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'Faith in Development': an Examination of the Applied Theo

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'Faith in Development': an Examination of the Applied Theo Finding Meanings for ‘Faith in Development’: An Examination of the Applied Theology of World Vision and Its Broader Implications for the Development Sector and Practice By Robert Mitchell LLB, MPhil, Grad Dip Tax, Grad Dip Theol, MThSt A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of Divinity May 2014 Abstract Key words: Applied theology – international development – organisational theology – meaning of faith in development – World Vision – Qualitative analysis of evaluation reports and interviews – revelatory case study – grounded theory – implications for sector and development practice – risks of church engagement. This research in applied theology articulates the key theological motifs of a leading international development organisation, World Vision. A revelatory case study was undertaken using largely qualitative research techniques to assess how these motifs were reflected in the organisation’s development work and practice. A corpus of evaluation reports and interview transcripts were provided by World Vision which related to the integration of faith in international development projects. The materials examined covered eight country contexts from Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East and Eurasia. Grounded theory was applied to explore the dataset. This process revealed many linkages and identified 37 different ways in which World Vision’s theology influenced its praxis. A basic quantitative analysis was undertaken to provide a general indication of prevalence and distribution of the links identified. Key risks associated with World Vision’s development approach were also identified, especially through its work with churches. Some particular emphases of World Vision’s development work were identified, including a consistent, spiritually based interiority, a strong people-centeredness (reflecting ideas about incarnational love) and a pervasive emphasis on positive inter-faith relationships arising from a vested theological position. Overall, World Vision’s approach to development was assessed as cohesive and distinctive. The research for this study moved beyond high-level theological motivations to the role of organisational theology and its more concrete impact on development work. In this way, the study has responded to calls in the literature for greater knowledge and transparency when it comes to faith-based approaches to development. It raises some significant implications for the development sector and development practice, indicating that theology itself can be an important resource in responding to poverty and disadvantage. 2 Acknowledgements Rev. Rob Kilpatrick, Ashley Goode and Andrew Newmarch must be thanked for their pioneering work in conducting the evaluations which laid the foundation for this thesis. So must World Vision Australia for agreeing to make those reports and the records of interviews available. I have been blessed by Dr Richard Copland, who has helped open up a new set of challenges that have changed my world. I am also grateful to my colleague Sheldon Rankin for his enthusiasm, friendship and insights. My supervisors, Dr Greg Elsdon and Dr Andrew Menzies, have been a constant encouragement to me as this research has been shaped and reshaped. Dr Paul Woods must be recognised for his thoughtful comments on the manuscript. I am also grateful to Dr Alan Niven for taking the time to read it. Dr Kristin Argall of Wordthreads Editing provided editing services according to the Institute for Professional Editors’ Guidelines for Editing Research Theses. Finally, and most importantly, I wish to thank my wife Anita, and three children Brendan, Anna and Phillipa, who have each generously allowed me to pursue this research at their own cost. Some debts can never be repaid. 3 Table of Contents Abstract 2 Acknowledgements 3 Table of Contents 4 List of Tables 9 List of Figures 10 List of Abbreviations 12 1. Introduction: Setting the Scene 15 1.1 What is development? 15 1.2 The research problem: going below the surface of faith-based organisations 16 1.3 Parallel queries in social science 16 1.4 Locating myself in the narrative 17 1.5 The case study 18 1.6 Organisational theology as the entry point 18 1.7 Broader implications and importance 18 1.8 Statement of thesis 19 1.9 Method 20 1.10 Flow of chapters 21 2. Why There is a Need to Map Organisational Theology: The Literature Surrounding the Problem 23 2.1 Overview of literature 23 2.2 Theological support for Christian involvement in development 23 2.2.1 Implications for the proposed research 30 2.3 Attempts to categorise faith-based development non-government organisations 31 2.3.1 Typologies 31 2.3.2 Indexes and frameworks 33 2.3.3 Vanderwoedt’s proposal 36 2.3.4 Implications for the proposed research 37 2.4 The exclusion of religion from development studies on theoretical grounds 37 2.4.1 Marginalisation of faith within development studies 38 2.4.2 The influence of modernity on development discourse 40 2.4.3 The resurgent interest in faith and development 42 2.4.4 Utilitarian and instrumental perspectives about religion 44 2.4.5 Explaining and maintaining an integrated values base 46 2.4.6 Implications for the proposed research 47 3. Theological Reflection on Prevalent Theories of Change 49 3.1 Theories that emphasise rationality, science and technology as drivers of change 50 3.2 Theories which emphasise that social change occurs through participation and empowerment 53 3.3 Human rights-based theories of change 57 3.4 Theories that conceive of change as an emergent, complex process 60 3.5 Overview 62 4 4. Research Background and Methodology 64 4.1 Why a case study on a single subject? 64 4.2 About World Vision 65 4.3 World Vision as a research subject 66 4.3.1 A reputation for quality work and an unambiguous faith commitment in operational life 66 4.3.2 Scale and location of operations 68 4.3.3 Accessing internal World Vision data 73 4.3.4 The methodology 74 4.3.5 Some specific methodological issues 87 4.3.6 Disclosures 93 5. An Articulation of Characteristic Theological Motifs of World Vision 94 5.1 Motifs expressing holism 94 5.1.1 An holistic worldview, including the spiritual 94 5.1.2 The importance of inner transformation 96 5.2 Vocational motifs 100 5.2.1 Understanding work as ministry 100 5.2.2 Promotion of a devotional culture 102 5.3 Values motifs 104 5.3.1 Living for the kingdom 104 5.3.2 Standing against evil 108 5.4 Foundational motifs 110 5.4.1 A commitment to prayer and scripture 110 5.5 Ecclesial motif 112 5.5.1 A special relationship with the churches 112 5.6 Conclusion 115 6. Data and Preliminary Analysis: Motifs Expressing Holism 116 6.1 Biblical holism and spiritual worldview 116 6.1.1 Topic code A1: Leveraging community goodwill from an existing spiritual worldview 116 6.1.2 Topic code A2: Sustainability and community access 118 6.1.3 Topic code A3: Program accentuation through holism 121 6.1.4 Topic code A4: Using spirituality to develop social meanings 123 6.2 Imperative of inner transformation 125 6.2.1 Topic code E1: Using camps, Sunday Schools and specific programs to encourage inner change 125 6.2.2 Topic code E2: Inner strength in times of crisis 127 6.2.3 Topic code E3: Promulgating Christian morals and ethics through staff and general field interactions 129 6.2.4 Topic code E4: Transfiguring inter-ethnic and inter-faith relationships 131 6.2.5 Topic code E5: Enquiry and conversion 132 6.3 Conclusion 134 7. Data and Preliminary Analysis: Vocational Motifs 135 7.1 Understanding work as a ministry 135 7.1.1 Topic code B1: A relational/incarnational style of engagement 135 7.1.2 Topic code B2: Work as an expression of love 137 7.1.3 Topic code B3: Vocation over career. 139 7.1.4 Topic code B4: Long-term, sacrificial and committed 141 5 7.1.5 Topic code B5: A sense of being supported by God’s presence 142 7.1.6 Topic code B6: Embedded organisational presence and commitment to subsidiarity 143 7.2 Promotion of a devotional culture 145 7.2.1 Topic code F1: Nurture and sustaining staff 145 7.2.2 Topic code F2: Encouraging quality field work 147 7.2.3 Topic code F3: Building teams and a shared sense of mission 149 7.2.4 Topic code F4: Modelling respectful interfaith and interdenominational relationships 150 7.3 Conclusion 153 8. Data and Preliminary Analysis: Values Motifs 155 8.1 Living for the kingdom 155 8.1.1 Topic code C1: A strong values base and a commitment to living it out 155 8.1.2 Topic code C2: An emphasis on interfaith respect and co-operation 158 8.1.3 Topic code C3: Standing against corruption 161 8.1.4 Topic code C4. Building hope and resilience in the present 163 8.2 Standing against evil 167 8.2.1 Topic code D1: Overcoming systemic injustice 167 8.2.2 Topic code D2: Responding to the demonic/occult 169 8.2.3 Topic code D3: Challenging harmful animistic practices 170 8.3 Conclusion 174 9. Data and Preliminary Analysis: Foundational Motifs 175 9.1 Prayer and scripture 175 9.1.1 Topic code G1: The role of public prayer in validating community development work 175 9.1.2 Topic code G2: Prayer in building deeper community relationships 177 9.1.3 Topic code G3: Prayer and discernment in operational life 179 9.1.4 Topic code G4: Prayer and the locus of spiritual power 180 9.1.5 Topic code G5: Use of scripturally based programmatic resources 182 9.1.6 Topic code G6: Support for developmentally focussed Christian publishing 185 9.2 Conclusion 186 10.
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