The research supervisor as friend

ABSTRACT

This is a theological reflection on the nature of research supervision in theological education. To begin, I present some results from a piece of empirical educational research into what constitutes effective research supervision. During the research, however, through reflexivity, I became concerned to understand the supervisory relationship from a theological as well as an educational perspective. This led to the search for a metaphor which would be educationally durable and theologically valid. The metaphor I highlight is that of ‘friend’. I argue that the research supervisor as friend offers a valuable, non-hierarchical, vocational approach, ethically rooted in the love of God and capable of negotiating the vagaries of supervision. I conclude by briefly indicating the significance of this understanding for my practice.

KEYWORDS:

• Theological education
• research supervision
• friendship

Notes

1 I have reproduced responses throughout without correcting grammar.