Professional Praxis in Practical Theology: Theoretical and Methodological Considerations

Abstract

This article discusses the understanding of praxis in practical theology as well as the implications of this understanding for empirical research. It advocates a nominalist understanding of praxis and suggests that definitions of praxis must, in the present context, depend on the theological encyclopedia in use. If practical theology and ethics are organized in separate disciplines, human praxis in general will be the object of ethics while practical theology should concern itself with professional ecclesial praxis. The author understands this praxis in a very broad sense (beyond the church; beyond traditional forms of preaching, teaching, counselling; beyond the focus on professional pastors), not only in terms of the theoretical scope of the discipline but also in respect to the material object to be studied by practical theology. In line with this understanding, the author defines the formal object of practical theology as critically facilitating ecclesial praxis. The methodology of practical theology must be in agreement with this formal object but beyond this, practical theology should not make claims to any special research methods that would be particular only to this discipline. In conclusion, the author offers some answers to the question what practical theology may benefit from theoretical analyses of the present kind.