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Durham E-Theses Watching Over one another in Love: Methodist Superintendents and Oversight in the Church COCKLING, IAN,NEIL How to cite: COCKLING, IAN,NEIL (2015) Watching Over one another in Love: Methodist Superintendents and Oversight in the Church , Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/11372/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 Abstract Ian Neil Cockling Watching Over one another in Love: Methodist Superintendents and Oversight in the Church The thesis tests the claim that superintendent ministers in the Methodist Church of Great Britain exercise an effective ministry of personal oversight which is pivotal in the church’s life, and which makes a distinctive contribution to the Christian understanding of episkopé. The thesis describes empirical, exploratory research into the nature, operant practice and understanding of superintendency which was focused on the Newcastle upon Tyne District of the Methodist Church during 2011-2012. Data was gathered by means of triangulated interviews of superintendents, their colleagues, and the lay leaders of circuits, the circuit stewards. Using the model of ‘Theology in Four Voices’ developed by Heythrop College’s Action Research: Church and Society Project, the thesis captures the conversation between the espoused understandings of ‘ordinary theologians’, the operant theology disclosed in practice, and the normative theology of the Methodist Conference, focusing on the 2005 statement What is a Circuit Superintendent? The thesis argues that the role of the superintendent minister has enduring value in the Methodist Church of Great Britain only insofar as the superintendent inculcates a connexionalism in the local circuit which includes inclusive, empowering and participatory leadership of everyone in the life of the church; which exercises personal oversight in both collegial and communal contexts; and which permits devolved episkopé to colleagues who are trained and trusted to lead local churches. 1 Watching Over one another in Love: Methodist Superintendents and Oversight in the Church A study of the understanding and practice of Superintendent Presbyters and Personal Episkopé, with a particular focus on the Circuits of the Newcastle-upon-Tyne District of the Methodist Church in Great Britain Ian Neil Cockling A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Theology and Ministry Department of Theology and Religion Durham University 2015 2 Table of Contents Contents Abstract .................................................................................................................. 1 Table of Contents ................................................................................................... 3 List of Tables .......................................................................................................... 9 List of Abbreviations ............................................................................................ 10 Statement of Copyright ........................................................................................ 11 Date of Research .................................................................................................. 11 Confidentiality...................................................................................................... 11 Acknowledgements .............................................................................................. 12 Dedication ............................................................................................................ 13 Chapter 1 Introduction ..................................................................................... 14 1.1 Preface ............................................................................................................ 14 1.2 Dissertation Outline ....................................................................................... 15 1.3 Thesis ............................................................................................................. 16 1.4 Findings .......................................................................................................... 16 1.5 Justification for my research .......................................................................... 17 1.6 Research contributions ................................................................................... 18 1.6.1 Superintendency in the United Methodist Church .................................. 19 1.6.2 Recent books on Methodism ................................................................... 22 1.6.3 Maunder .................................................................................................. 23 1.6.4 Ecumenical considerations ...................................................................... 24 1.7 The Research Context .................................................................................... 25 3 1.7.1 Normative Documents ............................................................................ 25 1.7.1.1 What is a Circuit Superintendent? ................................................... 25 1.7.1.2 Standing Orders ................................................................................ 28 1.7.2 Demographic and Ecclesiological Change .............................................. 30 1.8 Key Assumptions ........................................................................................... 34 1.8.1 Delimitations ........................................................................................... 34 1.8.2 Presuppositions ....................................................................................... 36 Chapter 2 Hermeneutics and Method ............................................................... 39 2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 39 2.2 Theological Method ....................................................................................... 39 2.2.1 Theological Aim ...................................................................................... 39 2.2.2 Hermeneutic considerations .................................................................... 41 2.2.3 Models of Practical Theology ................................................................. 43 2.2.3.1 Applied Theory ................................................................................ 43 2.2.3.2 Critical Correlation ........................................................................... 44 2.2.3.3 Praxis models ................................................................................... 46 2.2.3.4 Habitus ............................................................................................. 49 2.2.3.5 In Via Theology ................................................................................ 50 2.3 Interpretative Framework ............................................................................... 52 2.3.1 The Four Voices of Theology ................................................................. 53 2.3.2 My use of the ARCS method .................................................................. 57 2.3.3 The conversation between practical and dogmatic theology .................. 61 2.4 Choice of Empirical Research Method .......................................................... 66 2.4.1 Research Method Limitations ................................................................. 68 2.4.2 Participants in the Conversation .............................................................. 69 4 2.5 Research Design ............................................................................................. 71 2.5.1 Study propositions and appropriate data ................................................. 71 2.5.2 The Interview Schedule ........................................................................... 72 2.6 Data Collection ............................................................................................... 74 2.7 Interview Cohort Demographics .................................................................... 75 2.7.1 Gender Profile ......................................................................................... 77 2.7.2 Age Profile .............................................................................................. 79 2.7.3 Professional Background ........................................................................ 80 2.7.4 Service History ........................................................................................ 80 2.8 Data Analysis ................................................................................................. 81 Chapter 3 Empirical Research Findings and Analysis ................................... 88 3.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................
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