Practical Theology
By Frances Forde Plude
There Is a new “growth area” in theology. It is called by different names: practical theology, pastoral theology, or public theology. David Tracy, the theologian, refers to theology as “public discourse” – serving the church, the academy, and society.
Theologians are a “think tank” resource for the church – like a research and development unit in a corporation. It is here that new ideas are debated thoughtfully; many concepts will later be implemented as pastoral leaders help people integrate theology into their daily lives. Many note the renewal of Vatican II happened because decades of theological groundwork preceded the pastoral implementation by bishops at the Council.
Much exciting practical theology is being done now by sociologists of religion, by urban-studies specialists, and by those doing parish studies. One example is Robert Orsi, who has researched how U.S. Catholic women were historically devoted to St. Jude, “the patron of impossible causes,” as immigrant women tried to cope with the difficulties of daily life.
Do Theologians Marginalize Practical Theology?
Those trying to articulate Communication Theology argue that if theologians reflect upon the pastoral or practical aspects of people’s lives, one of the first things you notice is that media and other communication realities permeate these lives. A recent Kaiser study notes that youth spend over 38 hours with media each week (TV, music, radio, computers, film) – more than their parents spend at their jobs! It certainly is not practical for theologians to marginalize this communication reality.
One step forward would be if “practical” things like communication research were integrated into theology, rather than being considered on the margin. Media are not the enemy (as many religious leaders believe). Media are the new context for the religious imagination.
Adan Medrano, a video producer, notes: “One characteristic of our media culture is that, increasingly, the traditionally separate arenas of religion and media now overlay, intersect and at times usurp each other.”
Many theologians are excellent communicators themselves and they use media in their teaching. Questions remain: Is theology being reconceptualized based on communication research and practice? Are communication concepts truly informing (and re-forming) theological ideas for the 21st century?
By Suzanne Nelson
Effective pastoral leaders have an instinct about linking modern culture with religious understanding and practice. They may not be aware of the latest communication theories, but they are aware that our daily lives are permeated with communication ideas and links. Church leaders must use these ideas and tools to communicate theology.
Recently here at Holy Name of Jesus parish in Indialantic, Florida, I saw the use of communication technologies already integrated into people’s daily lives.
Practical Examples
Our church has large overhead screens on which we can project, via computer, the words to hymns, along with colorful, liturgically appropriate images. We also hope to insert “guest speakers” into our education series. We could also bring internet and CD resources – art, music, document clips, photos – into rituals like a Communal Penance Service, Solemn Evening Prayer, a homily, or a Parish Retreat. In the U.S. today people are accustomed to these media tools from something as simple as the evening news!
A video camera integrated with this system can project baptisms on the large screen. People can now see what is happening at the font. Being able to see close-ups of what we hear is part of our experience in sports and entertainment today. They have come to expect it at church.
One of our celebrations included a meal, dancing, a variety show, and a computer-based slide show with scanned photo highlights of parish history (using Power Point software). People could buy tickets for one or more parts of the evening. It is important to use new methods of communication and older methods and to include choices.
We now have an electronic bulletin on a monitor located in the foyer of the church. It attractively presents current events with color and motion as well as clear, concise prose. Someday, it may be enough to post the bulletin on our website. Think of all the paper we will save!
A recent Mission at our parish was led by a priest and a woman trained in dialogic preaching. They alternated speaking during the 40-minute talk on each of the five nights. The interchange caught parishioner’s attention and led to an understanding of the message at a deep level, instead of a monologue by only one male.
Church and Communication Throughout History
The church has always used means of communication from people’s lives to share the Gospel. Jesus himself used the oral teaching style of the rabbi, common in his day. The images in his stories came from the daily lives of people with whom he was communicating. Oral communication and common ritual were the primary way of handing on the Word until the invention of the printing press, which brought written words to the masses. Remember it was only about 500 years ago that we had the Bible as a book.
Here in the 21st century, do we find ourselves able to interact with moving images, words and sounds which we bring into our homes and parishes electronically through the click of a button? Our ways of learning are gradually adjusting. Our world is growing smaller but more complex. Suddenly (too suddenly for some) we need multicultural skills and interreligious understandings. The implications are overwhelming, full of potential, yet challenging, and exhilarating at the same time.