Practical Theology Research Articles

The ecclesiastical crisis of human sexuality: ‘Critical solidarity’, ‘critical distance’ or ‘critical engagement’

The issue of human sexuality has many negative implications in African society. These arose in a number of contexts – legal, religious, cultural and societal – and were significantly divisive. This article examines these responses in terms of critical solidarity, critical engagement and critical distance, and attempts to find a way of considering them in the perspective of achieving justice and solidarity. The focus is on one mainline denomination, the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA).Contribution: This article has implications that link subjects within the theological encyclopaedia of History of Christianity, Church Polity, Systematic Theology and Practical Theology, and other disciplines including Social Sciences such as Political Science.

Reverend Frank Chikane as a catalyst for shifts in Pentecostal beliefs and practices

Reverend Frank Chikane represented shifts in Pentecostal beliefs and practices. He found it difficult to accept Christians who spoke in tongues on Sundays but oppressed others on Mondays. He found this hypocrisy to be the worst contradiction he had to contend with. He recognised the separation of spiritual, physical and social. He divided the church’s service to the world into three categories. The first is the ‘status quo’, that is the church, which ensures stability as long as the political system gives it space to proclaim the gospel. He called the second category ‘passage theology’. This refers to those who see themselves as passers-by in this troubled world, and therefore do not care about the politics of this world. The third category is the ‘involvement’ category. Of these three categories, Chikane chose the third. Based on the category of involvement, the author argues that Chikane is the epitome of shifts in Pentecostal beliefs and practices. To this end, the author will uncover and examine the core beliefs and practices of Pentecostalism, setting out the factors that gave rise to Chikane and also highlighting those that mark shifts in his spiritual agency. In the end, the author concludes that Chikane is indeed a catalyst for shifts in the practice of the African Pentecostal tradition today. The pattern of methodological approach followed in this article is the study of synthesised literature from libraries, particularly the sources that assisted me to gain insight into Chikane.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article argues that Rev. Frank Chikane, through his ministry praxis, epitomises shifts in Pentecostal beliefs and practices. Although it is located in the field of missiology, it also has interdisciplinary implications for disciplines such as sociology, practical theology, and church history.

A HeartMath intervention, focusing on coherence, resilience and faith, following a trauma

Traumatic experiences can have an impact on faith. HeartMath, which focuses on coherence and resilience, is one approach utilised to help overcome traumatic experiences. This study focused on a HeartMath intervention, emphasising psychophysiological coherence, sense of coherence, resilience and faith following a traumatic experience. A quasi-experimental, single, within-sample design was used. The purposeful sample consisted of 10 participants. A 12-week HeartMath intervention was undertaken. Related quantitative and qualitative coherence, resilience and faith measures were used at pre-test, re-test and, after intervention, post-test, with participant diaries completed. Quantitatively, there were significant post-intervention positive improvements in physiological average coherence, achievement, and low, medium and high coherence level scores. Although not significant, there were improvements in the resilience scale and faith scale. However, there was no improvement in the sense of coherence scale total score. Qualitatively, there were positive integrative thematic changes in experiences of the sense of coherence, resilience and faith. Recommended next research steps were a case study on causal, correlational and relationship mechanisms of change, followed by an appreciative inquiry evaluating HeartMath as a pastoral care and counselling intervention.Contribution: This article contributes to the area of practical theology, specifically pastoral care and counselling, as it quasi-experimentally explores a HeartMath intervention and faith following a traumatic experience.

Formation of Korean Christianity through the Banning of Ancestral Rites

This study explores the ways in which a ban on ancestral rites influenced Korean Christianity. Ancestral rites are religious ceremonies that form the most critical social basis of Joseon, a Confucian society. First, the Korean Catholic Church was the first to oppose ancestral rites. Catholics created a new social and ethical resonance in Joseon society but had to endure tremendous persecution. Second, Protestantism was introduced when Joseon society was the most confused. Protestant missionaries banned ancestral rites, and Korean Protestants accepted them. Gradually, they interpreted it and embodied it in their faith. The ban on ancestral rites contributed to the formation of Korean Christianity. This laid the foundation for Christian social ethics and Hyo (孝, Xiao (Chinese pronunciation), filiality) theology. It has expanded into various fields, such as systematic theology, biblical studies, practical theology, and liturgical practice. Thus, this study examines how the ban on ancestral rites in Korea had a profound impact on the contextualization of Korean Christianity.

Understanding female students’ risk perceptions of developing breast cancer at Great Zimbabwe University

This article focuses on breast cancer as the second most prevalent cancer in Zimbabwe. However, despite several local studies on breast cancer and its risk factors, the incidence rate of the disease in the country is increasing. This article sought to establish the level of awareness of the risk factors of breast cancer among female students. The study was carried out at Great Zimbabwe University, an institution of higher learning in Masvingo province, Zimbabwe. A mixed methods approach was employed involving a focus group discussion comprising eight key informants and online individual questionnaires with open and closed questions used to capture attitudes of female students towards breast cancer. Risk factors were categorised into age, family history, reproductive factors, oestrogen, and lifestyle. There were also some cultural beliefs like bewitchment and myths about black brassieres causing breast cancer. Thus, there is need for educative campaigns to disseminate breast cancer information, especially promoting regular screening and awareness of predisposing factors. Additionally, more regular and in-depth studies on breast cancer in Zimbabwe are imperative as our results show a higher prevalence rate than current official statistics. The research provides relevant information for pastoral caretakers handling trauma in the discipline of practical theology.Contribution: This article represents an intersection between practical theology and basic health care. Insights resulted from this study provide a baseline upon which to develop ways to reduce prevalence of breast cancer. The research can also be utilised by specialists in pastoral care and women theologies.

The Theo-Politics of Ritual: Defining and Contesting the Sacred Order of the Church

Abstract Both sociology of religion and statistical bodies within the Catholic Church approach the question of church membership in similar ways: they take participation in religious ritual as a benchmark of affiliation to a religious community. What seems to be a straightforward criterion for measuring membership actually speaks to a complex interplay in the constitution of political and cosmological order: the constitution of social order through practices such as religious rituals is, irreducibly, also a definition of the ‘extraordinary’. Thus, starting from the assumption that the formation of community is a political–theological practice of boundary-drawing that cannot but refer to a beyond, this article offers a theological critique of ritual participation as a criterion of ecclesial affiliation. Taking the performance ‘Verantwort: ich’ (Synodaler Weg, 2023) as a case, it shows that it rests on a theological concept of transcendence that is used as a hegemonic instrument to confirm the established order of belonging in the church. Arguing that the definition of ecclesial boundaries is an irreducibly powerful, even violent theo-political practice, it asks which theological notion of transcendence can best reckon with, and consequently offer tools for managing, rather than concealing, the normative violence that is at the heart of the question of who belongs to the church.

Θεός, Father and the ‘Holy Trinity’ in the New Testament

The term ‘Holy Trinity’, not known to the writers of the Bible, is still an elusive term to use nowadays, especially when one first reads the New Testament in light of the Old Testament and not immediately in light of the Creeds and Statements of Faith. This article discusses the roles of Θεός (God) and ‘Father’ in the New Testament with reference to the Holy Trinity. The conclusion is that the New Testament does not depict a Holy Trinity, but rather portrays Θεός as a coordinator, bringing a harmony between his anthropomorphic assignments ‘Father’, ‘Son’ and ‘Holy Spirit’, as well as all the followers of Θεός on Earth.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: On the first level, this article covers the disciplines of Old Testament, New Testament (NT) and Practical Theology. On the second level, it makes use of philosophy and logics to help determine the ‘truths’ in the Bible. Who is Θεός? We propose that the NT depicts him as coordinator of his three revelations, ‘Father’, ‘Son’ and ‘Holy Spirit’. Using anthropomorphic terms, Θεός reveals himself to his followers on Earth. The Bible is used as the main source, with references to the three Creeds and four Statements of Faith.

Who Must Lead Decoloniality: A Practical Theological Interrogation on the Possible Qualification to Lead Decolonisation: A South African Study

The quest for decolonisation and Africanisation of higher education in South African higher educational institutions has reached an uncompromising stage, since colonial divisions between the natives and the colonisers are still evident in the education system. This was also demonstrated by the “#FeesMustFall” campaign, which closed the majority of South African universities in 2015. Since then, decolonisation has kept scholars, academics and researchers busy in search of appropriate responses to the quest, but decolonial projects seem to be very slow. One of the reasons is that those in the leadership of the projects may be using delaying tactics for their colonial benefits. This article questions who should lead in the projects of Africanisation and decolonisation. The author is convinced that this question cannot be avoided if Africanisation and decolonisation must take speed. Reversal of colonial inequalities (including in educational spheres) is of paramount importance for the life of the colonised in general. It is an important demand that the correct or capable and informed leaders are identified and equipped to take the lead with the project. To this effect, this article makes a few practical theological suggestions. This research is interdisciplinary in nature since it starts with decolonisation, and continues with theology—particularly practical theology. These two disciplines are engaging the current problem of the contemporary people within their immediate situation.

Development cooperation and Neo-Pentecostal churches – A decolonial perspective

Religion and development are a subject that has stimulated researchers in the recent past. Most of the religious role players in development within sub-Saharan Africa have been the historic missional churches, also known as the mainline churches – mostly founded by Euro-Western missionaries. Development with Neo-Pentecostal Churches (NPCs), who are part of Pentecostal-Charismatic churches, is fairly a new area of research. The purpose of this article is to position NPCs as potential development partners that can work in cooperation with other stakeholders in advancing development in the South African context from a decolonial perspective. A literary review on Neo-Pentecostals as development actors, is the focus of this article, positioning them as ideal development partners that contribute towards social and economic capital of communities within the context of education. The article starts by defining a working definition of development, followed by a conceptual framework of Pentecostal tenets where Christ is saviour, healer, baptiser and soon coming king, together with the holistic African worldview which does not demarcate between the sacred and the secular. The outcome is that development in NPCs is spiritual development which starts from individual development that is accompanied by entrepreneurial skills and that Neo-Pentecostals have a contribution towards sustainable development as expressed in their practice of faith and theology which naturally gravitates towards development.Contribution: Education, economics, and Pentecostalism highlight the importance of flexibility and versatility of Neo-Pentecostals in the discourse of sustainable development.

Duszpasterstwo katechetyczne – spór o pojęcie

Aim: The aim of this study was to present the dispute over the concept of "catechetical pastoral ministry" which emerged in theological reflection, especially in the fields of pastoral theology and catechesis. Methods: To comprehensively illustrate the meaning of the discussed term, the method of analyzing contemporary literature on the subject was used. Additionally, through the method of synthesis, a clarification of the meaning and application of this concept in the field of scientific reflection within practical theology was achieved. Results: The analysis revealed that the emergence and use of terms such as "liturgical pastoral ministry" or "catechetical pastoral ministry" in common church language are the result of a certain shorthand, describing the pastoral mission of the Church in the areas of liturgy or catechesis. Therefore, it is justified to use the term "catechetical pastoral ministry" in the context of a broader pastoral perspective on catechetical activities. Analyzing the ongoing "dispute over the concept" in publications, arguments were drawn, including those of Adam Przybecki, who advocates the need to clarify the discussed approach, considering it "illogical" and a form of misuse, especially when this term became widely used in the Catechetical Directory of the Catholic Church in Poland in 2001. Conclusion: In conclusion, based on the conducted analysis defining the meaning of the term "catechetical pastoral ministry," the suggestion is made to focus on practical actions and the positive evangelical outcomes that will permanently contribute to the functioning of parish communities and the conducted pastoral ministry, considering a broader pastoral perspective. Originality: Undoubtedly, in the field of practical theology, the undertaken analysis and attempt to clarify the concept constitute an important and original approach, confirming the need for discussion and even debate regarding the meaning of used terms and concepts. Keywords: parish catechesis, "catechetical pastoral ministry," sacramental catechesis, selected pastoral aspects of catechesis, liturgy, parish, practical theology.

Prayer and AI: Exploring the Impact on Orthodox Romanian Youth in a Confessional High School Context

The study’s main objective is to identify and analyze the attitude toward prayer of teenagers in a denominational school in Romania and the need to use AI-assisted tools. To find a satisfactory answer, we considered it necessary to identify how they pray, i.e., freely or by calling on the prayer book, and whether they questioned whether artificial intelligence could be an agreeable support. The research also takes into account the documents of the Romanian Orthodox Church from which the attitude of the Hierarchy towards new technologies in general and artificial intelligence in particular emerges. How attentive is the Church to these realities, and how open is it to incorporate them? Does it have any good reason to consider tools like e-rosary in the Catholic world or Alexa Pray in the Anglican world in the near future? The introduction addresses Romania’s socio-political, educational, and theological context, and the discussion focuses on how the literature on digital religion and its subchapters is received in the Romanian theological landscape. The research method includes qualitative, questionnaire, and textual analysis; it is an interdisciplinary approach, namely practical theology and the study of digital religions. The questionnaire was administered to 216 respondents, respecting all research ethics requirements. The results reveal that young people prefer to pray freely, use the prayer book moderately, and have not gathered information regarding artificial intelligence that could help them. However, they are open to a future offers from the Romanian Orthodox Church, including AI-assisted tools.

Interface between ecotheology and practical theology

The present article is an interface between ecotheology and Practical Theology from an African indigenous knowledge systems (AIKS) perspective. The article pursues to facilitate a conservationist rapport between three complementary disciplines, namely: ecotheology, Practical Theology and AIKS. The study attempts to discuss the above disciplines in the context of the phrase “theological eco-praxis”. Of particular note is the light that the above themes throw on the contemporary conservationist education. The study proposes a striking common ground through ephemeral dialogue in order to set an agenda for a detailed and contextual debate on ecotheology in (South) Africa. Admittedly, previous conversations on ecotheology and AIKS are widely documented. However, the present essay is anchored on the following two main foci: (1) it examines the interface between ecotheology and Practical Theology and their functionality in the conservation of the natural habitat and (2) it explores the phenomena surrounding ecotheology in (South) Africa from AIKS perspective. In the pursuance of the above slant, it is anticipated that the readership in general and the church in particular will find the insights from the conversation to be beneficial to cause them to participate in the productive sustenance of the ecosystem. The study invites the church to be proactive towards protecting the environment. In this article, a social constructivist theory is employed. It is argued that African indigenous communities have always constructed their own methods toward wildlife conservation.

Age, Maternity, and Allusion: Elizabeth and Other Mothers

This article explores how intertextual analysis of New Testament (NT) narratives’ engagement with the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible (OT/HB) might be fruitfully integrated with intersectional analysis of characters’ embodied lives in communities. Taking Elizabeth’s characterization in Luke 1 as a test case, I demonstrate that intersectional analysis not only deepens the insights arising from intertextual analysis but also sheds light on Luke 1’s relevance to ongoing issues of conflict and marginalization today. Intersectional-intertextual analysis thus proves particularly useful for those exegetes interested in practical theological—including specifically justice-oriented—interpretation. At the same time, as will be illustrated in relation to Luke 1’s early reception history, intertextual analysis can lessen the danger that contemporary contexts will distortively overdetermine intersectional analysis, mitigating a hermeneutical objection sometimes raised against interpretations that attend to justice concerns and other expressions of practical theology.

Contextualisation of Anglican liturgical worship in Sri Lanka with the use of cultural symbols

ABSTRACT This study was conducted as research on the intertwining of faith and culture. The main question for the study was to find how cultural symbolism depicted in liturgies was understood and approached within the context of worship and culture. The Sri Lankan Anglican Church has promoted the contextualisation of liturgies and worship from its political independence and has also become progressive in developing indigenous liturgies. Through liturgies, much of the religious-cultural context is reflected and contextual theologies are introduced. In that regard, this will be beneficial to practical theology. This research had a documentary study and an empirical element. The sample population for the study was the Diocese of Kurunagala, which is one-half of the Anglican Church in Sri Lanka. For the empirical study data collection tools of Google Forms, interviews and focus group discussions took place across cross-cultural congregations with a focus on participatory action research. The results received indicated a close relationship between worship and culture, the need for further education on theological connections, community awareness, and action as well as visible ventures such as an open museum. There is a need for further research and dissemination of contextualised liturgies and also studying factors that are leading towards local expressions of worship.

Serious games in service of Theology

Serious games (SGs) are part and parcel of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Education 4.0 that we are living in right now. A SG is an alternative educational approach where a part of the curriculum, in this case, the practical side of Practical Theology – being one of the subjects presented to prospective theologians and pastors – is presented in the form of a game, familiarising the students with practical issues in a congregation. This article takes the educator through the main steps on how to create an SG together with an entire team of people. The underlying goal of the article is to get one educator interested in venturing on this innovative and ‘disruptive’ expedition.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article involves all the disciplines of Theology, especially Practical Theology, as well as Psychology and Information Technology (IT) (especially the designer and developer). The content of this article can be applied to any person in any discipline (whichever discipline it is) who wants to create an SG for their students.

Are we there yet? Probing the notion of contextualising practical theology and pastoral care in a post COVID-19 glocal African context

The article is a concise rendition of the author’s inaugural lecture and tracks his academic journey with the contextualisation of practical theology and pastoral care in an African context. It latches onto the inter-contextual dialogue between Western and African notions of practical theology and pastoral care, and positions it in a post coronavirus disease (COVID-19) glocal African context. It is argued that the post COVID-19 era signalled significant changes that will influence the path of future endeavours in the subject field, especially when it strives to be relevant in both the local and global contexts. A preliminary agenda for future deliberations is presented which focusses on the consequences of intensified pre-COVID-19 socio-economic realities, the implications of the disruption of traditional religious culture, and post COVID-19 challenges to higher education. The article concludes that the hallmark of contextualised practical theology and pastoral care in the African context is to be sought in being mindful of the challenges of the immediate local context as well as that of the global context.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: By engaging a post COVID-19 glocal African context from a practical theological and pastoral stance, the research engages social, economic and educational sciences to come to its findings. The resultant view that post COVID-19 practical theology and pastoral care should be mindful of both local and global contexts has implications for both academic practical theology and theological higher education.

An interdisciplinary approach to theological studies in a public university

Theological curriculum in South African universities is comprised of disciplines such as church history, the Old Testament, the New Testament, systematic theology, missiology and practical theology. Theology has been approached through these disciplines and their interaction with each other in an intradisciplinary way. This article argues that theology needs to be done beyond theological disciplines through an interdisciplinary approach to increase its influence in a public university such as the University of South Africa (UNISA). The limitations and drawbacks of this approach are discussed. A brief history of theological studies at UNISA is also discussed to understand how the curriculum of theology has been approached in the past. An interdisciplinary approach is proposed to maximising the research profile of theology through research outputs and postgraduate supervision. In addition, this approach can attract graduates from other fields such as law, medicine, commerce and so forth. An interdisciplinary approach is relevant in designing and developing short learning programmes to attract students to study theology. The development of interdisciplinary niche areas is also important in attracting postgraduate students. Lastly, the approach is pivotal in avoiding theology’s possible dearth and death in a public university.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: an interdisciplinary approach to theological studies is proposed as an interaction between the field of theology and other fields such as law, medicine, commerce, and others for the maximisation of student numbers in undergraduate and postgraduate studies and research outputs.

Tren Penelitian Integrasi Teologi dan Psikologi di Indonesia: Systematic Literature Review

Integration of theology and psychology is needed for more efficient services for the congregation. However, is this kind of integration familiar in Indonesia? This article seeks to examine the development of research on the integration of theology and psychology in Indonesia from 2003-2023. The approach used is Systematic Literature Review (SLR) with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) method. As a result, 17 articles were found that met the requirements for review and discussed the integration of theology and psychology. The authors come from 15 educational and service institutions, both ecumenical and evangelical. The branch of theology that is most studied is biblical theology, while the branch of psychology that is most studied is developmental psychology. The most dominant research synthesis is the integration of practical theology and developmental psychology. The amount of research on the integration of theology and psychology in Indonesia in the last two decades is still relatively low.

Chrześcijański feminizm w Afryce – kontynentalne dyskursy i lokalne praktyki

<p>This paper discusses selected research topics developed by feminist theologians connected with the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians. The Circle was established in 1989 and was led for many years by Mercy Amba Oduyoye, a Ghanaian Methodist theologian. Today the Circle attracts women theologians from three generations and various African countries. The paper refers to feminist and postcolonial theories as well as some more African-oriented topics developed in the Circle’s writings. Complex and ambiguous reinterpretations of the so-called African Traditional Religion are framed by references to inculturation and liberation theology. The final part of the paper refers to the concept of “oral theology” and theology in practice. The author’s ethnographic fieldwork in Ghana among Catholic women is mentioned to draw parallels between the theological practical approach and the anthropological concept of lived religion.</p>

Community Organizing and the “Call of the King”

There is a pressing need for a theological approach to community organizing that addresses two key problems: burnout among organizers and an unwillingness of ecclesial institutions to commit to authentic structural change. What is needed is a new, practical theology that spiritually sustains organizers and convinces decision-makers of the centrality of community organizing for the life of the Church. The authors propose a reinterpretation of St. Ignatius of Loyola’s meditation on the call of the eternal king in the Spiritual Exercises, in which Jesus invites all to join the social project of the Reign of God. This call comes not just to individuals but to a communion of saints whose efforts throughout history contextualize current actions within the broader synodal march of the People of God toward integral liberation.