Learning our Way: Engaging Laity through Large-scale Participatory Action Research

Participation in educational programs in the Church has been in decline. This article describes a large-scale participatory action research project that became a catalyst for strengthening the participation of lay leaders and revitalizing a church's educational ministry. The two-year process eventually involved 178 leaders and more than a thousand other members of the church-learning, planning, and collaboratively developing a new educational ministry. Nine cycles of planning, action, and reflection resulted in a new educational program for children and an alternative model for adult learning. Four elements were found to facilitate the process: structure, context, mechanics, and laity engagement. Findings suggest that heuristic educational models, such as participatory action research, have potential for individual and congregational transformation.