A critical investigation of global Methodist educational institutional leaders' values with special reference to selected International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges and Universities as seen through a postcolonial lens

<p dir="ltr">This thesis arose from my engagement with the International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges and Universities. (IAMSCU). Observing the challenges of living out their Methodist identity across continents amid theological conflicts complexified by colonial legacies posed this question: What are the values of global Methodist educational institutional leaders as seen through a postcolonial lens?</p><p dir="ltr">I recruited ten leaders across six continents holding senior academic positions and using a focus-group format, asked them to shape the questions that they would ask themselves, ensuring a participatory research process. I then asked them these questions in individual interviews. A second focus group discussed the findings and sharpened my understanding of the data.</p><p dir="ltr">Four key values emerged: love of God and neighbour, integrity, courage and flourishing.</p><p dir="ltr">Taken together, these interlocking values have the potential to shape a distinctive Methodist educational approach that takes seriously the tension between connexionalism and contextuality by recognizing differentiated tasks for colonised and coloniser in a postcolonial world. I argue that the curation of these values within a community of practice, such as IAMSCU, offers the space for global Methodist educational leaders better to articulate their values and collaborate across difference.</p>