ACTION RESEARCH
ARCS is working in an action research process with:
Housing Justice – a national homelessness charity ‘Housing Justice is the national voice of Christian action to prevent homelessness and bad housing.’ ARCS is negotiating a phase of action research with London parishes, involved with Housing Justice UNLEASH (a membership forum and network for churches, agencies and individuals concerned with housing and homelessness in London).
Diocese of Portsmouth - ARCS is working in an action research process with the Diocese of Portsmouth in its support of the development of stewardship in its parishes/pastoral areas. This is one of the major strands of its pastoral plan “Go Out and Bear Fruit” which was published in 2005 following major consultation throughout the diocese. Research with ARCS involves describing and reflecting upon the theology and practice of stewardship as it develops in its pilot stages.
Agency for Evangelisation, Archdiocese of Westminster – ARCS is working with the Adult Faith Formation team with a view to examining the effectiveness of adult faith formation at deanery level and its role in evangelisation and renewal.
Youth 2000 - an international Catholic youth initiative arranging retreats and prayer groups for young people in Europe and the USA. The ARCS research reflects upon the practice and theology of the Youth 2000 retreat (at various locations in the UK), and how the retreat enables conversion to Christ and deeper understanding of the Catholic faith.
Westminster Justice and Peace Commission - ARCS is working iwth the Westminster Justice and Peace Commission explore the significance of fair trade in one Roman Catholic parish, in particular, looking at the different ways in which parishioners connect up fair trade with the wider mission of the parish.
CAFOD - ARCS is working with members of staff at the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development to help strengthen their organisational capacity for theological reflection in the area of Catholic Social Teaching.
Anglican Case Studies:
St Mary’s Alpha Course, Battersea -
ARCS is working with St Mary's Church to look at the ways in which St Mary's Alpha course impacts upon participants' faith journeys in the parish. A key component of the project is to explore issues of Christian church/community commitment in terms of theology and ecclesiology.
Social Responsibility Network, Diocese of Southwark -
ARCS is working with the Social Responsibility Network of the Diocese of Southwark to carry out some enhanced theological reflection on issues raised in their strategic parish development work. The Network is made up of people with expertise in regeneration, community development, social responsibility, economy, family, welfare and finance.