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Practical Theology: An Introduction
Every church congregation encounters challenging situations, some the same the world over, and others specific to each church. Richard Osmer here seeks to teach congregational leaders -- including, but not limited to, clergy -- the requisite knowledge and skills to meet such situations with sensitivity and creativity.
Osmer develops a framework for practical theological interpretation in congregations by focusing on four key What is going on in a given context? Why is this going on? What ought to be going on? and How might the leader shape the context to better embody Christian witness and mission?
The book is unique in its attention to interdisciplinary issues and the ways that theological reflection is grounded in the spirituality of leaders. Useful, accessible, and lively -- with lots of specific examples and case studies -- Osmer‘s Practical Theology effectively equips congregational leaders to guide their communities with theological integrity.
Osmer develops a framework for practical theological interpretation in congregations by focusing on four key What is going on in a given context? Why is this going on? What ought to be going on? and How might the leader shape the context to better embody Christian witness and mission?
The book is unique in its attention to interdisciplinary issues and the ways that theological reflection is grounded in the spirituality of leaders. Useful, accessible, and lively -- with lots of specific examples and case studies -- Osmer‘s Practical Theology effectively equips congregational leaders to guide their communities with theological integrity.
256 pages, Paperback
First published July 2, 2008
About the author
Richard R. Osmer
7 books1 followerRichard Osmer is Princeton Theological Seminary’s Ralph B. and Helen S. Ashenfelter Professor of Mission and Evangelism Emeritus. He earned an MDiv from Yale University and a PhD from Emory University. His interests include the teaching ministry of congregations, practical theology, and interdisciplinary thinking, and his courses cover educational psychology and practical theology, children’s literature in Christian moral education, confirmation and catechism, and the social functions of religion, ethics, and education in theories of modernity and postmodernity. An ordained Presbyterian minister, he chairs the Committee to Write New Catechisms for the Presbyterian Church (USA).
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 23, 2018
Osmer gives 4 tasks and 4 questions, then proceeds to go so far afield from those questions that the book loses all sense of helpfulness.
The premise of these 4 tasks and 4 questions is fine, but this book will not help you to see how those tasks play out. It provides an unnecessary, complicated interweaving with other disciplines that could have been cut in half if not further.
A book that simply presented numerous case studies in a more well organized manner would have been far more helpful.
The premise of these 4 tasks and 4 questions is fine, but this book will not help you to see how those tasks play out. It provides an unnecessary, complicated interweaving with other disciplines that could have been cut in half if not further.
A book that simply presented numerous case studies in a more well organized manner would have been far more helpful.
April 5, 2023
This is the third of three books i read on practical theology in three weeks. All three authors, Osmer, Veling and Ward, wrestling with the degree to which we grant experience authority in theological construction. But also some good theory on how to interpret experience, ie: ethnography, standpoint theory etc. And Osmer digs into some of the metatheoretical perspectives in empirical research too. Most of the practical theo people i have read, Mowatt and Swinton, stick with critical realism but i am pretty interested in post-structuralism as Osmer describes it but where does one find the time to research this more deeply. That seems like a deep dive project.
His point that "transforming leadership" leads to deep change is i think a fine goal, it is just that Christian leadership material has made the phrase "transforming leadership" mean so much, it now means nothing. It is a stale bumpersticker on the back of a Ford Areostar van rusting in the back of an auto wrecker lot. Honestly, i am so sick of lame leadership language that is meaningless or seems to pander to popular buisness notions of success, but seems to not be that interested in the people of Israel's journey in the Old Testament or the church in the New Testament. Its enough to make me become a hermit in Saskatchewan.
But what is possible in regards to actual deep change in a church so committed to respectability and not rocking the boat. I think that people are very divided these days and most discipleship avoids discussion of important issues because they are too divisive. For me a big part of deep change is people coming to embrace the humanism of Jesus. But this is tough sledding. Perhaps that is why Osmer states under the pragmatic task of servant leadership that we are going to get lost on the way. Churches don't like that kind of leadership that says, "hey lets try to follow Jesus and you know what, we are gonna get lost and our experiment will probably blow up in our face from time to time." But it seems to me, we need small grass roots communities that are willing to do just that.
His point that "transforming leadership" leads to deep change is i think a fine goal, it is just that Christian leadership material has made the phrase "transforming leadership" mean so much, it now means nothing. It is a stale bumpersticker on the back of a Ford Areostar van rusting in the back of an auto wrecker lot. Honestly, i am so sick of lame leadership language that is meaningless or seems to pander to popular buisness notions of success, but seems to not be that interested in the people of Israel's journey in the Old Testament or the church in the New Testament. Its enough to make me become a hermit in Saskatchewan.
But what is possible in regards to actual deep change in a church so committed to respectability and not rocking the boat. I think that people are very divided these days and most discipleship avoids discussion of important issues because they are too divisive. For me a big part of deep change is people coming to embrace the humanism of Jesus. But this is tough sledding. Perhaps that is why Osmer states under the pragmatic task of servant leadership that we are going to get lost on the way. Churches don't like that kind of leadership that says, "hey lets try to follow Jesus and you know what, we are gonna get lost and our experiment will probably blow up in our face from time to time." But it seems to me, we need small grass roots communities that are willing to do just that.
July 25, 2024
In many ways an excellent introduction to practical theology, but there are some important drawbacks.
First, Osmer's approach to practical theology is highly interdisciplinary. This is excellent, but it also means he has to introduce a large number of concepts and fields that are important but not central to his topic. If one does not have a solid introduction to epistemology or transversality, it will be hard to get an introduction from this book, but it is required to understand some sections.
Second, Osmer connects his approach to Practical Theology to biblical theology and biblical example, but I often found it difficult to trace the connections he seeks to make. They seem tenuous or opaque in some places or almost shoe-horned into the chapters.
Third, Osmer does not hold evangelical convictions and in the same way that a theological progressive or liberal may be distracted by evangelical assumptions in a textbook, evangelicals may be distracted by some of Osmer's assumptions or openness in areas like ethics.
Fourth, Osmer seems to be writing for a traditional main-line denominational audience and his chapter on leadership seems narrow because of it. He thinks in terms of institutions and their traditions and in places seems to be writing for an audience that shares that context in spite of vocally trying to appeal to other audiences.
First, Osmer's approach to practical theology is highly interdisciplinary. This is excellent, but it also means he has to introduce a large number of concepts and fields that are important but not central to his topic. If one does not have a solid introduction to epistemology or transversality, it will be hard to get an introduction from this book, but it is required to understand some sections.
Second, Osmer connects his approach to Practical Theology to biblical theology and biblical example, but I often found it difficult to trace the connections he seeks to make. They seem tenuous or opaque in some places or almost shoe-horned into the chapters.
Third, Osmer does not hold evangelical convictions and in the same way that a theological progressive or liberal may be distracted by evangelical assumptions in a textbook, evangelicals may be distracted by some of Osmer's assumptions or openness in areas like ethics.
Fourth, Osmer seems to be writing for a traditional main-line denominational audience and his chapter on leadership seems narrow because of it. He thinks in terms of institutions and their traditions and in places seems to be writing for an audience that shares that context in spite of vocally trying to appeal to other audiences.
October 19, 2023
Outstanding book and a very helpful introduction to Practical Theology. This book has been criticized for not being sufficiently grounded in Scripture, yet I have not found this to be the case. Osmer's spiritualities of priestly listening, sagely wisdom, prophetic discernment and servanthood are well grounded in Scripture. The last chapter on the education of Practical Theology was excellent. I would highly recommend this book.
December 1, 2020
Four stars because the language is unnecessarily complicated.
September 19, 2014
The bottom line: A book that delivers on how to execute theological principles in real-life scenarios.
Practical Theology offers exactly what the title states—real-life, functional ways to apply what one has learned about theoretical theology and how that can be applied to institutions and regular people with everyday problems. The reality is that many of the tools needed in ministry are not taught in seminary, and faith leaders often find themselves feeling unprepared once their professional careers begin. Although dealing with complicated life scenarios can’t really be taught per se, this book does manage to ... http://www.chesadaphal.com/practical-...
Practical Theology offers exactly what the title states—real-life, functional ways to apply what one has learned about theoretical theology and how that can be applied to institutions and regular people with everyday problems. The reality is that many of the tools needed in ministry are not taught in seminary, and faith leaders often find themselves feeling unprepared once their professional careers begin. Although dealing with complicated life scenarios can’t really be taught per se, this book does manage to ... http://www.chesadaphal.com/practical-...
August 10, 2016
Osmer provides a means of answering difficult questions in order to lead change in congregations. He eschews easy answers. His practical approach to theology is grounded in the priestly, Royal, and prophetic offices of Christ. Congregational leaders are encouraged to view themselves as "interpretive guides" who, as servant leaders, lead those they serve into new territory. This is a helpful book for anyone who seeks to do serious reflection and engage in conversation with other fields of study in order to more effectively and conscientiously serve in their specific context.
February 20, 2014
Interesting methodology for unpacking congregational issues - it seems sort of cumbersome, but it definitely helps one avoid leaping immediately into problem-solving mode.I've used it in classwork and in my own ministry context successfully.
November 5, 2010
This text in many ways is just footnotes to Browning's Fundamental Practical Theology
March 19, 2022
Very Helpful
This book really opened my mind up to what practical theology is and how to apply it. Great book for those interested in practical theology.
This book really opened my mind up to what practical theology is and how to apply it. Great book for those interested in practical theology.
April 18, 2018
A brilliant seminal work by Richard R. Osmer that should be required reading for all practical theologians! The intertwining of theory and practice throughout the text that focuses on the four tasks (descriptive-empirical, interpretive, normative & pragmatic) of theological interpretation is remarkable.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews