TOWARDS A PARADIGM OF INTEGRATED MISSIONARY …

[Pages:193]TOWARDS A PARADIGM OF INTEGRATED MISSIONARY TRAINING

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A Dissertation Project Submitted to the Faculty of

Western Seminary Portland, Oregon

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In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree

Doctor of Missiology

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By Mark R. Hedinger

April, 2006

APPROVAL PAGE

MARK RAYMOND HEDINGER Doctor of Missiology

APPROVAL

________________________________________________________________________ Faculty Advisor ____________________ Date ________________________________________________________________________ Program Director ____________________ Date ________________________________________________________________________ Academic Dean ____________________ Date

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CONTENTS

TABLES ...................................................................................................................................................... III

FIGURES .................................................................................................................................................... IV

ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................................................V

CHAPTER 1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY.....................................................................................1 Social Trends ....................................................................................................................................2 Central Problem ................................................................................................................................4 Purpose .............................................................................................................................................. 5 Methodology .....................................................................................................................................5 Research Questions ...........................................................................................................................5 Assumptions ...................................................................................................................................... 5 Delimitations and Limitations...........................................................................................................6 Definition of Key Terms ...................................................................................................................7 Significance of the Study ..................................................................................................................9 Organization of the Study .................................................................................................................9 Summary ...........................................................................................................................................9

CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW...................................................................................................11 Classical and Contemporary Trinitarian Theology .........................................................................11 Introduction ......................................................................................................................12 Classical Trinitarian Theology..........................................................................................13 Contemporary Trinitarian Theology .................................................................................21 Summary ........................................................................................................................... 22 Educational Theory .........................................................................................................................24 Introduction ......................................................................................................................24 General Pedagogical Theory.............................................................................................25 Adult Education ................................................................................................................29 Specialized Educational Forms.........................................................................................40 Explicitly Christian Philosophy of Education...................................................................48 Summary ........................................................................................................................... 54 Mission Training in Contemporary Literature ................................................................................55 Introduction ......................................................................................................................55 Training Provided for Whom? ..........................................................................................58 What Kind of Training Should Be Provided?...................................................................59 How Long Should the Training Last?...............................................................................60 Should Training Be Residential? ......................................................................................60 Who Should Do the Training? ..........................................................................................62 What Curriculum Elements Should Be Included? ............................................................63 What Institution Should Provide the Training? ................................................................70 What Outcomes Are the Desired Result of the Training?.................................................71 Summary ........................................................................................................................... 72

CHAPTER 3 MISSIONARY TRAINING IN THE BIBLE ...................................................................74 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 74 Paul As Missionary Trainer ............................................................................................................75 Paul's Writings As Missionary Training Literature ........................................................................77 Methodological Considerations ......................................................................................................80

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Hermeneutical questions...................................................................................................80 Bible Study Methods ........................................................................................................81 Presentation of Results......................................................................................................82 Results: What Themes Did Paul Include in the Training of Missionaries?.....................................82 Biblical Themes in Relation to Pedagogical And Theological Principles.......................................89 Paul's Missionary Training in Relation to Trinitarian Theology......................................90 Paul's Missionary Training in Relation to Pedagogical Theory .......................................92 Summary .........................................................................................................................................95

CHAPTER 4 EVALUATION OF CONTEMPORARY MISSIONARY TRAINING PARADIGMS96 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 96 Thematic Evaluation .......................................................................................................................97 Program Focus ..................................................................................................................97 Program Outcomes ...........................................................................................................98 Theistic Orientation ..........................................................................................................99 Source Material...............................................................................................................100 Structural Evaluation.....................................................................................................................100 Criterion Number One: Does the Paradigm Have a Biblical Basis ?..............................102 Criterion Number Two: Is the Paradigm Theologically Sound?.....................................102 Criterion Number Three: Is the Paradigm Theoretically Coherent? ...............................102 Criterion Number Four: Is the Paradigm Trans-Culturally Valid? .................................102 Criterion Number Five: Is the Paradigm Practical? ........................................................103 Summary .......................................................................................................................................104

CHAPTER 5 TOWARDS A PARADIGM OF INTEGRATED MISSIONARY TRAINING ..........105 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 105 Elements to Include in a New Paradigm .......................................................................................105 Contributions From Trinitarian Theology.......................................................................106 Contributions From Pedagogical Theory........................................................................131 Contributions From Current Mission Training Literature ..............................................139 Contributions From the Pastoral Epistles .......................................................................146 Integration of Elements in a New Paradigm .................................................................................152 Suggested Training Paradigm .........................................................................................152 Evaluation of the Proposed New Paradigm...................................................................................160 Summary .......................................................................................................................................161

CONCLUSION .......................................................................................................................................... 162 Recommendations for Future Study..............................................................................................163 Steps Toward Practical Application..............................................................................................164

APPENDIX ONE THEMES UNCOVERD IN A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF THE PASTORAL EPISTLES .................................................................................................................................................. 168

BIBLIOGRAPHY .....................................................................................................................................174

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TABLES

Table 1 Comparison of Various Training Models Based on Five Criteria ..................... 101 Table 2 Criteria for Missionary Training Programs Based on Trinitarian Theological

Methodology ........................................................................................................... 128 Table 3 Process of Missionary Development ................................................................. 130 Table 4 Trinitarian Missionary Development in Biblical Context ................................. 131 Table 5 Comparison of Different Models of Education ................................................. 139 Table 6 Contributions of Educational Theory to Mission Training................................ 139 Table 7 Paideia Training in Various Institutions: Relative Strengths and Weaknesses. 144 Table 8 Summary Statement of Elements to Include in Integrated Training Program... 151 Table 9 Evaluation of New Paradigm ............................................................................. 160

iv FIGURES Figure A: Creator And Creatures in Relation to Each Other ......................................... 111 Figure B: Conceptual Illustration of Missionary Development Towards Diversity....... 129

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ABSTRACT

In light of growing interest in trinitarian theology, and in light of recent developments in pedagogical theory and mission training practice, this dissertation was written with the purpose of developing a paradigm for the training of missionaries which integrates elements from each of those disciplines. The criteria for the formulation of this integrated paradigm are that it be biblically based, theologically sound, theoretically coherent, trans-culturally valid, and practical.

Methodology included archival research into trinitarian theology, pedagogical theory, and missionary training practice. Qualitative research methods were employed to identify themes in the Pastoral Epistles which are germane to missionary training.

Findings fell into two categories. In the first category, evaluation of contemporary training paradigms showed weakness in the areas of theoretical coherence and transcultural validity. These weaknesses justify the development of new paradigms. The second category of findings resulted in the identification of numerous elements to be included in missionary training programs.

This study did not result in a specific curriculum or program, but rather it formulated a proposed theoretical framework upon which to build future programs. The dissertation fulfilled its purposes, in that the proposed paradigm specifically incorporates each of the five criteria. Future pedagogical and theological studies are suggested, as is the development of specific training programs based on this paradigm.

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