Call for Proposals

This Group invites papers in three areas:

• How Christian location and faith have shaped practical theology. How is one’s academic approach to practical theology — research and teaching — shaped by a personal commitment to Christianity? In what ways do distinctive Christian values and approaches to practice underlie current practical theological formations? How has practical theology been affected by Christianity’s social location in particular global situations?
• Practical theology and popular culture — the diverse forms of interaction between the two, how and/or what practical theology contributes to the theological study of popular culture, and, conversely, what popular culture offers to the forms and contents of practical theology
• For a cosponsored session with the Christian Spirituality Group — on trauma, oppression, and spiritual formation. How does the experience of trauma — from war, relational violence, refugee experience, poverty, discrimination, etc. — affect human subjectivity and the experience of God? How might healing be conceived and fostered in such contexts? Further, is PTSD a Western construction of trauma “exported” to other contexts?

Mission

This Group engages practical theology and religious practice, reflects critically on religious traditions and practices, and explores issues in particular subdisciplines of practical theology and ministry. The group engages this mission in five interrelated public spheres with the following goals:

• For practical theology — to provide a national and international forum for discussion, communication, publication, and development of the field and its related subdisciplines
• For theological and religious studies — to foster interdisciplinary critical discourse about religious practice, contextual research and teaching for ministry, and practical theological method and pedagogy
• For a variety of religious traditions — to enhance inquiry in religious practice and practical theology
• For academic pedagogy — to advance excellence in teaching and vocational development for faculty in divinity and seminary education generally and for graduate students preparing to teach in such settings specifically
• For the general public — to promote constructive reflection on social and cultural dynamics and explore the implications of religious confession and practice

Anonymity of Review Process

Proposals are anonymous to Chairs and steering committee members during review, but visible to Chairs prior to final acceptance or rejection.

Questions?

Mary McClintock Fulkerson
Duke University
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Jan Holton
Yale University
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Method of Submission