Practical Theology Research Articles

Kobus Schoeman: A “revolving door” practical theologian, bridging divides in the publics of the church, the academy, and society.

Kobus Schoeman: A “revolving door” practical theologian, bridging divides in the publics of the church, the academy, and society.

Genesis 15:1–6 and child adoption in Awkunanaw, Enugu state, Nigeria

Adoption is a global phenomenon, and many childless couples choose adoption because they cannot have children biologically. Over the years, legally approved orphanages have been a beacon of hope for prospective adoptive parents. However, in contemporary times, many childless couples have employed both legal and illegal means to have children. As a result, baby-making industries have become a lucrative business because it is a fast means for childless couples to have children. In the contemporary Awkunanaw, this practice has devalued socio-cultural practices and made the Awkunanaw society and her dwellers vulnerable to social vices. This study investigates the importance of adopting a child from a known background other than a strange one. Genesis 15: 1–6 tells of God’s covenant with Abram in which God promised him a great reward. Amid the divine promises of greatness and protection, Abram was worried about his state of childlessness. The part of the pericope which relates to this study is that Abram adopted an heir from a known background. The exegetical research methods employed in studying Genesis 15:1–6 include a narrative method and sociological approach to the study of the Old Testament. The data obtained through interviews and secondary sources were analysed using the phenomenological method. The study aims to advocate that Awkunanaw parents who patronise baby-making industries should desist from such practice as it contributes to the prevalence of social vices in the community.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The article studies adoption in Awkunanaw, Enugu state, Nigeria, in the light of Abraham’s narrative in Genesis 15:1–6. In Awkunanaw culture, adoption from an unknown background is abhorred. The article submits that adopting children from unknown backgrounds is precarious for the social development and peace of the Awkunanaw community. Hence, the study is a contribution to Old Testament discourses on religion and society. Its related disciplines are sociology, biblical interpretation and practical theology.

Expressions of whiteness? A Black ecclesiological reflection on Fresh Expressions of Church

The article presents a critical literary analysis of the Fresh Expressions of Church movement, which started in the United Kingdom (UK) and was subsequently adopted by some mainline churches in South Africa. The authors review the genesis of the movement and its models, development and approaches in order to understand its relevance for the post-apartheid South African context. The authors then critically compare, through a literary analysis, the theological praxis of the Fresh Expressions movement and bring it into critical dialogue with some Black Liberation Theologians and Steve Biko of the Black Consciousness Movement who, when apartheid was at its height in South Africa, argued for a ‘Black expression’ of church. In the article, the authors reach a dramatic point by asking whether a ‘fresh expression’ is indeed needed, in the light of an existing ‘Black expression’ of faith and lived religion in South Africa that has historically been ignored and stifled. The article concludes with a call to embrace Black Ecclesiology in the post-apartheid context.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The article concludes with a call to embrace Black Ecclesiology in the post-apartheid context.

Camping with Jesus: Theologically Reflecting on Evangelical Christian Festivals

Attending a Christian summer camp or festival is a regular feature of many evangelical church calendars within the UK. This article uses a practical theology approach to explore definitions and distinctives of evangelical camping, both within the literature on evangelical camping and through examining the websites and publicity materials of three specific camps—New Wine, Big Church Festival and Newday Generation. The analysis highlights the significance placed upon the location, size, rhythms and purposes of gathering in the festivals’ self-understandings. This leads into a theological reflection upon the biblical festival of Sukkot to examine the ways in which God’s work might be disclosed through the practice of evangelical camping. Three pairs of themes emerge from the comparison: located and temporal, secular and religious, and rejoicing and re-examining. These themes are drawn upon to propose ways in which God might be at work in the social world disrupting a sense of permanence, blurring the boundaries between faith and the world, and calling people into radical solidarity with creation and with the marginalized. Finally, suggested actions are proposed as to how evangelical festivals may better respond to God’s disclosure.

Longing for a Broken Politics to Be Healed: A Book Symposium of Michael Wear’s The Spirit of Our Politics

Michael's Wear's 2024 book, The Spirit of Our Politics, inaugurates a unique and meaty symposium in the JSFSC that focuses on practical theologies of spiritual formation issues of public life. Wear's book delivers a discerning application of Dallas Willard's perspective to areas of political life. Symposium contributors include Michael Wear, Todd Hunter, Kyle David Bennet, Kaitlyn Schiess, and Chine McDonald. Guest Editor Joseph E. Gorra introduces the symposium, offers context on Wear, his book, and a call for further contributions in his Afterword. After Wear's book précis, Hunter, Bennett, and Schiess weave important themes of pneumatology, family spirituality, and ecclesiology as practitioner factors shaping the vitality of a Christian spiritual formation of public life. McDonald underscores the importance of incarnation, imagination, and invitation when leading institutions of public life. All contributors underscore how spiritual formation is central to civic renewal. Michael Wear's response integrates important themes among the papers, underscoring that Christian spiritual formation does not take place in isolation from actual contexts of public life.

A Gladdening Vision of a Dancing Christ: Findings of a Ritual Ethnography of Intercultural Icons

The cultural renaissance in 20th-century India has fostered an aesthetic integration of contemplative mysticism with popular religious practices, influencing various artistic and theological movements. This paper examines Christian artist Joy Elamkunnapuzha’s use of Indian classical and mythical elements in his religious artworks, particularly in two North Indian churches. These intercultural icons, which incorporate symbols from Hindu traditions like mandalas and mudras, have been central to the worship practices of local Catholic communities for over three decades. Through ritual ethnography, the study reveals how these visual representations mediate ritual affectivity and communal imagination, impacting identity formation and spiritual engagement in a multi-religious context. Respondents—including worshippers, ministers, and religious students—attest to the transformative impact of these images, as they negotiate between Christian metaphors and Hindu aesthetic traditions. The research is grounded in practical theology, liturgical theology, and ritual studies, contributing to the works of Indian Christian cultural activists like Jyoti Sahi. By exploring the creative dynamics of visual approach, visual appeal, and visual affinity within worship spaces, the study elucidates the complex processes of meaning making through symbolic mediation in interreligious environments.

Rightsizing the 21st Century Theological Library Print Collection

Natural sciences and humanities differ as disciplines in the types and age of material needed for research. Natural sciences require cutting edge, recent research while the humanities and social sciences utilize more dated material and primary sources. These differences consequently reflect different rightsizing criteria for the print collection. This article argues that similar differences exist in the disciplines represented in a theological library: systematic, historical, biblical studies, and practical theology, for example, and that these differences should be reflected in rightsizing decisions regarding the print collection. This article explores those rightsizing differences and delineates criteria for the biblical studies section in a theological print collection.

An alternative look at John 14:6

This article takes an alternative look at John 14:6 in its pericope John 14:1–14 as part of Jesus’ Farewell Discourse to his disciples (Jn 13–17). This verse forms part of the seven ‘I am’ sayings in the Gospel of John. Traditionally the two καί terms in John 14:6 are translated with ‘and’ I am the way and the truth and the life. However, this article opts for the epexegetical or explicative (also called explanatory) way to translate καί. The reason is that the focus of this pericope and specifically this verse is on ὁδός, and not like the traditional translations treat all three terms, ὁδός, ἀλήθεια and ζωή on an equal basis.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This is a New Testament piece of research that interacts and intersects with Dogmatic and Practical Theology, and the traditional interpretation of the text of John 14:6. It is therefore more intradisciplinary than interdisciplinary by nature.

The many faces of natural theology: Diverse projects, distinct roles, and the pursuit of clarity

Abstract The term ‘natural theology’ provokes a variety of reactions, spanning from whole-hearted endorsement to passionate rejection. Charged as it is with polemical and pejorative undertones, this debate begs for an intervention. If the scholarly community is to engage constructively with the concept and practice of natural theology – either by way of acceptance, rejection, or something in between – clarity in its definition and identification is imperative. The aim of this paper is to try to shed some light on three of the most common definitions of ‘natural theology’ in contemporary scholarship, to provide clarity about the ways in which they differ, and to propose some conceptual refinements in the hope that, if adopted, more fruitful discourse may take place in relation to this much-debated and interdisciplinary phrase.

Un enseignement biblique avec les arts plastiques en milieu catholique

This research in practical theology examines the impact of biblical teaching offered since 1998 to youth aged 5 to 14 using artwork to create a personal Bible. Volunteers initiated this activity in a Catholic church in Quebec City in response to the deconfessionalization of schools, hoping to offer a biblical culture to young people. The research method includes a detailed description of this “religious practice” with data collection, a critical correlation with the Bible and Church Tradition, and a reinvestment of the practice. During the period 2005-2022, the practice called “Bible illustrée” (Illustrated Bible) reached 144 youth, mostly from Quebec but also from African and Latin American immigrant communities. In 2022, 26 people completed a questionnaire on their motivation to participate, artistic creativity, and contemporary Christian witness. A critical correlation showed that Illustrated Bible is an activity that allows participants to reflect on relationships with others, God and existence, a reflection often taboo in a secular society. The all-volunteer support has contributed to the sustainability of a joyful, reflective, and creative community. The concept of Illustrated Bible could be integrated into other places (parishes, camps, etc.) and would benefit from a future guidebook for its dissemination.

Sacred Meets Synthetic: A Multi-Method Study on the First AI Church Service

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming society, including religious practices and experiences of religious communities. The first large-scale AI church service took place in 2023 in Germany as a Protestant Christian worship event within a biannual religious celebration. Studying this religious service illustrates how AI was developed as a religious agent and provides insights into the experiences of attendees. This research note presents data from a quantitative survey and two qualitative questionnaires of participants conducted at the AI worship service. Findings show diversity of opinion and a range of attendee experiences. By presenting the results of qualitative and quantitative analysis, this research note highlights the possibilities and limitations of incorporating AI into the religious sphere. While most of the responses were skeptical, participants also reported having spiritual experiences. Nevertheless, attendees also reported conflicting feelings regarding experiences of community within an artificial setting. The main concerns were technological limitations, fear of replacing humans, biases in the theology of the underlying large language model, and lack of personality and emotion. Age-based differences include younger attendees finding the AI service more attractive while older attendees found the AI service more stimulating. Implications are drawn for practical theology and AI implementation within religious settings.

The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Clergy Identity, Their Practice of Ministry and Theology

ABSTRACT This essay reflects upon some of the practical and pastoral theological implications of the results of a mixed methods study using two intuitional ethically compliant surveys regarding the well-being of New England Congregational Christian clergy. The long-term effects of COVID-19 on the clergy was not a focus of this study. The study’s results show that (1) mindful self-care is imperative for the clergy, (2) denominations would benefit from promoting existing self-care strategies and practices, including using the experience of older clergy, and (3) denominations and local congregations must provide for and promote the self-care of the clergy. These research findings are discussed through a framework of practical and pastoral theology.

The Influence of the Israeli Spirit of "Chutzpah" on Practical Theology

The Influence of the Israeli Spirit of "Chutzpah" on Practical Theology

A History of the Fellowship of Youth in the Zambezi Evangelical Church (1983–2018)

The Fellowship of Youth (FoY) is an established name for the youth organisation in the Zambezi Evangelical Church (ZEC) in Malawi. Prior to its establishment, several missionaries attempted to organise the youth ministry in the church but with little success. The idea of having an established youth organisation in the ZEC was introduced in the early 1960s; however, not much was done until 1983, when the FoY was launched at Dombole congregation in Ntcheu. The original goal of the FoY was to enhance spiritual growth among the youth through biblical teachings and social support. Its establishment helped the ZEC to bring together the autonomous youth choirs which actively participated in evangelism and crusades. The FoY has planted new churches in urban areas and produced some leaders in the church and the community. In the early 1990s, the FoY embraced a charismatic spirituality which transformed the theological praxis and the order of worship in the church. However, the shift to the charismatic movement has led to a liturgical crisis which resulted in factions and split-offs between 2004 and 2018. For this reason, the FoY has been receiving mixed perceptions.

Three exemplars of Church and agency partnerships growing hope in uncertain times: a practical theology conversation

ABSTRACT Disruptive social, health and environmental changes are currently creating global uncertainty. In response, the two authors – an ordained Minister and a Christian social worker – undertook a multidisciplinary cooperative inquiry into the research question: With a focus on three exemplars, how do churches and associated care agencies create communities of hope in the current uncertain times? This research involved reflecting on three case studies, from two Anglican Dioceses of Australia. The case studies illustrate the practical and transformational nature of church and agency partnerships that can create Christian communities of hope. The key themes regarding creating communities of hope are sacrificial volunteering that promotes the well-being of others, engaging First Nations people’s leadership and local knowledge, and hearing the need and partnering to equally promote physical and spiritual flourishing. We propose creating inclusive, loving and kind communities of hope for every individual that holistically meets the needs of people, to be consistent with Christ’s ministry in these current times. Hope can grow when people have the option of an empowering community space where they can choose or be invited to explore questions regarding faith in Jesus and identity whilst having their practical needs fully met.

Gathered: A Theology for Institutions in a Changing Church

Practical theology has historically engaged in sustained theological reflection on the practices of the Church that intersect with the practices of the world. As field of study, it engages in interdisciplinary engagement that combines social and theological forms of reasoning and analysis. As a broader field of praxis, it seeks to support the conditions where people of faith are formed, and communities of faith may flourish. In both expressions, practical theology exists in a dynamic relationship to institutions (e.g., congregations, denominations, universities) and contributes research and praxis that supports the future of institutions and the faith they mediate. While institutions are often the source and site of practical theology, “institutions” are taken for granted as a clearly-identifiable social form and a fixed expression. However, transnational changes in congregations and related faith-based institutions require an account of the nature and role of institutions within practical theology. In this gap, this paper advances a two-part argument: first, institutions are sites of multimodal gathering, creating containers for various forms of encounter where individuals and communities gather around a shared context, shared stories, shared practices, shared resources, and a shared journey. Second, theology for institutions can be sustained by attending to five modes of institutional engagement and analysis that are marked by attention to shared context, narratives, practices, resources, and a journey. Three sections advance this argument. The first part introduces three different situations of institutional encounter to question the relationship between theology and institutions amid a changing organizational landscape. The second part engages Alasdair MacIntyre as an interpretive framework to identify the gap of institutions in the field of practical theology. The third part concludes by detailing the structure of a theological account that resolves this gap in the field and may attend to the forms of gathering institutions provide.

Narrative and peacebuilding in Hong Kong: the cultivating peace project as practical theology

ABSTRACT This paper explores how the practical theology of peacebuilding in the Hong Kong context can be developed through a narrative landscape. This paper introduces the Cultivating Peace project in Hong Kong and delineates its methodological concerns. Its analysis shows that the narrative practice guides the project in the following ways: (1) Narratives in the Bible can be articulated as foundational metaphors for peacebuilding work. (2) Narrative practice enables people to express and acknowledge their inner suffering and anger. (3) Narrative practice emphasises the importance of the voices of the marginalised groups and the primacy of their choices. (4) In a period when justice cannot be fully achieved, narrative practice records voices and stories of the suffering ones and the oppressed.

Lived Experiences and Social Transformations: Poetics, Politics and Power Relations in Practical Theology, By C.L. Wren Radford

Lived Experiences and Social Transformations: Poetics, Politics and Power Relations in Practical Theology, By C.L. Wren Radford

Integrating pastoral care and appreciative inquiry for sex trafficking survivors: A framework for healing

Integrating appreciative inquiry (AI) and pastoral care may help address the complex issues of commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking. This article explores the benefits of incorporating AI principles into pastoral care for survivors of commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking. Commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking involve exploitation, degradation, and violence, making them complex issues. By understanding the sex trade, we can recognise that prostitution is an act of exploitation. Some scholars believe that prostitution and human trafficking are interconnected, with a focus on exploiting the poor, especially women and children. Commercial sexual exploitation can cause mental, emotional, and spiritual distress. Survivors require comprehensive aftercare to address their spiritual, self-esteem, and dignity needs. Organisational development-based AI is constructive and strength-based. Appreciative inquiry promotes positive development, community and individual strength, and resilience by re-contextualizing narratives and envisioning brighter futures. The use of AI could improve pastoral care and holistic rehabilitation. Pastoral caregivers using AI can promote reconciliation, development, and rehabilitation. Using strengths-based strategies, pastoral care practitioners can help survivors regain agency and purpose. Survivors receive spiritual support through the Appreciative Way, which combines contemplative spirituality and inquiry. Narrative exploration can help trauma survivors envision a bright future based on love and resilience. This study suggests that AI principles may benefit pastoral care recipients who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking. Pastoral caregivers can help survivors regain dignity, calling, and well-being by implementing an appreciative healing approach.Contribution: The article sheds light on the dehumanising consequences of sex trafficking on vulnerable populations in South Africa, particularly women and children. This article aims to explain how AI concepts can be applied to Practical Theology. Specifically, this article will demonstrate how the Appreciative Way can be utilised in pastoral care for healing from sex trafficking trauma.

Book Review: Andrew T. Draper, Jody Michele, and Andrea Mae, Disabling Leadership: A Practical Theology for the Broken Body of Christ

Book Review: Andrew T. Draper, Jody Michele, and Andrea Mae, <i>Disabling Leadership: A Practical Theology for the Broken Body of Christ</i>