Doctor Why?
Doctor Why?
Our professional doctorate programme run in collaboration with the University of Roehampton adds to the richness and depth of the conversation about mission and pioneering.
by James Butler,
On a sunny Thursday a few weeks back, Cathy Ross and I travelled into London on the train, to the University of Roehampton to meet with a group of doctoral students (pictured above) to help them put together their research plans ahead of beginning the research phase of their programme.
This is the sixth year we have had CMS students studying their doctorate at the University of Roehampton, focusing on themes around mission and pioneering.
We see having doctoral students as a key way to encourage and support research into mission and pioneering and it has been great to see the wealth of subjects being studied by our students.
“I love the opportunity to design my research with others on my course”
JO ALlen, DTh student
We have students studying questions of innovation, emergence, the Holy Spirit in mission, pioneering and church, spirituality, prayer and many more, all through a lens of mission and engaging with lived practice.
One of the beauties of the DTh programme at Roehampton is the fact that for the first two years students get to journey with fellow doctoral students as they focus their research topic and develop the skills they need to do the research.
As Jo Allen, in her first year of the DTh with us, commented, “I love the opportunity to design my research with others on my course, bouncing ideas of each other and exploring new avenues that I wouldn’t find on my own.”
They study two modules each year and meet six times throughout the year to learn together.
While Cathy and I were meeting with the second year students who are reaching the end of the taught stage and putting together the details of the research plans, the first years were also meeting, thinking about the other voices and writings within their chosen fields of study.
Ben Morgan Lundie, who is coming to the end of the second year, reflected: “I chose to study my DTh with Roehampton and CMS because the team are experts in practical theology and bring a missional edge to how we shape our projects. The last two years of the taught programme have stretched me intellectually and I am really looking forward to the next few years of research and writing.”
“The DTh programme gave me such a good grounding and support for carrying out my research into pioneering – it has been a fabulous process.”
PAUL BRADBURY, DTh student
On each DTh teaching day we also have the opportunity to come together for the Practical Theology Seminar, where various academics in related fields are invited to come and share their research and thinking.
On this most recent visit it was the turn of Dr Pat Jones from the University of Durham, who shared her research into abuse in the Catholic Church and the learning which has come from listening to a wide variety of voices and experiences. It was a powerful session, not just because of the content, but also Pat’s engaging and reflective presenting.
I look forward to these teaching days and the chance to think deeply with students and learn together. It has been a real joy to see people develop their research around their passions and their pioneering and mission practice, and to see the kinds of deep insights beginning to emerge from their careful work.
I enjoy hearing people express the same feelings of joy and privilege that I feel from doing qualitative research; having the opportunity to listen to people talk about their lives and seeing the ways in which deep and careful listening opens up new learning and practice.
Paul Bradbury, coming towards the end of his doctoral research commented, “The DTh programme gave me such a good grounding and support for carrying out my research into pioneering – it has been a fabulous process.”
We anticipate our first students finishing their doctorates over the next year, and look forward to helping them to share their learning and findings more widely.
If you have something you have a burning passion to explore and find out about, do get in touch to explore the possibility of doing the doctorate with us.
