Chapter 3 Recommended Theology Books
Boff, L., & Boff, C. (1987). Introducing liberation theology. Edinburgh: Burns and Oates.
Cone, James (1999). Risks of Faith . Boston: Beacon Press.
Erickson, Millard, J (2001). Introducing Christian Doctrine . Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.
Fabella, Virginia and Sugirtharajah, RS (2003). The SCM Dictionary of Third World Theologies . London: SCM.
Grenz, Stanley (2000) Renewing the centre Grand Rapids Baker Book House
Gredem, Wayne ( 1999) Bible Doctrine Leicester IVP
Hellier, Graham (2002) The Thoughtful Guide to Christianity . Alresford: O Books.
Kroeger, Catherine Clark and Evans, Mary J (2002). The IVP Women's Bible Commentary . Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP.
McGrath, Alister (1993) Christian Theology Oxford: Blackwell.
McGrath, Alister (2004). Theology: The basics . Oxford: Blackwell.
Manser, Martin (1998) Crash course on Christian Teaching London: Hodder and Stoughton.
Olson, Roger E (2002). The Mosaic of Christian Belief. Downers Grove: IVP.
Ormerod, Neil (2002). Introducing Contemporary Theologies . Maryknoll: Orbis.
Platinga Jr., Cornelius (2002). Engaging God's World . Cambridge: Eerdmans.
Shaw, Mark (1993) Doing Theology with Huck and Jim . Leicester: IVP.
Slee, Nicola (2003). Faith and Feminism . London: DLT.
Sobrino, J, Ellacuria, I (1996). Systematic Theology: Perspectives from Liberation Theology . London: SCM.
Chapter4 Theological Reflection and Reflective Practice Bibliography
Aveyard, I. (1997). God Thoughts. Nottingham: St. John's Extension Studies.
Ballard, P., & Pritchard, J. (1996). Practical Theology in Action. London: SPCK.
Bennett, D. (1993). Metaphors of Ministry. Carlisle: Paternoster.
Boff, L., & Boff, C. (1987). Introducing Liberation Theology. Edinburgh: Burns and Oates.
de Bary, E ( 2003) Theological Refection. Collegeville, Minnesota: The Liturgical Press.
Gallagher, M. P. (1997). Clashing Symbols. London: Darton, Longman and Todd.
Graham, E et al (2005) Theological Reflection: Methods . London: SCM.
Graham, E et al (2007) Theological Reflection: Sources. London: SCM.
Green, L. (1990). Let's do Theology. London: Mowbray.
Killen, P. O., & de Beer, J. (1999). The Art of Theological Reflection. New York: Crossroad.
Kinast, R. L. (1996). Let Ministry Teach. Collegeville, Minnesota: The Liturgical Press.
Kinast, R. L. (2000). What are they saying about theological reflection? New York: Paulist Press.
Moon, J. A. (2000). Reflection in Learning and Professional Development. London: Kogan Page.
Schon, D. A. (1991). The Reflective Practitioner. Aldershot: Ashgate.
Steffler, A. W. (2002). Symbols of the Christian Faith . Grand Rapids: Erdmans.
Stone, H. W., & Duke, J. O. (1996). How to Think Theologically. Minneapolis: Fortress Press.
Chapter 4 Awareness walk
SEEKING SIGNS OF GOD IN CREATION
For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
Meister Eckhart: Every creature is a word of God and a book about God.
Columba – I hear the waves chanting a tune to God in heaven
David Adam: We can see creation as the first incarnation, where God dwells and it is in God.
Columbanus: If you want to know the creator, first understand and know creation.
Carlo Carnetto: Contemplate what lies before you. It is God's way of making himself known.
An awareness walk
An awareness walk involves is seeking to become attentive to ones surroundings, focusing on the area in which we are walking. We use each of our five senses to appreciate all that we encounter and use the walk to give us a greater insight into God, His and our World and ourselves. We do not worship creation, we worship the creator. As a part of the created order we ask God to speak to us through His creation, our environment. It is possible to look out for the work and nature of God and hear God speak, not only in Church or among His people, but also for this to take place in creation. To take time, to be still, to absorb, wasting time is not a waste in this situation. God's invisible qualities become more invisible through the things He has created.
Getting started Nature is the art of God Dante
Read Psalm 8 or 104 or latter try Psalm 1
Walk for exercise, enjoyment or to get warm first, then slow down to a stroll! Begin to come aware of the elements, of the sun's warmth or the cold air…the light, the shadow, the breeze, wind, rain, snow…the sky, the clouds. Put your face or hands uo towards the sun, rain or wind, what do you feel what does it remind you of?
Look: at patterns, shapes, heights and depths, thick/ thinness, colours / shades, stillness and movement
Touch: sharp, rough, smooth, textures, feel the grass, tree bark…
Listen : to far off sounds, near sounds, your breathing, birds and animals, traffic, people, water, far of / near by sounds (maybe close your eyes, sit, lie) …
Smell : the air, earth, things in the earth, plants, sent of flowers, nice and not so nice …
Taste:… Well, I'll leave that to you discretion!
Look at the familiar until it becomes unfamiliar.
Focus on one thing in detail, something that you are drawn to.
Become more aware of it, look at it closely.
What does it mean to you at this time?
Ask yourself: Where is God in what I am experiencing?
What can I learn about God?
What could God be saying to me through this?
What can I learn about myself?
Perhaps bring something back with you to keep and remind you of the experience or word from God
An autumn / spring tree…
Look at the roots of the tree…who and what has given you nourishment in your life? Who and what are roots you in times of change or difficulty?
Look at the trunk…what are your strengths?
Look at the leaves… what is dying in your life now? What do you need to let go of?
Look at the bark… who or what comforts and protects you?
Look for the buds… what is new in your life?
What is your hope?
Where is the life…where is the death?
Chapter 4: Theological Reflection Spiral using key theological themes
I am putting forward in this theological framework two main beliefs. Firstly, that there are three essential theological themes that must be explored in all Youth Work done by Christians. These are around the content and concepts of Salvation, The Kingdom of God and The nature of God. It is therefore a prerequisite of making the most of this model that there is some understanding of these themes. This model suggests that these theological doctrines are of primary importance in giving our work focus and purpose. This model makes it easy to transfer other key theological themes that are important to you. Secondly, we can use these theological terms in a generic manner, that is how these words could / are understood in general language and culture.
Chapter 5:4 principles for professional youth work
Youth work offers young people opportunities which are:
Educative
• enabling young people to gain the skills, knowledge and attitudes needed to identify, advocate and pursue their rights and responsibilities as individuals and as members of groups and communities locally, nationally and internationally.
Designed to promote equality of opportunity
• through the challenging of oppressions such as racism and sexism and all those which spring from differences of culture, race, language, sexual identity, gender, disability, age, religion and class and
• through the celebration of the diversity and strength which arise from those differences
Participative
• through a voluntary relationship with young people in which young people are partners in the learning process and decision making structures which affect their own and other young people's lives and their environment
Empowering
• supporting young people to understand and act on the personal, social and political issues which affect their lives, the lives of others and the communities of which they are a part
(Definitions taken from the Second Ministerial Conference on the Youth Service 1990 cited in John Huskins Quality Work with Young People . Bristol: John Huskins, 1996: 151).