Action Research In Ministry Institute (ARMI)


In order to fulfill our mission in a manner that maintains the tradition of excellence in theological education Shaw University Divinity School has expanded its emphasis on research through the establishment of the Action Research In Ministry Institute (ARMI). The ARMI focus is on leadership development in the "practice of ministry" with an emphasis on African-American church and community leaders. The ARMI provides faculty with expanded opportunities to engage in a synergistic approach to research and teaching that will enable them to make significant contributions to the corpus of data in the “practice of ministry” that is particularly relevant to the African American church. The ARMI equips SUDS students, pastors and other church leaders with the requisite knowledge and skills to effectively respond to the plethora of complex issues faced by church and community leaders in the 21st Century. Such issues include but are not limited to: (1) disparities in education, health, income and wealth; (2) the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS, particularly in the African-American community; (3) issues related to domestic abuse and violence, (4) the need to develop comprehensive church-based prison ministries and (5) the use of technology in teaching, learning, research and ministry. 

The foundational beliefs of the ARMI are as follows: (1) The Black Church has both a spiritual and social mandate to respond to the emerging issues that threaten the well-being of the African-American community thus society as a whole; (2) The Black church is the most effective institution to promote substantive socio-political change in response to the complex issues that threaten the well-being of the African-American community thus society as a whole; (3) Committed and well-prepared leadership is a prerequisite to the Black Church’s ability to bring about substantive socio-political change in response to the aforementioned issues; (4) Action Research in Ministry provides an effective process for the preparation of a cadre of Black church leaders who are willing and prepared to embrace the mandate for fostering socio-political change. 

Action Research in Ministry engages university faculty and church/community leaders as collaborative practitioner-researchers in a process of reflective and continuous dialog that includes planning, action, reflection and assessment that results in mutual empowerment, collaboration, the acquisition of knowledge and socio-political change.