Doing practical research downunder: a methodological reflection on recent trends in Aberdonian practical theology

Abstract

This paper conducts a geographical meditation on recent trends in practical theological methodology and emerges out of the author's unique position, doing practical theology in Auckland, New Zealand, while supervised by John Drane in Aberdeen, Scotland. This paper reflects on two recent practical theology texts from within the University of Aberdeen and the manner in which the use of human narrative allows a conversation with the Christian tradition within a missional and communal framework. The paper then explores how these methodological trends were employed downunder, in a New Zealand community research project. This doing of practical theology generated further methodological meditation, firstly on the place of the local and secondly on the ethics of entertaining the Other. The argument is made that methodologically, practical theology must seek a more nuanced understanding of the local, and both embody and articulate a gospel imperative.