Learning to be the church: The value of learning theory for discipleship and mission

Abstract

This article draws on the findings of recent learning theory in adult education and describes possible ecclesial dispositions that better enable parish churches to be learning communities within the mission of God for the world. Once we understand our educational philosophy and our goals then we are better served to inform and shape the way we plan and go about the process of teaching and learning, and so develop the church’s sense of mission. The article argues that, deep approaches to learning offer a vision for ecclesial learning that will draw from the many and varied contexts where diversity is increasingly our experience. Creative but transformative learning that is ‘world involving’ precisely because it is ‘God involving’ and vice versa, can help the church mirror approaches to mission that reflect discipleship and mission in the name of the Triune God.