This practical handbook guides readers through the various tools, methods of analysis and research skills needed for studying local churches. It is aimed at final year undergraduates, Masters level students, student ministers, church leaders and policy makers interested in local faith communities.

This book proposes to bring together three elements for the benefit of those researching practice in ministry and mission: - how to design research that enables questions about practice to be answered in a theological framework. - how to address the methodological and epistemological issues that arise in relating empirical research to theology. - how to manage a piece of research as a project alongside other responsibilities. Students in PT mostly rely on research methods books written for social science students which tend to assume that the student is young and full-time. This book will act...