New journal has been published and its first issue has appeared in June 2010. Diaconia –Journal for the Study of Christian Social Practice (Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht) appears twice a year and each issue contains 128 pages. The editor of the journal is prof. Trygve Wyller (Oslo). The themes covered by the new journal reflect the multidimensional and multidisciplinary character of the diaconal studies. According to the usual academic division of disciplines, the study of diaconia is divided between various fields and the results are published in responding journals.
Diaconia – Journal for the Study of Christian Social Practice aims to collect together all these diverse studies which use as many methodologies as needed. The common denominator is the theme, diaconia, which is defined in the title of the journal with the words “Christian Social Practice”.
The major themes covered by the Journal are a) Interdisciplinary studies (Ninna Edgardh, Trygve Wyller), b) Biblical Studies (Kari Latvus), c) Theology, Ethics and Welfare (Johannes Eurich, Ingolf Hübner), d) Civil Society, Voluntary work, Church (Hermann Noordegraaf, Anne Birgitta Pessi). Besides these, there are essays and reports from the practice (Tony Addy) and book reviews (Anette Leis-Peters). Research articles are peer reviewed.
The first issue contains themes like how poverty is challenging human dignity, marketisation and disability, material aid given to the poor, relationship of voluntary sector and welfare state, and the origin and development of social-caritative ministry.
12.9.2010 Kari Latvus
The first issue of the new journal looks good and promising: finally here in my hand! As a one of the writers of the first issue I was also wondering if this platform could offer a place for a comments and questions after the every published issue.
Perhaps the Door could try to publish the abstracts of the articles as a separate news and each article would then have its own location for the comments.