Disillusionment: Reflections on the Experience of Theological Education

Abstract

In this paper “disillusionment” is applied as an heuristic motif to interpret the experience of theological education. It is found to describe not only a necessary characteristic of the educational experience, but also a central aspect of the theological task in itself. The methodological convergence of doing theology and teaching theology is identified. In the light of this, the reformed model of “teaching elder” is reconsidered in relation to the understanding of ministry of the Word in the Uniting Church in Australia.