This course introduces participants to a range of historical and contemporary theologies of poverty,
development, justice and peace, located among local and global community movements, faith-based
organizations and church institutions of the global South and North. The theory and practice of
international and community development are integrated with theological analysis and reflection on
questions of the presence of God among God’s people in the spaces of vulnerability, poverty, justice and
transformation.
Participants in this course have opportunity to explore the biblical and theological underpinnings for
several approaches to poverty and development, justice and peace. The course examines existing
principles and potential theological frameworks for faith-based engagement in disaster response,
development, advocacy and social change. The course has value for community leaders, development
practitioners and church agencies that want to build solid biblical and theological foundations for
community development.
The purpose of the course is to increase participants’ capacities to reflect and act biblically, theologically
and historically about their vocation, their organization and their daily engagement with poverty and
injustice.
The course includes engagement, reflection and readings in:
1. Poverty, development and justice in the Bible and selected church traditions
2. Selected contemporary Christian voices on poverty, development and justice
3. The apologies and confessions of the church
4. Toxic charity
5. Indigenous perspectives on poverty and development
6. Poverty, power and policy: the church as advocate
7. Faith-based NGOs
8. Constructing a contemporary theology of development
9. Integral mission and evangelical perspectives on poverty and development
10. Roman Catholic, Anglican, evangelical and other perspectives on poverty and development
11. The religion and development dialogue
12. Creation care, poverty and development
13. Ethical and spiritual issues for development practitioners
