Conversations in practical theology

ABSTRACT

If wonder is the beginning of seeking knowledge and wisdom, conversation is the means by which wonder is explored and adumbrated. In 1989, before the founding of BIAPT, when Adam and Eve were children, I advocated the notion of critical, appreciative conversation as way of understanding and engaging in Practical Theology in a paper entitled ‘Some straw for the bricks’. Subsequently, I have become increasingly convinced that Practical Theology is fundamentally conversational ‘all the way down’. This article reproduces my introduction to an interactive (conversational) session at the BIAPT Conference in 2019. In it, I will reflect and expand upon the nature and importance of conversation as a method in all aspects of practical theology work, particularly my own. I will draw upon my historical experiences in BIAPT and beyond of conversations in research, supervision and teaching to assay the central, delightful importance of this way of understanding and participating in our disciplinary activity.

KEYWORDS:

• conversation
• participation
• creativity
• revelation
• relationality
• theological reflection

Acknowledgements

I am very grateful to Helen Cameron for persuading me to publish this talk, and more particularly, for editing it. It is typically kind of her.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Stephen Pattison

Stephen Pattison is a retired practical theologian who has taught and researched at higher education institutions in Scotland, Wales and England.