The Australian College of Theology recently drew my attention to an address given by Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, on the topic of theology and formation.*

Like other things I’ve read from the Archbishop it is an eloquent address that by virtue of its eloquence leaves me wanting to ask more questions in the attempt to clarify what is being said (and not said). There are places where I'd have liked him to speak more explicitly about the place of the Bible as the primary source and final measure of all theological reflection, and there are some obvious questions about what sort of boundaries ought to exist on what makes for authentic Christianity. I agree with the dismay at megaphone theology (‘large, simple and aggressive messages delivered in a highly public way that is not really designed to change anything much’) but would probably differ on who is most to blame for this and what contributions fit within that category.

All that aside though, I have greatly appreciated the Archbishop’s expression of three ideas central to the task of theology and formation. We have had a similar three-fold aim at Youthworks College as we prepare men and women for Word ministry among children, youth and families. In our language we talk about three main aspects of our program: the biblical-theological-historical studies of the theological ‘encyclopedia’ (Old Testament, New Testament, Church History, Systematics) that builds our understanding of God’s Word; cultural studies (developmental psychology, pedagogy, culture) that builds our understanding of the part of God’s world in which we are particularly called to minister; and (for want of a better heading), personal studies, incorporating both hands (ministry skills) and heart (personal spiritual life) that builds our understanding of ourselves as people involved in Christian ministry. Word, World and Person perhaps, if you’re looking for a slogan.

Archbishop Rowan frames his thoughts around three answers to the question, Where are we? We are in Christ, in the world and in our self.

I like the way that the first answer would help our study of Bible, history and theology to avoid the trap of becoming abstract and theoretical and more connected with our life and identity, both as individual believers and as the people of God. I appreciate also the emphasis on knowing where we are in the world in which we serve. For me this expresses both the importance of acknowledging the influence of our tradition and culture in how we hear God speaking in Scripture and the need to know the real issues being faced by children and young people today so that we can enable them to hear how God speaks to them and not past them or beyond them.

What has resonated most with me is the last point: the importance of growing in self-awareness. This is a question my mind always turns to at this time of year since we are again travelling with first year Youthworks College students to Queensland for an eleven day intensive unit in ‘the Personal life of Those in Ministry’. On self-awareness, Archbishop Rowan says this:
The third dimension is in some ways the most important of all - and strangely also the one that often seems to be the first to go. This is nourishing people in self-awareness. I don’t think there is any theological education worth the name that is not at some point crucially an education in self-awareness. This doesn’t mean an education in introspection – looking inside and worrying. You can do that without going to seminary! But learning a bit of emotional intelligence, a bit of imagination, a bit of honesty and transparency... an adult awareness of themselves, their limits, their struggles, their strengths.

Over two weeks we work with students to think through the personal, relational and spiritual issues they face as people involved in vocational ministry. We deal with personality, disciplines of word and prayer, boundaries, conflict, relationships, burnout and stress, faith and doubt, all set in the context of our identity ‘in Christ’. But perhaps on the whole a summary for ‘tour’ (as the intensive is affectionately known among the YWC family) is to give students the time and space to ‘take a good hard look at yourself.’

The point of this little article then is to ask two things. One is to pray for our students, and for all who are preparing for vocational ministry in formal theological education. Pray that would know God deeply, know the world clearly and know themselves honestly.

The second is to ask how we are helping the young people in our churches to develop the same self-awareness that is grounded deeply in the gospel and realistic for the challenges of their world?

A key factor in adolescent identity formation is mirroring: young people develop their sense of self as they see how others see them; they see themselves mirrored in the responses of others. Left on their own many young people will simply fall victim to the dominating and dismissing voices of advertisers and a disconnected adult world. Left on their own with no genuine engagement with loving adults in their lives many young people are in a ‘hall of mirrors’, reflecting their own insecurities, fears and bravado to one another. On the other hand, the adult members of the church family have a powerful opportunity to be a more godly mirror. And not just opportunity, but responsibility, and privilege. Will we help young people see their identity in Christ and affirm to them how the Spirit is individually shaping each one of them as servants of God?

How are you going at helping our young people grow in self-awareness in Christ?

* The paper was read at a consultation of 30 Anglican theological college principals held at Canterbury Cathedral in May 2011 and hosted by TEAC, Theological Education in the Anglican Communion. Read the article in full at the ACT website: [url=http://www.actheology.edu.au/resources.php]http://www.actheology.edu.au/resources.php[/url]