Reflection: Practical Theology

Every course of study in the field of academic systematic and dogmatic theology which I have encountered and interacted with throughout my career as a student has made it apparent to me, whether explicitly or implicitly, that the work of theology is most worthy of being undertaken when it has actual, palpable impacts on the community of the worshipping faithful.

From sacramental and liturgical theologies to those of liberation, eschatology, and soteriology, it is my conviction that none of it would be worth doing if the Church were not a living, collaborative body to this day. Theology is not merely theoretical, and the array of topics which it seeks to explore are not to be measured in a vacuum. Not unlike the holy scriptures, the spiritual and theological legacy of the Christian faith is one which is necessarily born out of the context of the assembly of God’s people and the rhythms of our collective liturgical life as it unfolds along the journey of salvation. Practical Theology is a reminder of the interdisciplinary aquifer from which all who dare to take up the mantle of Christian ministry (in whatever context) must imbibe, lest our fruitfulness dwindle under the sweltering heat of this world’s tribulations. Being exposed to the field of Practical Theology continues to draw me back to my studies in Liberation Theology; both of these areas of interest strike me as the very conduits of the Good News itself, and the Great Commission with which we have been charged to make the power of the Resurrection present in our communities so that all might be refreshed by the water that never runs dry. Practical Theology reminds us that the stomach and the soul must both be fed.

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A blog on theology, mystery, and paradox. Christ is Risen, and you are loved! Christ is Risen, and the oppressed are liberated! Death has been assassinated and Hades has been damned. The Light has dispelled the darkness. Love has conquered hate . This is the Good News. All are welcome to feast at the banquet table of the Kingdom. Recent years have given rise to "inclusive orthodoxy," and an increased awareness of the existence of progressive people of Faith; however, the intersection of diverse and seemingly contradictory ideologies and values as a point of human fascination and speculation is not a new phenomenon. Often relegated to the obscurity of marginal spaces, typically beyond the radar of the general public, communities of Faith dedicated to causes frequently considered progressive have existed at great length, as well as in great number and with great depth. The phrase “oil and water” evokes not only the common m...

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