Research as Diaconia: Commitment, Action and Participation

Abstract

Conventionally, diaconal research is conceived as research on diaconal practice. This article traces two separate yet parallel traditions that have shaped diaconal practice and influenced related research, in order to argue that research should rather be seen as diaconal practice in its own right. Such research, in order to be diaconal, needs to meet certain requirements: It needs to be morally committed to the cause of justice. It needs to be expressed as action. And it needs to be participatory and dialogical in character. The first part of the article traces the roots of diaconal practice in liberation theologies, particularly its Freire-inspired Latin American origins. The second part explores in particular the southern Action Research, or Participatory Action Research (AR/PAR), tradition, which is also indebted to the critical pedagogy of Freire. AR/PAR as a methodology and as a research program involves and requires commitment to social justice This tradition also requires that research takes place through the active collaboration of all relevant parties – stakeholders – to a particular research topic. The third and final part of the article reflects briefly on how these traditions challenge and develop further present-day diaconal practice in the context of large diaconal service organizations, using the Oslo Church City Mission as a case in point. How can such an organization, we ask, integrate the systematic quest for knowledge in the diaconal endeavour, always posing the critical question of whose knowledge, or knowledge for the benefit of whom?

Keywords

• diaconal research
• paulo freire
• action research
• participatory action research
• liberation theology
• oslo church city mission