The ARCS (Action Research Church and Society) project was a six year project 2006-2010, at Heythrop College, University of London, in collaboration with the Oxford Centre for Ecclesiology and Practical Theology, Ripon College Cuddesdon. It worked with 14 church based organisations, using theological action research as a methodology for theological reflection on and for practice.
The ARCS project had as its focus the ad extra or outward looking work of dioceses, parishes and faith-based agencies, mainly working in London. Methodological outcomes are reported in Talking About God in Practice (Cameron et al., 2010).
| Project Partner | Principal Focus | Principal Aim of the Research |
| CaFE www.faithcafe.org | Catechesis and evangelisation in parishes using a variety of media | To explore how CaFE resources equip participants and parishes for evangelization and renewal. |
| Youth 2000 www.youth2000.org | Catholic youth retreats and prayer groups for young people | To reflect upon the practice and theology of the Youth 2000 retreat and how it enables conversion to Christ. |
| RC Diocese of Portsmouth www.portsmouthdiocese.org.uk | Stewardship in parishes/pastoral areas | To describe and reflect upon the practice and theology of the Stewardship Pilots with a view to influencing full implementation in Pastoral Areas. |
| RC Archdiocese of Westminster www.rcdow.org.uk | Adult faith formation at deanery level | To examine the effectiveness of adult faith formation at deanery level and its role in evangelisation |
| Housing Justice www.housingjustice.org.uk CARIS Islington www.carisislington.org | A national homelessness charity, supporting a cold weather shelter parish network | To reflect theologically on he impact of one Churches Cold Weather Shelter on parish life, focussing on a Catholic and Anglican parish. |
| CofE St Mary’s Parish Church www.stmarysbattersea.org.uk | St Mary’s Alpha Course | To explore the impact of the Alpha Course. |
| CofE Diocese of Southwark www.southwark.anglican.org | Social Responsibility Network | To carry out enhanced theological reflection upon key themes in London. |
| Westminster Justice and Peace Commission Diocese of Westminster Justice and Peace Commission | Justice and peace in parish life | To reflect theologically on the impact of justice and peace work in one Roman Catholic parish, focussing specifically on fair trade. |
| Cafod www.cafod.org.uk | The use of Catholic Social Teaching by Cafod staff | To strengthen the organizational capacity of Cafod in its use of Catholic Social Teaching |
| London Jesuit Volunteers, Mount Street Jesuit Centre London Jesuit Centre | Providing community placements for volunteers with action-reflection model | To strengthen the organizational capacity of LJV to enable other organizations to replicate the LJV ‘Action-Contemplation-Community’ volunteer model. |
| CofE Messy Church www.messychurch.org.uk Emmanuel Church, Croydon www.emmanuelcroydon.org.uk/ whats-on/messy-church | Discipleship | To reflect on whether and how messy church is making disciples of Christ |
| CofE I-Church The Gatehouse Home – The Gatehouse (i-church.org) | Online theological reflection | To explore how theological reflection can improve online pastoral care for bereaved pet owners. |
Related Material & Publications
ARCS Housing Justice Reflections for Cycle Two. July 26th 2009.
Watkins, C. and Shepherd, B. (2014) The Challenge of ‘Fresh Expressions’ to Ecclesiology: Reflections from the Practice of Messy Church. Ecclesial Practices, 1.1, pp.92-110
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/22144471-00101005
Theology and Action Research Network 