PRACTICAL THEOLOGY ISSUES & METHODS (This presentation draws largely on Practical Theology notes from Simon Holt, used with permission, and from Darren Cronshaw, “The Shaping of Things to Come: Mission and Innovation in Emerging Churches in Melbourne”, MCD DTheol Thesis, 2009)

1 Practical theology in historical context PATRISTIC PERIOD All Theology was about the practice of faith Theology and spirituality seen as inseparable (Drawing on notes from Simon Holt)

1 Practical theology in historical context MIDDLE AGES Growing rationalism of theology Separation of spirituality and theology Distinction between dogmatic and moral theology Cartoon from Tohby Riddle www.tohby.com

1 Practical theology in historical context THE ENLIGHTENMENT Increasing rationality of disciplines Ascetical theology (spiritual experience), pastoral theology (pastoral practice) and moral theology (ethics) developed as distinct fields of study

1 Practical theology in historical context FRIEDRICH SCHLEIERMACHER (1768-1834) Branch Sub-disciplines Function Philosophical theology The ‘root’ Apologetics & polemics Normative Historical theology The ‘body’ Exegesis, dogmatics & church history Descriptive Practical theology The ‘crown’ Techniques for maintaining and perfecting the church Prescriptive E. Graham 1996, from Simon Holt

1 Practical theology in historical context The reduction of practical theology All theology Moral theology Ecclesial theology Pastoral theology Clergy technique manuals

1 Practical theology in historical context The reduction of practical theology Historical theology Biblical theology Systematic theology Applied theology Church & Society

1 Practical theology in historical context It’s church Jim, but not as we know it! CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES Social plurality Social sciences Contextual theology  Need a more dynamic & responsive theology

Contextual training Many contemporary theologians and leaders of the churches reflect with great skill on the Biblical text. They apply great scholarship to understanding the history of the traditions of the church. But when it comes to relating this to the contemporary world, many rely on hearsay, hunches and a little participant observation. (Philip Hughes)

... As a result, a great deal of the theologising that goes on in Australia (and many other parts of the western world) ignores many of the major issues of culture: issues of the business world, of economics and politics, of world peace and the impact of globalisation, of mass media and mass forms of community . (Bentley, Peter, and Philip Hughes. "A Brief Review of Church-Related Research in Australia 1975-2005." Melbourne: Christian Research Association, 2005.).

Practical theology - contemporary perspectives Practical theology has been reduced to “applying God’s revelation as directly and as purely as possible to the concrete situations of life. The theologian moves from revelation to the human, from theory to practice, and from revealed knowledge to application.”

Practical theology - contemporary perspectives “Theology can be practical in more complicated ways ... Theology can be practical if we bring practical concerns to it from the very beginning. The theologian does not stand before God, Scripture and the historical witness of the church like an empty state ... ready to be determined, filled up, and then plugged into a practical situation ...”

Practical theology - contemporary perspectives “We come to the theological task with questions shaped by the secular and religious practices in which we are implicated ... As its practices change its questions change, and the community will invariably see different meanings in the normative texts.”

Practical theology - contemporary perspectives “I will be claiming that Christian theology should be seen as practical through and through and at its very heart ...”

Practical theology - contemporary perspectives “Rather than saying that theology is made up of the Bible, church history, systematic theology and practical theology ... I argue that theology as a whole is fundamental practical theology and that it has within in four sub movements of descriptive theology, historical theology, systematic theology, and strategic practical theology.”

Practical theology - contemporary perspectives   “What makes theology practical is not the fitting of orthopaedic devices to theoretical concepts in order to make them walk. Rather, theology occurs as a divine partner joins us on our walk, stimulating our reflection and inspiring us to recognize the Living Word.”

Practical theology - contemporary perspectives “The task of practical theology is not simply to reiterate dislocated theological truths but to examine theological understandings in the light of contemporary experience in order that their meaning within God’s redemptive movement in the present can be developed and assessed.”

Practical theology - contemporary perspectives “Practical theology is a dynamic process of reflective, critical inquiry into the praxis of the church in the world and God’s purposes for humanity, carried out in light of Christian Scripture and Tradition, and in critical dialogue with other sources of knowledge.”

Practical theology - contemporary perspectives Practical theology is both mediating and generating: Mediating: bringing the tradition to bear on practice Generating: contributing directly to the theological process by generating new theological perspectives

Practical theology - contemporary perspectives Practical theology exists in the tension between church and world: Listening to both church and society; Speaking to both church and society

Practical theology - contemporary perspectives Practical theology holds together prescription and reflection: Providing insights and skills for practice Evaluating and questioning practice.

Practical theology - contemporary perspectives Practical theology holds the tension between theory and practice: Offering practical help for action Offering critical theory as a basis for action.

1 Practical theology in historical context The reduction of practical theology Historical theology Biblical theology Systematic theology Applied theology Church & Society

2 Method in practical theology?

2 Method in practical theology? A good research question will be: Imagination-grabbing Original but not overambitious 3. Ethical and unobtrusive 4. A clear research strategy 5. Real world value

Practical theology methods

3 Practical theology in use – Emerging church research

3 Practical theology in use – Emerging church research Multiple methods: literature review participant-observation and journaling interviews with pastors content analysis of documents focus groups National Church Life Survey linked set of case studies

3 Practical theology in use – Emerging church research

Practical theology What is the most important idea or concept for you from today’ class?

God be with those who explore in the cause of understanding, whose search takes them far from what is familiar and comfortable and leads them into danger or terrifying loneliness. Let us try to understand their sometimes strange of difficult ways; their confronting or unusual language; the uncommon life of their emotions, for they have been affected and shaped and changed by their struggle at the frontiers of a wild darkness, just as we may be affected, shaped and changed by the insights they bring back to us. Bless them with strength and peace. Amen