Abstract

Historically practical theology entered the theological encyclopaedia as a discipline of ‘crises’ in the praxis which ministers, congregations and churches experienced in making the Christian tradition relevant in the life of individuals, communities or in society as a whole. Among scholars in practical theology there is a deep consensus that practical theology starts with practical concerns and contributes to practice, but what is the utility of practical theology? This article want to ‘deconstruct’ the consensus that all practical theology is by default practical. If practical theology wants to construct knowledge about the improvement of practice, some strategies are preferable compared to other strategies. The question of utility refers to the methodological criteria of empirical research regarding (a) the object of research or the problem to be solved, (b) the needs of the stakeholders as to the research and its results and, (c) the type of knowledge to be produced. If utility is the target of practical theological research, then the question is which research strategies meet these methodological criteria better than other criteria. Some research strategies are strong on reaching certain goals, but are weak regarding other goals. It is only in the complexity of the type of knowledge, research strategy and methodological criteria that the focus on practice orientation can be decided.

Highlights

  • How to contribute to the future of the Christian religion in the historical, socio-cultural and societal conditions in which people live? This is the core question of practical theology as discipline

  • Practical theology entered the theological encyclopaedia as a discipline of ‘crises’ in the praxis, which ministers, congregations and churches experienced in making the Christian tradition relevant in the life of individuals, communities, or in society as a whole

  • Don Browning, who can be regarded as one of the founding fathers of modern practical theology, formulates it as follows: Religious communities go from moments of consolidated practice to moments of deconstruction to new, tentative reconstructions and consolidation

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Summary

INTRODUCTION

How to contribute to the future of the Christian religion in the historical, socio-cultural and societal conditions in which people live? This is the core question of practical theology as discipline. We know that scholars in practical theology often argue on this basis It is not wrong, but it does not answer the question of the practice orientation of knowledge. We start with Rick Osmer’s (2004; 2008; 2011) formulation of the ‘consensus’ of practice orientation, and claim that this ‘consensus’ does not help clarify the practice orientation of practical theology, because it does not clearly distinguish the different domains, goals, strategies and criteria of practical theological research. We formulate four questions regarding Osmer’s consensus of the fourfold tasks of practical theology. We take up these questions in the remainder of this article. If utility is the target of practical theological research, the question is: Which research strategies meet these methodological criteria better than other criteria?

BEYOND THE ‘CONSENSUS’ IN PRACTICAL THEOLOGY
WHAT IS A RESEARCH PROGRAMME IN PRACTICAL THEOLOGY?
GOALS OF PRACTICAL THEOLOGICAL RESEARCH
RESEARCH STRATEGIES OF PRACTICAL THEOLOGY
CRITERIA OF PRACTICAL THEOLOGICAL RESEARCH
Design research
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