Concluding reflections

A perennial challenge for all involved in theological reflection is how to make the step from reflection into practice. In the diocesan context, the theological, as well as practical, understanding of structure is of particular significance; as an episcopal church, the Catholic diocese of Portsmouth was not only dependent on the vision and enablement of their bishop but also - in sometimes more conclusive ways - on the participation and ownership of diocesan clergy. In all theological action research, and practical theological work more generally, when something comes to light through our theological thinking together, there is a quite proper (and difficult!) question that will follow: what does it take for this to be embodied in our church? Where and how is this to happen? What structures/processes need to be put in place to bring this about? The nature of the structural context and its theological significance will be what shapes our response to these questions.

These realities were particularly played out in this project not only during the research, but in the years following, when the change of bishop and subsequent departure of many of those in the original diocesan team significantly changed the culture of renewal, and effectively ended the stewardship process. In the later capacity-building projects that ARCS ran, a smaller team from a Pastoral Area within the diocese did take part, inspired by what they had heard and seen in the ARCS project with the diocese. However, one of the striking features of this project must be how difficult it is to renew an ecclesial culture through theological reflection ‘from the ground up’, especially in the context of uninvolved or unsupportive clerical leaders.

Notes

• 1 James Sweeney and the present author.
• 2 www.portsmouthdiocese.org.uk/plan/plan2005.pdf. Accessed August 2019.
• 3 The Canons make clear the nature of the parish as a territory whose care is entrusted to an ordained priest: Can. 515/1.
• 4 A summary of the document can be found at www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/stewardship/index.cfm. Accessed August 2019.
• 5 Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church Can. 515 §1.
• 6 Update from Portsmouth Diocese for ARCS team meeting 29th January 2008.
• 7 Clergy Workshop 21 September 2007, cycle one, 2.
• 8 See Elaine Graham, “Is Practical Theology a Form of ‘Action Research’?” International Journal of Practical Theology 17, no.l (2013): 164.