What is Practical / Contextual
Theology
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Objective: To provide a foundation
for beginning reflective practice – a
theological tool for taking ministry
deeper
What is Practical / Contextual
Theology
Practical theology: Theology that
deals with Christian practice. All
descent theology begins and ends
with practice. What we do and what
we believe are connected.
 Practical theology is the branch of
theology that starts with practice and
reflecting on God’s actions in that
practice.
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What is Practical / Contextual
Theology
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“Practical theology is critical and
constructive reflection within a living
community about human experience and
interaction, involving a correlation of the
Christian story and other perspectives,
leading to an interpretation of meaning
and value, and resulting in everyday
guidelines and skills for the formation of
persons and communities.” Poling – p. 36
What is Practical / Contextual
Theology
Praxis
theory
praxis
loop
Distinguishes practical theology from
other theologies
Reflective Practice
Reflective practice is an intentional
learning that takes place from
reflecting first on current and past
practice. This practice then becomes
a method not only for education but
an informed way on how to move
forward or alter practice.
Reflective Practice
It begins inductively
 The practices teaches us to listen. To
observe. To Reflect.
 Reflective practice teaches wisdom
not simply knowledge.
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“One way is to start talking: to somehow
generate deep, reflective conversation that
allows people to consider their values and
attitudes and to think about how these impact
on themselves and others… But I quickly
realised that before we – the adult workers –
can begin to encourage young people, we have
to feel comfortable to talk about such matters
ourselves. We have to give ourselves the
chance to challenge our own assumptions,
beliefs, instincts and prejudices. The chance to
understand what influences and inspires us and
perhaps to discover what it is that makes us
who we are” (Nemko 2006:iv as quoted in
Nash).
Reflective Practice
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Reflection begins with self reflection
Finger at the ceiling
Self-Reflective practice is at the heart of
Sociological / Psychological /
Anthropological and Theological ways of
reflecting on situations, events, systems,
programmes and people to provide
understanding and discernment.
Reflective Practice
What is my own theological position?
 What values do I hold?
 What are the motivations for doing
what I’m doing?
 What is my background and
experience (gender, age, class,
education etc.)
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Reflective Practice
A way of being and not simply doing.
 Reflection-on-experience
 Reflection-in-actions
 Reflection-within the moment
 Mindful practice
John’s, Reflective Practitioner. 2004:2
Reflective Practice
Reflection alone verses reflection in a
group. Practical theological reflection
 What theological streams do I ignore?
 What might they have to contribute?
 What might other faiths and those outside
the church think and feel?
 What voices in this process are being
ignored?
Reflective Practice
Practical theology is always a
reflection with other voices.
 Wesleyan Quadrilateral - Wesley used
four different sources in coming to
theological conclusions.
 Scripture –
 Tradition –
 Reason  Experience 
Reflective Practice
I would add a fifth
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The voices of the community!!! Because
of Jesus’ emphasis on the marginalised I
would particularly include this voice
Reflective Practice
Stephen Peterson… Understanding
theological reflection as a conversation.
 You as the reflective practitioner facilitate
these voices
 Must regard the other voices as colleagues
with valuable contributions
 Be willing to hear their assumptions.
 Discovering ways to hear these voices…
Your suggestions.
Reflective Practice
1.
2.
3.
4.
Describe Your Context
Interpret your ministry
Determine Your Norms
Implement Specific Action
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Key sources in assisting in this practice:
Specifically youth children:
Dean, K., C. Clark. D. Rahn (eds.).
Starting Right: Thinking theologically
about youth ministry, Grand Rapids,
Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House
Clark, Chap and Kara E. Powell, Deep
Ministry in a Shallow World (Grand
Rapids: Zondervan, 2006).
Emery-Wright, S. Empowering Young
People in the Church, (Cambridge: Grove
Books, 2008)
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Practical Theology
Lartey, E. ‘Practical Theology as a Theological Form’ in
J. Woodward and S. Pattison (eds.), The Blackwell
Reader in Pastoral and Practical Theology, Oxford:
Blackwell Publishers Ltd., 2000)
Osmer, Richard R. Practical Theology: an Introduction,
(Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008).
Poling, James N. Donald E. Miller, Foundations for a
Practical Theology of Ministry, (Nashville: Abingdon,
1985).
Pattison, S. ‘Some Straw for the Bricks: A Basic
Introdution to Theological Reflection’, in: J. Woodward
and S. Pattison (eds.), The Blackwell Reader in
Pastoral and Practical Theology, (Oxford: Blackwell
Publishers Ltd., 2000)
Missiological
 Bevans, S. B. Models of Contextual
Theology, )New York: Orbis
Books,1992)
 Schreiter, R. J. Constructing Local
Theologies, (London: SCM Press Ltd.,
1985)
 Donovan, Vincent, Christianity
Rediscovered (Mayrknoll, NV: SCM
Press, 1982).
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