ACTION RESEARCH - CHURCH & SOCIETY (ARCS)
Welcome
ARCS was established in September 2006 as an agency within the Pastoral and Social Studies Department at Heythrop College, University of London, to develop links and developmental work with church and community groups mainly in the London area, but also with an outreach to national and diocesan agencies. ARCS has developed a research partnership with OxCEPT.
The ARCS Mission:
ARCS engages with church agencies and church community groups in the course of the renewal of their own life, their religious evangelising mission and their outreach to society.
ARCS seeks to enable them through deepeded theological awareness to improve their effectiveness, develop realtionships with other traditions and bring faith and faith-based values to the wider society.
The Aims of the ARCS Project:
To engage with church agencies and community groups,helping them to theologically reflect upon a chosen feature of their work, with aspects of evangelisation and renewal being a particular focus.
To combine theological reflection and action research - a participatory and collaborative process, leading to organisational change.
To share examples of good practice and theological reflection on evangelisation and renewal work with engaged groups.
To engage in reflection that brings faith and faith-based values to wider society.
To share research findings with practitioners, academics and the wider church community.
Background
ARCS developed out of previous research by the Von Hügel Institute and the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology, Cambridge, published as:
Going Forth: An Enquiry into Evangelisation & Renewal in the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales.
Action Research
Web links
ARCS Team
ARCS Lectures and Conferences
Press Release - 'Living Church in a Global City' Report Launch