Center for Practical Theology
The Center for Practical Theology seeks to pr
ovide a bridge between the scholarly resources, questions, and insights of a university-based theological seminary and the wisdom, questions, and traditions of communities of faith.
In doing so, the Center provides an infrastructure for sustaining, deepening, and expanding important relationships and connections between Boston University School of Theology and local congregations, denominational offices, and religious centers so that they may be more integrally incorporated into student learning and faculty teaching and research. The Center was created in January 2005 with generous funding from the Lilly Endowment, Inc.
Congratulations to Michael Balboni, Julian Gotobed, Adrienne Kisner, HiRho Park, Holly Reed, and John Tamilio,
May 22, 2011
On May 22, six of our doctoral students were hooded and received their diplomas as graduates of the Ph.D. Program in Practical Theology at Boston University. Congratulations to all of them!
Michael Balboni, Provision of Spiritual Care by Christian Physicians in Secular Medical Contexts: A Practical Theological Investigation
Julian Gotobed, Living with Jesus: Practical Christologies in Two Boston American Baptist Churches
Adrienne Kisner, Reading Between the Lines: The Potential of Popular Young Adult Fiction in Adolescent Spiritual Formation
HiRho Park, Practices of Ministerial Leadership of Korean-American United Methodist Clergywomen: Toward a Wesleyan Ecclesiology in Global Context
Holly Reed, Computer-Mediated Communication and Ecclesiological Challenges to and from the Reformed Tradition
John Tamilio, Practice and Understanding of the Eucharist in the United Church of Christ: A Practical Theological Study
Theologians Engaging Trauma
Please join us for an evening discussion featuring four contemporary theologians addressing critical questions about suffering:
- How can we speak about faith in the aftermath of trauma?
- Where is God in the suffering?
- How might religious communities contribute to trauma healing?
We will talk with M. Shawn Copeland (Boston College), Serene Jones (Union Theological Seminary), Shelly Rambo (Boston University) and Mayra Rivera (Harvard Divinity School); with moderator Susan Abraham (Harvard Divinity School).
This important conversation will take place in the George Sherman Union Building on Boston University’s campus, 775 Commonwealth Avenue, 2nd Floor Terrace Room, Monday, February 28th, 6:30-8:00pm. Dessert will be provided. Theology and Trauma Flyer is available here for printout and distribution.
Center Announces our New Minister in Residence: Rev. Dr. Gregory Thomas
We welcome to our campus this semester Rev. Dr. Gregory Thomas, who will serve as “Minister-in-Residence,” as part of the Center’s Sustaining Pastoral Excellence initiative funded by the Lilly Endowment.
Reverend Dr. Gregory E. Thomas (DMin 2001) is the longest tenured pastor in the history of 139 year old Calvary Baptist Church, Haverhill, MA, serving 22 years. He was bi-vocational early in his pastorate, working as a management trainer for New England life Insurance, as he completed his MTS from Harvard Divinity School and DMin from BUSTH. He has studied for the past 7 years at Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany in Practical Theology. His research interests are “the pastor as scholar;” phenomenological perspectives to theological research; preaching as a pastoral and pedagogical imperative; and, “theology and illness.” His still active Phd research in practical theology deals with the experience of church as home. He has taught Baptist Polity at HDS; Black Church History at CUME, and Religion in American Culture at Goethe University.
As you can see, Gregory is no stranger to the School of Theology. This semester, he will be available to students, faculty, and staff for conversations, lunches, and forums that will be announced from time to time, but you should feel free to invite him into any of your classes as a guest speaker, panelist, or contributing voice if you think his insights or participation would be helpful. He will have a desk in the adjunct office on the fourth floor.
Part of what we want to see happen with a “Minister-in-Residence” is the development of a further bridge between the church and the academy. Gregory certainly has a foot firmly planted in both. I think you will find him an engaging and thoughtful colleague. Feel free to contact Gregory directly at tegbear7@aol.com.
Annual Lecture with Dr. Thomas Groome in Review
This year’s annual lecture, held on September 22nd was enjoyed by our largest crowd to date for the event.
We were fortunate to have as our guest lecturer Dr. Thomas Groome, Professor of Theology and Religious Education and Chair of the IREPM Department in Boston College’s School of Theology and Ministry. His lecture was entitled “Practical Theology and Religious Education: A Needful Partnership.” Dr. Groome demonstrated this partnership with charisma as he paused several times mid-lecture to offer the audience a chance to discuss and engage his topic via small groups. In the end, his case for a more intentional and vibrant collaboration between religious education and practical theology was convincing and enthusiastic. We are thankful for his willingness to join us for our annual lecture. The full lecture is available on BU Universe by clicking here.
To see pictures from the event provided by our very own Xochitl Alvizo, please visit : http://www.bu.edu/cpt/2010-annual-lecture-photos/
You are invited to the first PhD Colloquium of the year …
Dinner and Conversation with Professor Bert Roebben
“Practical Theology in Europe: Emerging Purposes, Definitions, and Methods”
October 14, 2010
5:00-7:00 p.m.
Room 325 in School of Theology
745 Commonwealth Avenue
A native of Belgium, Bert Roebben completed his studies at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium., where he studied education and completed his doctorate in theology. His research focuses on the crossroads of theology, pedagogy, and youth research. He is particularly interested in the religious practices of children, youth and young adults, asking: “What does religion do with young people and what do young people do with religion?” Dr. Roebben then employs theological imagination to explore “the playground of Christian faith” within complex learning environments and amid diverse religions and worldviews. Dr. Roebben is Professor of Religious Education and Director of the Institute of Catholic Theology, Dortmund University, Germany. His most recent book is Seeking Sense in the City. European Perspectives on Religious Education, and he has published widely in Dutch, English, and German languages.
Please RSVP to cpt@bu.edu by October 7, 2010.
Practicing New Ways of Being in the Academy and the Church: Conversations with Emerging Feminist Practical Theologians,
Thursday, October 21, 5:00-8:30pm, BU School of Theology, basement level, dinner included. Email cpt@bu.edu for more information.
Last October, we gathered women theologians from the Boston Theological Institute to explore the future of feminist practical theology. One of the themes emerging from the symposium was the importance of dialogue between generations of scholars. We were inspired to “listen forward”—to hear from emerging theologians their visions of what theology is and can be. What does it look like to practice feminist theology in a new day? This October, we are hosting an event that explores this question. We asked emerging feminist practical theologians to name some of the pressing issues facing them in their academic formation and in their engagement with faith communities. This event addresses those issues: How do we build academic friendships? How do we write for audiences other than the academy? How do we move in institutions where women’s presence and authority is still challenged?
Congratulations to Pat McLeod
May 16, 2010
On May 16, Pat McLeod became the 6th graduate of the Ph.D. Program in Practical Theology at Boston University. Pat is a native of Montana and his dissertation is entitled, “An Historical and Theological Analysis of Campus Crusade for Christ’s Evangelistic Practice in Two American University Contexts.” Pat and his wife Tammy serve as chaplains at Harvard University, and they have four children.
A Forum of Leading Feminist Voices in Theology
October 22, 2009
In celebration of Dean Mary Elizabeth Moore’s scholarly work in the fields of feminist theology and practical theology, a panel discussion featuring leading women scholars in the Boston area theological schools is being sponsored by the Center for Practical Theology. The topic is “Theology as a Living Discourse: The Future of Feminist Practical Theology.” Speakers include Shawn Copeland, Amy Hollywood, Mary Elizabeth Moore and Stephanie Paulsell. The respondents are Susan Abraham, Donna Freitas, Renee Harrison, and Shelly Rambo. This presentation can be viewed online at BUniverse.
Annual Lecture: “Toward an Interreligious Practical Theology”
September 23, 2009
The Center for Practical Theology at Boston University hosted its second annual dinner and lecture. Mary Elizabeth Moore, dean of the School of Theology and a professor of theology and education, spoke on the topic Toward an Interreligious Practical Theology, how practical theologians address and engage the issue and contexts of religious pluralism. Practical theologians have been slow to address interreligious issues, but now is the time for them to take charge of these concerns, she says. They need to look at different religions and religious practices, especially the clashing of religions, and examine how interreligious relationships work. Stating that religious issues often cause dissension between groups and wars between countries around the world, she argues that the future of the world depends on learning to share our deepest religious passions and that practical theologians have an important role in bringing about this sharing and understanding.
To listen and view the entire presentation, click here.
Pub Church
Since 1998, Boston University School of Theology and the Center for Practical Theology have been supporting the research and development of new congregations, primarily in the New England area. The Pub Church is one such congregation.
The Pub Church had their first “official” gathering on April 26, 2008, at Tommy Doyle’s Irish Pub in Harvard Square. The start of The Pub Church was preceded by a six month period of planning and discernment with a small group of interested persons. As the congregation rotated among different Boston-area pubs, they realized they wanted to have just one place as their pub church home – that place is the Dugout Cafe where the pub church has been gathering weekly since September, 2008.
People’s desire to have a church they felt good about participating in, unlike other churches they had experienced, was the inspiration behind the pub church. It started with the simple vision of “participating with Spirit.” The discernment of what that means and what that looks like is an ongoing process to which all pub church participants contribute.
To watch a video about the Pub Church, click here.
FOCUS on Practical Theology
Wednesday, 24 December 2008 10:16
FOCUS, Boston University School of Theology’s alumni publication, included a special section on Practical Theology in its most recent edition (pages 15-30). The co-directors of the Center for Practical Theology (Dale Andrews, Bryan Stone, and Claire Wolfteich) wrote on the role practical theology plays in relating university and community. “Cultivating Holy Friendships” was the focus of an article about the recently published study Sabbath in the City by Stone and Wolfteich. Spiritual renewal in the life of students was the topic of an article written by Susan Forshey and Claire Wolfteich. And Xochitl Alvizo, a doctoral student in practical theology, shared her personal journey to ministry. To view these articles in their entirety along with the complete edition of FOCUS, click here.
Bostonia article features urban pastors
Thursday, 16 October 2008 16:12
A new article in the Bostonia magazine, entitled “City of God,” features the Center’s new efforts to establish urban teaching sites for the School of Theology, building on the Sustaining Urban Pastoral Excellence program of recent years. The article features STH alum Rev. Tiffany Steinwert of Cambridge Welcoming Ministries as well as Rev. Kathy McAdams of Common Cathedral and Rev. Karen Fritz of Brighton Allston Congregational Church, two of the SUPE program’s partners. Click here to read the article in its entirety.
Sabbath in the City: Sustaining Urban Pastoral Excellence
Saturday, 20 September 2008 16:30
From 2003-2007, the Center for Practical Theology offered urban pastors across the nation an opportunity to sustain excellent ministry by strengthening practices of spiritual renewal, urban study and reflection, and peer community through the Sustaining Urban Pastoral Excellence project. 96 pastors participated in the program over the five years, and the impact of the SUPE Project has been substantial. The project was designed both as a program of support to the pastors and as a research project, which sought answers to two primary questions: what constitutes pastoral excellence in the urban context, and what sustains it? Dr. Bryan Stone and Dr. Claire Wolfteich have together written a book summarizing the results of the project, and the book will be out in October 2008 entitled Sabbath in the City: Sustaining Urban Pastoral Excellence (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press). To read more about the project, click here.