David Irala

ISGA Research Fellow

About: David was born in Asunción, Paraguay. He and his wife, Alba, are members of a Mennonite Brethren church in Asunción. David got his BA in Theology at the Instituto Bíblico Asunción (IBA) and a Master’s in Education at the Universidad Nacional de Asunción.

After working as a youth pastor, and teaching at the IBA, David has started a PhD in Theology at Durham University in England. He hopes to formulate a critical conversation to analyze assumptions in biblical and theological education and provide a framework for developing theological curriculums, especially in the context of Paraguay.

David is currently working on educational projects at the IBA and with research in Theological Education in the Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University, England. David and Alba live in England.

Why are you passionate about research, education, and publishing related to global Anabaptism?

I am passionate about biblical and theological education and the opportunity to serve churches through the holistic formation of servant leaders. In addition, I am passionate about promoting research in theological education from an Anabaptist approach, and historical theology as a tool to enrich our present and future vision of Christ’s church. I am motivated and inspired by the love of Jesus expressed through the commitment and service of brothers and sisters in our global Anabaptist church.

Academic/teaching/research interests:
Practical and historical theology, and theological education with an Anabaptist approach.

Publications:

Irala, D. & Zaracho, R. (2019). Memoria Viva: Historia de las Iglesias de la Convención Evangélica de Iglesias Paraguayas Hermanos Menonitas. Instituto Bíblico Asunción.
https://archive.org/details/memoria-viva/page/n3/mode/2up

Irala, D. (2019). Marco referencial para el diseño de competencias y capacidades en la educación bíblico–teológica en el contexto del Instituto Bíblico Asunción. Anuario Académico de la Universidad Evangélica del Paraguay. https://ojs.uep.edu.py/index.php/anuarioacademico/article/view/112

Public engagements and presentations:

Curricular Updating in Theological Education in the context of the Universidad Evangélica del Paraguay.

Production of study materials for Asociación Hermanos Menonitas in Paraguay.

“Decolonising Theological Education.” Research Project at the Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University, England.

Doctoral Research: “Towards a Contextual Theological Education: a Biblical, Theological and Pedagogical Approach.”

Past and present engagement with the ISGA:

ISGA Research Fellow, 2022-present.

Creation of congregational profiles for Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online (GAMEO).

Power & Preservation Symposium, 2019.