entrance
Stories
Socio-Economic Analysis Biblical Reflection
Theological Analysis
5. New Action Story
Structures as
ConversationalistsInterfacing the
conversations

18. Transformational Conversation aboutTransformational Conversation about
psychologically damaged slumpsychologically damaged slum
childrenchildren
4. City
Transformational
Conversation
2.Theological
Conversation
3.Postmodern/
Modern City
Conversation
The Issue
1.Entrance
Stories
Socio-Economic Analysis Biblical Reflection
Theological Analysis
5. New Action Story
Structures as
ConversationalistsInterfacing the
conversations

19. Transformational Conversation asTransformational Conversation as
a Thesis Frameworka Thesis Framework
4. City
Transformational
Conversation
2.Theological
Conversation
3.Postmodern/
Modern City
Conversation
The Issue
1.Entrance
Stories
5. New Action Story

20. Extended ThesisExtended Thesis
Initial round of research
New Action steps

21. RelationshipTO
RelationshipTOEliston’s
Eliston’sMissiological
MissiologicalResearch
Research
• Review your research
Review your research
proposal
proposal• Chapter 1. Context: Did
Chapter 1. Context: Did
you define the context,
you define the context,
describe it?
describe it?• Significance: Did you state
Significance: Did you state
the significance of your
the significance of your
study for the people? for
study for the people? for
missiology?
missiology?• Entrance Story: Does it
Entrance Story: Does it
capture the reader into
capture the reader into
your questioning?
your questioning?

22. CentralResearch
CentralResearch
Issue
Issue
• Are you best to use a
Are you best to use a
problem statement or a
problem statement or a
research question?
research question?
• Have you converted the
Have you converted the
question to statement and
question to statement and
vice versa?
vice versa?• Can you describe your
Can you describe your
question to a stranger in 3
question to a stranger in 3
minutes?
minutes?• Does it contribute to the
Does it contribute to the
advancement of
advancement of
knowledge?
knowledge?• What are five questions
What are five questions
that derive from your
that derive from your
problem statement?
problem statement?

23. OtherDetails:Intro
OtherDetails:IntroChapter
Chapter
• Theoretical basis for your
Theoretical basis for your
research approach.What style
research approach.What style
of research is this and what
of research is this and what
theoretical framework does
theoretical framework does
that come from?
that come from?
• Theoretical approach for your
Theoretical approach for your
theological or missiological
theological or missiological
framework?
framework?• Perhaps two paragraphs in the
Perhaps two paragraphs in the
intro chapter then expand this
intro chapter then expand this
in the literature review and the
in the literature review and the
methodology chapters.
methodology chapters.
• Definitions?
Definitions?• Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements

24. Settingupyour
Settingupyourtemplate
template
• After your project proposal is
After your project proposal is
approved
approved1.1. Convert it to Chapters
Convert it to Chapters
1: Intro
1: Intro2. Lit Review
2. Lit Review3. theological background
3. theological background
4. methodology
4. methodology
2.2. Add in headings for your other
Add in headings for your other
chapters
chapters1.1. Table of Contents
Table of Contents
2.2. DataData
3.3. Data analysis
Data analysis
4.4. Conclusions
Conclusions5.5. Bibliography
Bibliography6.6. Appendices
Appendices
3.3. Make sure all are formatted
Make sure all are formatted
appropriately from the outset with h1,
appropriately from the outset with h1,
H2, H3 being consistent
H2, H3 being consistent

25. References
References
• Elliston, E. J. (1997).
Elliston, E. J. (1997).
Introduction to Missiological
Introduction to Missiological
Research
Research. Pasadena:
. Pasadena:
Unpublished manuscript,
Unpublished manuscript,
chapter 1.
chapter 1.• Grigg,V. (2000b, Nov 2000).
Grigg,V. (2000b, Nov 2000).
Urban Theology as
Urban Theology as
Transformational
Transformational
Conversation: Hermeneutics
Conversation: Hermeneutics
for the Post-Modern Cities.
for the Post-Modern Cities.
3. Retrieved from
3. Retrieved from
http://pcbc.webjournals.org
http://pcbc.webjournals.org
/articles/1/11/2000/3177.ht
/articles/1/11/2000/3177.ht
mm