Assessment

Continuous Assessment 30% + Supervised Project 70%

Module Aims

The aims of this module are (a) to provide students with the skills to undertake the descriptive-empirical task of practical theological interpretation (b) to explore the use of qualitative research methods as a systematic and disciplined way of attending to the faith perspectives, life experiences, and particularities of people, in order to improve pastoral understanding and practice and, (c) to enable students to integrate cross-disciplinary knowledge and empirical data into the theological enterprise, by completing a micro-scale research project in an area of pastoral concern.

Indicative Syllabus

• Introduction to Practical Theology: Frameworks - ‘Four Tasks of Practical Theological Interpretation’ and ‘Four Voices of Theology’.
• Reflexivity and Reflective Practice.
• Introduction to Methodologies: Theological Reflection; Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Methods Research.
• Designing a Practical Theological Research Project.
• Ethics in Research.
• Empirical Methods of Research (Data Collection).
• Documentary Research: Normative and Formal Theological Sources.
• Data Preparation, Analysis, and Interpretation.
• Presentation of Empirical Findings.
• Dialogue between Voices of Theology.
• Writing the Research Report.

Learning Outcomes

• — At the end of this module, students will:Complete a micro-scale empirical research project, which serves to initiate students into the practice of Practical Theological Empirical research that might be undertaken on a larger-scale in their future academic and professional/ministerial lives.
• — Demonstrate knowledge and skills to deepen the quality of their attending to others, whether in informal ways through active listening and interpersonal communication in everyday encounters, or more formal and systematic ways by investigating perspectives and experiences through empirical research.
• — Exhibit the practice of cross-disciplinary thinking.
• — Engage in a robust dialogue between the everyday life and practices of Christians and the resources of the Christian faith.
• — Engage in a sustained and critical reflection on a particular area of concern regarding faith and practice.

Bibliography

• — Ballard, Paul H. and John Pritchard. Practical Theology in Action: Christian Thinking in the Service of Church and Society. 2nd ed. London: SPCK, 2006.
• — Cameron, Helen, Deborah Bhatti, Catherine Duce, James Sweeney, and Clare Watkins. Talking about God in Practice: Theological Action Research and Practical Theology. London: SCM Press, 2010.
• — Nash, Sally and Paul Nash. Tools for Reflective Ministry. London: SPCK 2009.
• — Osmer, Richard Robert. Practical Theology: An Introduction. Grand Rapids, Mich: William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co, 2008.
• — Swinton, John and Harriet Mowat. Practical Theology and Qualitative Research. London: SCM Press, 2006.
• — Ward, Pete. Introducing Practical Theology: Mission, Ministry, and the Life of the Church. Baker Academic, 2017.
• — Ward, Pete, ed. Perspectives on Ecclesiology and Ethnography. William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2012.
• — Wolfteich, Claire E. Invitation to Practical Theology: Catholic Voices and Visions. Paulist Press, 2014.
• — Woodward, James, Stephen Pattison, and John Patton. The Blackwell Reader in Pastoral and Practical Theology. Oxford, UK; Malden, Mass: Blackwell Publishers, 2000.