Abstract:
This article serves as an introduction to a collection of articles that explores emancipatory
methodologies for doing theology and research with children. We focus on both the agency
and the participation of children as an ethics and children’s rights imperative as well as the
potential impact and outcomes of theology and research that focus on children. The article
emphasises that such research should be preceded by an epistemological shift that recognises
the validity of local, experiential and different knowledges while insisting on participatory
approaches in generating and constructing knowledge. It emphasises a rights-based approach
and provides guidelines for ethical and collaborative research with children, moving beyond
the paralysis of an ethics conundrum. The life and work of Janet Prest Talbot, who embodies
commitment to children’s rights, children’s participation, child justice and God’s joy over
children forms a backdrop of and inspiration for this article.
