Research program Theological University of Utrecht 2024-2029 Vulnerability & Hope
Introduction
This document serves as a compact description of the framework of the research program at Utrecht Theological University (TUU) 2024-2029. During this period, TUU wants to study a topic that is sufficiently broad for the research that is happening in the various research institutes and at the same time has sufficient focus to work on it together, as well as sufficient potential for in-depth academic reflection and social and ecclesiastical relevance. In addition, this definition of the framework seeks to clarify the feasibility of the criteria against which our research will be measured in 2029, namely, quality of research; social relevance of research; and future-proofing of the unit.
Vulnerability & Hope
Theological research at TUU takes place in the context of Dutch society, with a particular focus on Protestant Reformed faith communities and Christian organizations. There are great concerns about the future of our environment, not only among policy makers or researchers, but among society at large. Global developments play a role in this, such as the ecological crisis, the global political and economic consequences of war on the European continent, increasing polarization that seems to dominate societies, or the limited sustainability of various (Western) healthcare systems. At the same time, themes such as the history of slavery, the lack of social justice and the overexploitation of the earth raise pervasive questions about the past and show the vulnerability of human beings in the anthropocene. Faith and church are also under pressure, sharing in the vulnerability of all creation.
How do Christian communities relate to this vulnerability, and to what extent do they themselves share in it? Is the Christian narrative itself perhaps to blame for such vulnerabilities?
From these concerns and questions comes the question of the directions in which answers should be sought. From a Christian perspective, we choose to characterize these directions with the layered theological concept of hope. This is a theme that is being developed in various (intradisciplinary and interdisciplinary) research projects. With what biblical and theological language, in connection with what (church) historical experiences, and through what practices can research from TUU contribute to dealing with this vulnerability and see it as a force for caring and responsibility? What does Christian hope mean for our research themes? How does a narrative of vulnerability and hope contribute to doing justice to people and communities?
Starting point
We feel it is important to formulate a specific starting point for this research program. God’s unmerited salvation in Christ’s life, death and resurrection challenges easy answers, malleable solutions or the denial of our vulnerability, and calls for repentance. The TUU with its researchers cannot ignore its own vulnerability, and the role Christian faith and Christian communities play in it, and we want to acknowledge and thematize it.
With an eye on the Vulnerability & Hope double stroke, we from TUU want to leverage our Protestant Reformed theological traditions for our research. What can theological research from, and also for, faith communities contribute to practices of hope for our vulnerable society, while also clarifying how hope implies a critical perspective. Concrete research within the researchinstitutes will further explore (aspects of) these concepts from the specific focus and expertise of each group.
Relationship
The relationship between the concepts of vulnerability and hope needs to be further defined and explained. Both to thematize our presuppositions and to define the context of the research. We read both concepts from a Christian perspective where they further qualify each other as will need to be further elaborated in the different research groups. In the Christian tradition, a grounded expectation of the future is a prerequisite for being able to be vulnerable and acknowledge the brokenness of creation, and the role of people and the Christian tradition in it. And vice versa: those who dare to be vulnerable can come to hope, where hope from a Christian perspective is not only future-oriented but also has the element of trust in an Other who both helps us in the present and promises a new future.
Critical potential
The critical potential inherent in this Christian perspective can also be further explored and developed. From this perspective, hope is not malleable but can only be received as a gift in all vulnerability. And vice versa: those who dare to be vulnerable can come to hope, where hope from a Christian perspective is not only future-oriented but also has the element of trust in an Other who both helps us in the present and promises a new future. The critical potential inherent in this Christian perspective can also be further explored and developed. From this perspective, hope is not malleable but can only be received as a gift in all vulnerability. Conversely, vulnerability without hope makes one despondent.
The keywords vulnerability and hope allow us to relate to the National Science Agenda (NWA) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Each of our research institutes (NRI, BEST, CCMW, CDRS, and E-OI), as well as the Deddens Kerkrecht Centrum and the Center for Religion and Law, can align their research accordingly.
The research period 2024-2029 will conclude with a TU wide conference and a joint publication (book). This will strengthen the synergy of the research groups on the researchnarrative and bring the complementary research perspectives into the limelight.
Elaboration
The following paragraphs outlines how the specific (intra-)disciplinary perspective on the theme Vulnerability & Hope will be elaborated from different research institutes.
Biblical Exegesis and Systematic Theology
In the research institute Biblical Exegesis and Systematic Theology (BEST), TUU’s biblical scholars and systematic theologians work together with an NLU partner, the Theological University Apeldoorn (TUA). A spearhead of BEST is to strengthen the interaction between Bible Science and systematic theology. We strive for an inspiring understanding of Scripture with a special interest in God and his work, and for a systematic theology that is continually refreshed from Scripture and not tied to rigid conceptual structures.
Throughout the centuries we see how God devotes himself to weak and vulnerable people and in doing so, in his love, makes himself vulnerable. God is faithful to his creation, to people, and to his people. This offers hope when creation and creatures themselves are vulnerable. Central to this is the cross of Jesus Christ, where God makes himself one with small and guilty people, with their guilt, suffering and death. God’s vulnerable devotion in Christ’s death on the cross turns out to be a hopeful source of renewal in the resurrection, both for creation and for people in that creation. How does this vulnerable devotion relate to the crises of our time and the unruly aspects of the biblical image of God? From this source, how can people themselves become devotional examples of hope and learn to live even in suffering and vulnerability?
Vulnerability & Hope ties in well with the research theme BEST is working on this term, Crucial Commitment. BEST researchers from TU will think through from the Bible and
systematic theology how vulnerability and suffering of God (with the cross as the center) are sources of hope for suffering and vulnerable people.
Neo-Calvinism Research Institute
The Neo-Calvinism Research Institute (NRI) focuses on the history and future of the neo-Calvinist tradition. To properly interpret the meaning of neo-Calvinism, a multidisciplinary approach is necessary. Historical research is needed to understand the tradition in its historical context. Theological research can help to understand the ideas from within. And philosophy contributes to thinking through its public meaning.
What does neo-Calvinism have to offer in today’s highly polarized society? Government sometimes intervenes deeply in people’s lives. At the same time, the logic of the market often prevails in decision-making. The focus is on targets and performance indicators. This leads to a society in which social work, care, education and other social values are under pressure. An important premise of neo-Calvinism is that there are different spheres of society, each with its own nature. Only when justice is done to each of these spheres can people flourish properly. Can we learn anything from this insight when it comes to poverty, inequality and public values under pressure? Or does neo-Calvinism, when it comes to caring for the vulnerable, actually fall short? Doesn’t the tradition assume too much of an optimistic view of man? Does it pay enough attention to one’s own dependency and to that which is defenseless?
Center for Dutch Reformation Studies
The Center for Dutch Reformation Studies (CDRS) focuses its church history research on the (late) Middle Ages, the Reformations in the early modern period (ca. 1400-1750) and their traces in modern times. Central to this are the church(es) as an institution and its dynamic relationship to lived religious practice as well as Christian theology and piety history.
The definition of church changed dramatically during this period. This was accompanied by social and political unrest in society and a moral crisis, which showed the vulnerability of the church(es) as an institution and of believers and their quest. The (religious) wars resulting from political and religious reform processes triggered a migratory movement, creating refugee and minority churches. Cities such as Strasbourg, London, Antwerp, Amsterdam, and Geneva functioned as hubs for refugees. They provided space for hopeful new developments in church, theology, and piety.
The research program Vulnerability & Hope provides a framework to examine these processes of change and to visualize how church historical knowledge can provide leads for current issues in church and society.
Center for Education and Identity
The research conducted at the Education and Identity Expertise Center (E-OI) focuses on the intersection of theology and pedagogy/education. Areas of focus are the Christian school and issues related to the shaping of Christian identity. As well as the faith and identity development of Christian youth. The vulnerability of Christian education is an important theme. Through fundamental and practice-based research, it examines how Christian schools can strengthen their own character, the nature, design and shaping of their education. In this context, attention is also paid to the vulnerability of growing young people in a further secularizing world. How are they being shaped? How do they learn to live from hope? Hope as a theme looks to a future perspective. It is important to engage the social imagination – both personal and institutional – to offer hope in vulnerable situations.
Center for Church and Mission in the West
The Centre for Church and Mission in the West (CCMW) focuses on Christian practices and practices of Christians in the full breadth. In the context of Christian institutions, churches,
and educational institutions, but equally outside these, in organizations and projects without an explicitly Christian signature. In doing so, we keep an explicit focus on the relationship
with the secularized inner and outer church context of the West. CCMW focuses both on the practices of missionary groups and projects, as practices of ‘inherited churches’ in their
search for renewal and continuity, as well as the institutional and legal status aspects of being church in and for society, as well as the formative practices of (Christian) education.
Experienced crises
The fragility of Christian identity is great, the practices in which it is embodied are under pressure, and the society of which Christians in the West are a part suffers from many
kinds of crises. CCMW focuses its research on the concretely experienced crises, and how and with what practices individuals and Christian faith communities are or are not enduring
their vulnerability. How do their practices relate to the professed reality of God’s action in this world? What hopeful and vulnerable renewal do they seek to face the great challenges?
What hope do Christian practices embody, and where is it perceived as hopeful?
CCMW wants to explicitly thematize the intercultural dimension of our society and the role of Christian faith communities in it. For all fields of practice, in the search for renewal within one’s own context, leadership and the value of sense-making narratives will receive attention. Therefore, within CCMW both empirical practice research and the search for the underlying narratives and their articulation are part of the research program.
From Vulnerability & Hope the contributions from the various research institutes will have their own focus, and conversely, the general theme will be elaborated in the full breadth of theological research.
Elaboration of SEP criteria
With this research program 2024-2029, and the outlined elaboration within the research institutes, the TUU indicates how we will meet the SEP criteria in 2029.
Quality
First, quality. By working in the administrative line of CvB (Rector), director of research, research institutes, individual researchers will be directed concretely on specific effort, focus and output. This line is also the framework for quality assurance, in addition to the usual criteria (peer review) for academic research. Through PURE, individual researchers will indicate in joint or non-joint ‘projects’ what output they want to deliver in the context of our joint research, and this will be monitored in the same line.
Social relevance
Second, social relevance. Vulnerable hope and hopeful vulnerability will have an important place in description and analysis of the societal context of TUU and its research. Through matching, not only intra- and interdisciplinary research coalitions will be forged, but also social organizations will be linked to our research. To this end, the research institutes will also formulate concrete goals, which must be secured in the quality line. One aspect of social relevance in our research is ecclesial relevance. The specific theological qualification of vulnerability and hope within and for faith communities will receive ample attention in the elaboration by the research groups. Churches and faith communities may be involved as co-creators of knowledge in some research.
Viability
Thirdly, the viability of the TU research unit is initially assured by the agreement of the research institutes to this overarching research program. The research institutes and individual researchers are bound by this commitment, and this will also be actively managed. Working toward joint output (compilation and perhaps congress, and other output annex) can act as a focus and stimulus. Cooperation with partners within the NLU (PThU, UvH, TUA) and other universities at home and abroad will also be explicitly encouraged.
Prof. dr. Hans Schaeffer, Research Director
