Opening the Field of Practical Theology

Kathleen A. Cahalan is professor of theology at Saint John’s School of Theology and a past president of the Association of Practical Theology. She is the author of several books, including Introducing the Practice of Ministry.Gordon S. Mikoski is associate professor of Christian Education and director of the Master’s Studies Program at Princeton Theological Seminary. He serves as editor for Theology Today and is a past president of the Association of Practical Theology and an ordained Presbyterian minister.

• IntroductionAfrican American Practical Theology, Dale P. AndrewsAsian American Practical Theology, Courtney T. GotoContextual Theology as Practical Theology, Stephen Bevans, S.V.D.Empirical Practical Theology, Richard OsmerEvangelical Practical Theology, Andrew RootFeminist and Womanist Practical Theology, Joyce Ann MercerHermeneutics in Protestant Practical Theology, Sally A. BrownHermeneutics in Roman Catholic Practical Theology, Claire E. WolfteichLiberation Practical Theology, Katherine TurpinNeo-Reformation Practical Theology, Gordon MikoskiPostmodern Practical Theology, Tom BeaudoinReligious Practices in Practical Theology, Don C. RichterRoman Catholic Pastoral Theology, Kathleen A. CahalanUS Latino/a Practical Theology, Hosffman OspinoWhite Practical Theology, Tom Beaudoin and Katherine Turpin Conclusion

This valuable volume provides an introduction, 15 contextual essays, and a conclusion by experts in practical theology. The book succeeds in 'opening the field,' recognizing the discipline's provisionality and permeability as open-ended and conversational in nature. To aid comparisons, each chapter is structured with the same eight key features. These begin with historical context and proceed through themes such as norms and source of authority, views of the theory-practice relationship, interdisciplinary conversation partners, and areas of current and future research. . . .The editors identify 11 focal concerns that are characteristic of practical theology and that forge an overall unity for the field. Yet the ways practical theologians put these together result in numerous trajectories or approaches. As Stephen Bevans says, 'In practical theology one begins from an experience or a practice.' This perspective leads to the distinctive identities of the chapters, which cover practical theology as it pertains to African Americans, Evangelicals, feminists/womanists, Roman Catholics, and US Latinos/Latinas. This overview approach should be very helpful for readers at all levels. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and above; general readers.