Research as Transformation

At the Centre for Faith and Community, research is more than just gathering data or producing academic outputs—it is about fostering tangible, life-affirming change in local communities. Guided by our mission to contribute to healthy and transformed societies, our research is rooted in action and advocacy, addressing real-world challenges through collaborative, praxis-based methodologies.

 

We believe that communities themselves hold the keys to their own transformation. By engaging directly with individuals, organisations, and institutions, our research is designed to co-create solutions that are meaningful, measurable, and sustainable. Whether it is addressing homelessness, advocating for social justice, or imagining new forms of urban theological education, our work bridges the gap between theory and practice.

 

Our approach is trans-disciplinary and inclusive, inviting the voices of practitioners, faith leaders, and community members into the research process. This ensures that our findings contribute to academic knowledge, policies, practices, and initiatives that create lasting impact. Through Research as Transformation, we strive to document best practices, influence policies, and empower communities to build better futures, affirming the deep connection between evidence-based theology, advocacy, and lived experiences. What follows is a list of over-arching themes and their subcategories that we use as a basis for our research.