Associate Professor, Department of Biblical Studies, Faculty of Theology, University of Aarhus.

Project: "Diakonia."

The aim of this research project is to produce a textbook (approx. 200-250 pages) to be used by students in various educational contexts. The major part of the work is scheduled to be done during 2006.

The primary focus of the book will be on present challenges and theological perspectives. This, in particular, includes diakonia in relation to the concept of man and ethics. It will also be discussed how diakonia relates to the understanding of the Christian community and the understanding of the society. At this point it will be relevant to investigate the relation between diakonia and welfare services. It will also be worthwhile to discuss whether it would be possible to formulate a prophetic diakonia (“political diakonia”). Furthermore, if the concept of prophetic diakonia is accepted, its importance at various levels: the national (local) level as well as the regional and the global level (“international diakonia”) will have to be examined.