Guiding missiological research the symbiotic relationship between academic excellence, flexible research process design and praxis-focused research output

Research is a lifelong journey for those who are called to give contextually potent witness to the Christian gospel. Doctoral programmes provide an excellent training in research method as well as producing new knowledge and thought that can be highly significant for the strengthening of Christian witness in many contexts but this paper will argue that the doctoral thesis is not the only, or always, the most appropriate, format for the presentation of missional research. Reflecting on the first six years of the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies’ Guided Research Programme the paper suggests that those concerned for more effective Christian witness globally need to explore a new approach to research that presents new knowledge and academic challenge to a wider audience, facilitating participation in research by greater numbers of church leaders, agency workers and Christian academics without compromising academic excellence. The article suggests priorities for such a development.