Jonathan Libag went to York St. John's University from 11th - 12th July to attend a lecture which he writes about below.

It was the Second International Conference on Value and Virtue in Practice-Based Research.  There are total of 63 participants from different Universities across the world.  I am so privileged to represent Oxford Centre for Mission Studies (OCMS).  Keynote Speakers Prof. Julian Stern (Dean, Faculty of Education and Theology, York St. John University), Emeritus Prof. John Elliot (University of East Anglia) and Prof. Jean McNiff (York St John University) articulated the value and virtue in doing action research and its spiritual dimension, also invited discussion about how values understood as virtues.  Another keynote speaker, Mr Philip Mudd (Publisher, Routledge Education) shared some tips, lessons and strategies to get the research paper or essays into publication.  At the end of the conference, participants were invited to write for publication. 

The conference was very informative and very encouraging knowing other professionals and research scholars did and doing different areas of action research.   I gave my 30 minutes paper presentation on the second day.  I presented part of a concept on my research paper titled: “The Pastor, a researcher: Reflection on the lives of the rural pastors in the Philippines and their participation in research.” This paper presented roles between research partners (pastors) and me as the primary researcher, the power relationship as well as some ethical consideration on doing participatory action research.  There are few challenging questions as well as positive response from the participants. 

Although the conference is purely academic, I was able to share my values based on a Biblical Christian perspective.  After sharing my research journey and introducing OCMS, in my introduction, I shared one of the interviews with a pastor – his calling and passion to missions (church planting), and his concept that development (economy, peace and order, etc) started when people come into repentance and received salvation through Jesus.  I believed (my contribution to the conference) I gave a very strong statement on my values and what I valued as virtues through my professional practice and Christian mission.