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Robert Martin

Wesley Theological Seminary, Theological Studies, Professor of Christian Formation and Leadership, retired

Wesley Theological Seminary, Practical Theology and Spirituality, Professor of Christian Formation and Leadership

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Papers by Robert Martin

Congregational Studies and Critical Pedagogy in Theological Perspective

If the church is, as the apostle Paul claims, the Body of Christ in the world, then the church is... more If the church is, as the apostle Paul claims, the Body of Christ in the world, then the church is always and everywhere a historical and social manifestation. Its particular social forms are of infinite variety: from the spontaneous gathering of two or three in Christ's name to ecclesiastical bodies that endure the passing of millennia and extend to the far reaches of the globe. Of these, congregations are one of the most common and recognizable manifestations of the church. It is exceedingly important for scholars, clergy, and congregants to take this form seriously in its personal, social, and cultural aspects; only when these aspects are examined in their particularity can they be intentionally reformed to be more truly the theological reality that the church is. In recent years we have seen the development of two distinctive modes of analysis, "congregational studies" and "critical pedagogy," both of which hold great promise for the future transformation of the church. Congregational studies is primarily a framework that loosely incorporates the interrogative methods of the social sciences for the description and clarification of congregational life. To discern and understand the actualities of the life of religious communities is the first step to addressing adequately their needs. Critical pedagogy, on the other hand, is oriented to educative contexts such as public schools. Rooted in the critical theory of the Frankfurt School, Paulo Freire's "pedagogy of the oppressed," and the interrelated discourses of gender, class, and race critique, critical pedagogy aims to unearth and expose dynamics of oppression, as well as to foster creative resistance against oppression in schooling. In essence, critical pedagogy is an expanded and refined reincarnation of critical theory specifically oriented to educative contexts. Through its herme-neutics of suspicion regarding relations of domination, such a critical perspective will provide the church with methodologies of critical self-reflection to illumine the shadow side of congregational life. This essay critically correlates congregational studies and critical pedagogy for the purpose of discerning how they might contribute to ecclesial transformation.

CHRISTIAN MINISTRY AS COMMUNION: CONTRIBUTIONS OF ORTHODOX-REFORMED DIALOGUE TO A REFORMED THEOLOGY OF ECCLESIAL MINISTRY

PRECIS If the church Is to express authentically its nature as the Body of Christ in the world, h... more PRECIS If the church Is to express authentically its nature as the Body of Christ in the world, how might its community and ministry be understood and enacted? It is argued here that all authentic forms of ministry arise out of the worship of the church and are, therefore, litnigftcalty structured. Fundamental to the liturgy of the church is the sacrament of the eucharlst by which assembly and its ministries are constituted communally in Christ by the Spirit This essay seeks to discern in the historic dialogue between Reformed and Orthodox churches clues of a fundamental structure by which the diversity of institutional forms and ministerial practices of churches may be more truly sacramental embodiments of Christ's communion with the Father in the Holy Spirit

DWELLING IN THE DIVINE LIFE: THE TRANSFORMATIONAL DIMENSION OF LEADERSHIP AND PRACTICAL THEOLOGY

We are concerned here to explore the relation of transformation and Christian leadership. And as... more We are concerned here to explore the relation of transformation and Christian leadership. And as we come to greater clarity about the central role of transformation to Christian leadership, we will question the overriding - if not in many cases exclusive - emphasis in theological training of leaders upon gaining command and control, upon power over or with others, in short, upon the mastery of the ego as definitive of effective and successful leadership. We will wonder aloud whether the theological methods taught in seminaries and promoted by academics and denominational officials are sufficiently spiritually oriented and thus theologically adequate. Do they help leaders practice theology and ministry theologically? To paraphrase theologian David Kelsey, are the practices of leadership helping us to understand God and everything in relation to God more truly?

Toward a Wesleyan Sacramental Ecclesiology

John and Charles Wesley had a developed understanding of and reverence for sacramental practice a... more John and Charles Wesley had a developed understanding of and reverence for sacramental practice and theology that suggests a dynamic sacramental ecclesiol-ogy and lends itself to a robust concept of sacramentality. Taking seriously Wesley's imperative of 'constant communion' , this paper looks to the Eucharist for an underlying , fundamental pattern of participation in the divine life whereby we embody and enact it by the power of the Spirit. The proposed Eucharistic pattern emphasizes a dynamic movement of ever greater participation in God by gathering together, offering all that we have and are, sharing our lives fully in trinitarian communion , and extending the communion we have become to little altars everywhere , especially to the 'least of these'. To reframe Wesleyan ecclesiology in terms of a dynamic, relational sacramentality, patterned after the Eucharist, overcomes conventional oppositions of communion and mission by integrating them fully in the effort to follow Jesus Christ.

Chapter 5. Leadership and Serendipitous Discipleship: A Case Study of Congregational Transformation

This essay explores the nature of Christian leadership by contrasting one particularly dominant i... more This essay explores the nature of Christian leadership by contrasting one particularly dominant image of leadership in the church with a case study of a congregation whose life was transformed by bearing its cross faithfully. This case will be viewed through the lens of James E. Loder’s transformational logic and its theological framework to illumine the work of the Spirit in a particular congregation. We will come to discover key insights into the nature and function of leadership for the church..

Iconic Leadership: A New Approach to Transformational Leadership

It is our contention that business education does a generally good job of instructing students in... more It is our contention that business education does a generally good job of instructing students in the foundations of business leadership. However, it does not do as well in applying lessons from theological approaches to leadership, especially in areas where a theological perspective could serve to deepen leadership theory. For example, while theories of transformational leadership evoke theologically relevant concepts, such as charisma and inspiration, little connection has been drawn to theological perspectives on these concepts. We will show, in the specific area of iconography, how taking seriously the notion of leaders as iconic can provide new depth to our students' understanding of transformational leadership. Specifically, the iconic dynamics of reflection and refraction illumine how leaders may function for others as catalysts of selfdiscovery and a more purposeful life.

Having faith in our faith in God: Toward a critical realist epistemology for Christian Education

Religious Education, Jan 1, 2001

The postmodern era poses significant challenges to Christian faith in God. For many, a subterrane... more The postmodern era poses significant challenges to Christian faith in God. For many, a subterranean question lies just beneath their tenuous faith: "Is there an objective reality upon which faith in God is based?" This essay argues that, in addition to other important factors, a dominant worldview or epistemologa within postmodern culture conceals the multidimensional nature of reality and discredits religious faith. Critical realism is introduced as an epistemological framework of both science and theology in which Christian faith makes sense. Significant implications are drawn for teaching and learning and pastoral ministry in Christian congregations.

Encountering God in the Image of Christ: Iconic Leadership

Journal of Religious Leadership, Jan 1, 2002

Dwelling in the Divine Life? The Transformational Dimension of Leadership and Practical Theology

arl-jrl.org

5-Leadership and Serendipitous Discipleship: A Case Study of Congregational Transformation

… Transformation in Practical Theology: Essays in …, Jan 1, 2004

Education and the Liturgical Life of the Church

Religious Education, Jan 1, 2003

In every faith community, worship and education should be conceived and practiced as interdepende... more

Theological Education in Epistemological Perspective: The Significance of Michael Polanyhi's “Personal Knowledge” for a Theological Orientation of Theological …

Teaching Theology & Religion, Jan 1, 1998

Congregational Studies and Critical Pedagogy in Theological Perspective

If the church is, as the apostle Paul claims, the Body of Christ in the world, then the church is... more If the church is, as the apostle Paul claims, the Body of Christ in the world, then the church is always and everywhere a historical and social manifestation. Its particular social forms are of infinite variety: from the spontaneous gathering of two or three in Christ's name to ecclesiastical bodies that endure the passing of millennia and extend to the far reaches of the globe. Of these, congregations are one of the most common and recognizable manifestations of the church. It is exceedingly important for scholars, clergy, and congregants to take this form seriously in its personal, social, and cultural aspects; only when these aspects are examined in their particularity can they be intentionally reformed to be more truly the theological reality that the church is. In recent years we have seen the development of two distinctive modes of analysis, "congregational studies" and "critical pedagogy," both of which hold great promise for the future transformation of the church. Congregational studies is primarily a framework that loosely incorporates the interrogative methods of the social sciences for the description and clarification of congregational life. To discern and understand the actualities of the life of religious communities is the first step to addressing adequately their needs. Critical pedagogy, on the other hand, is oriented to educative contexts such as public schools. Rooted in the critical theory of the Frankfurt School, Paulo Freire's "pedagogy of the oppressed," and the interrelated discourses of gender, class, and race critique, critical pedagogy aims to unearth and expose dynamics of oppression, as well as to foster creative resistance against oppression in schooling. In essence, critical pedagogy is an expanded and refined reincarnation of critical theory specifically oriented to educative contexts. Through its herme-neutics of suspicion regarding relations of domination, such a critical perspective will provide the church with methodologies of critical self-reflection to illumine the shadow side of congregational life. This essay critically correlates congregational studies and critical pedagogy for the purpose of discerning how they might contribute to ecclesial transformation.

CHRISTIAN MINISTRY AS COMMUNION: CONTRIBUTIONS OF ORTHODOX-REFORMED DIALOGUE TO A REFORMED THEOLOGY OF ECCLESIAL MINISTRY

PRECIS If the church Is to express authentically its nature as the Body of Christ in the world, h... more PRECIS If the church Is to express authentically its nature as the Body of Christ in the world, how might its community and ministry be understood and enacted? It is argued here that all authentic forms of ministry arise out of the worship of the church and are, therefore, litnigftcalty structured. Fundamental to the liturgy of the church is the sacrament of the eucharlst by which assembly and its ministries are constituted communally in Christ by the Spirit This essay seeks to discern in the historic dialogue between Reformed and Orthodox churches clues of a fundamental structure by which the diversity of institutional forms and ministerial practices of churches may be more truly sacramental embodiments of Christ's communion with the Father in the Holy Spirit

DWELLING IN THE DIVINE LIFE: THE TRANSFORMATIONAL DIMENSION OF LEADERSHIP AND PRACTICAL THEOLOGY

We are concerned here to explore the relation of transformation and Christian leadership. And as... more We are concerned here to explore the relation of transformation and Christian leadership. And as we come to greater clarity about the central role of transformation to Christian leadership, we will question the overriding - if not in many cases exclusive - emphasis in theological training of leaders upon gaining command and control, upon power over or with others, in short, upon the mastery of the ego as definitive of effective and successful leadership. We will wonder aloud whether the theological methods taught in seminaries and promoted by academics and denominational officials are sufficiently spiritually oriented and thus theologically adequate. Do they help leaders practice theology and ministry theologically? To paraphrase theologian David Kelsey, are the practices of leadership helping us to understand God and everything in relation to God more truly?

Toward a Wesleyan Sacramental Ecclesiology

John and Charles Wesley had a developed understanding of and reverence for sacramental practice a... more John and Charles Wesley had a developed understanding of and reverence for sacramental practice and theology that suggests a dynamic sacramental ecclesiol-ogy and lends itself to a robust concept of sacramentality. Taking seriously Wesley's imperative of 'constant communion' , this paper looks to the Eucharist for an underlying , fundamental pattern of participation in the divine life whereby we embody and enact it by the power of the Spirit. The proposed Eucharistic pattern emphasizes a dynamic movement of ever greater participation in God by gathering together, offering all that we have and are, sharing our lives fully in trinitarian communion , and extending the communion we have become to little altars everywhere , especially to the 'least of these'. To reframe Wesleyan ecclesiology in terms of a dynamic, relational sacramentality, patterned after the Eucharist, overcomes conventional oppositions of communion and mission by integrating them fully in the effort to follow Jesus Christ.

Chapter 5. Leadership and Serendipitous Discipleship: A Case Study of Congregational Transformation

This essay explores the nature of Christian leadership by contrasting one particularly dominant i... more This essay explores the nature of Christian leadership by contrasting one particularly dominant image of leadership in the church with a case study of a congregation whose life was transformed by bearing its cross faithfully. This case will be viewed through the lens of James E. Loder’s transformational logic and its theological framework to illumine the work of the Spirit in a particular congregation. We will come to discover key insights into the nature and function of leadership for the church..

Iconic Leadership: A New Approach to Transformational Leadership

It is our contention that business education does a generally good job of instructing students in... more It is our contention that business education does a generally good job of instructing students in the foundations of business leadership. However, it does not do as well in applying lessons from theological approaches to leadership, especially in areas where a theological perspective could serve to deepen leadership theory. For example, while theories of transformational leadership evoke theologically relevant concepts, such as charisma and inspiration, little connection has been drawn to theological perspectives on these concepts. We will show, in the specific area of iconography, how taking seriously the notion of leaders as iconic can provide new depth to our students' understanding of transformational leadership. Specifically, the iconic dynamics of reflection and refraction illumine how leaders may function for others as catalysts of selfdiscovery and a more purposeful life.

Having faith in our faith in God: Toward a critical realist epistemology for Christian Education

Religious Education, Jan 1, 2001

The postmodern era poses significant challenges to Christian faith in God. For many, a subterrane... more The postmodern era poses significant challenges to Christian faith in God. For many, a subterranean question lies just beneath their tenuous faith: "Is there an objective reality upon which faith in God is based?" This essay argues that, in addition to other important factors, a dominant worldview or epistemologa within postmodern culture conceals the multidimensional nature of reality and discredits religious faith. Critical realism is introduced as an epistemological framework of both science and theology in which Christian faith makes sense. Significant implications are drawn for teaching and learning and pastoral ministry in Christian congregations.

Encountering God in the Image of Christ: Iconic Leadership

Journal of Religious Leadership, Jan 1, 2002

Dwelling in the Divine Life? The Transformational Dimension of Leadership and Practical Theology

arl-jrl.org

5-Leadership and Serendipitous Discipleship: A Case Study of Congregational Transformation

… Transformation in Practical Theology: Essays in …, Jan 1, 2004

Education and the Liturgical Life of the Church

Religious Education, Jan 1, 2003

In every faith community, worship and education should be conceived and practiced as interdepende... more

Theological Education in Epistemological Perspective: The Significance of Michael Polanyhi's “Personal Knowledge” for a Theological Orientation of Theological …

Teaching Theology & Religion, Jan 1, 1998