74 JOURNAL OF YOUTH & THEOLOGY - VOLUME 12 - NUMBER 1 - 2013 Can aReformed Theologian Have Practical Theology: Reforming ESSAY applies equally topracticaltheology. covenantal theology from liberation theology, the critique of critical reflection on praxis Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 2011, p.90. While Hortonis particularly distancing reformed its implications, Downers Grove, 2011, p.15. 116. 1 theology ofpracticeandexperienceintegrallyconnected withthediscipline a demands therefore tradition reformed the in ministry youth on reflection tural phenomenonofadolescenceunknowninthebiblical world. Academic cul the engaging for method effective an provides theology istry,practical dering betweenthetwo. The challengeistounderstandproperly therelationship andtheologicalor reflection requires consideration of context as much as exegesis of Scripture. Scripture. Yet thisisbothanexaggerationandafalsedichotomy. Theological cal theologianswhoexegetepractice,andreformed theologianswhoexegete ulation orthrough criticalreflection onpraxis’. summoned byGodIcannotconstruct theologymyself,eitherthrough spec theology, in but methodology in are just we not ‘Because difference is since, understood, maycorrect experience, butnottheotherwayaround’. ‘truth andexperiencedonothaveexactlythesamefooting.Truth, rightly begins andendsinpractice’. as practicaltheologians,RootandDeancontendthat‘alldecenttheology means we Graham Stanton Scripture andPracticetoo? 4 3 2 KendaCreasy Dean, MichaelHorton, Carson, Andrew RootandKendaCreasy Dean, Practical theologyis‘a“performative”theologicaldiscipline’,which In particular, for reformed thinkers working in the field of youth min youth of field the in working thinkers reformedparticular, for In On the surface it appears that the battle lines are drawn between practi Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church: Understanding a movement and do thingstoknowGod,aswellthinkaboutthem’. Zondervan, GrandRapids,2005, p.219. The ChristianFaith:A systematic theologyforpilgrims on theway, OMG: A youthministryhandbook 2 Incontrast,Reformedtheologyassertsthat The Theological Turnin Youth Ministry 4 , Abingdon, Nashville,2010,p. 1 Speaking 3 , IVP, The - - - - -

of practicewillbereviewed inorder toinformourunderstanding ofpracti the‘norming as of Scripture norm’ ofallChristianthoughtandpractice.Two non-theologicaltheories authority final the on emphasis reformed a knowledge derivedfrom theinterpretation ofpractice that isconsistentwith of biblicaltheology. Rapids, 2008). interpretive task(Richard Osmer, analytic taskinto two,distinguishingbetween a descriptive-empirical task and an cerns are raisedfrom theperspective ofthereformed tradition. Thepriority ministry, itisprecisely atthepointofhelpfulcontributionthat keycon involved indisciplingyoungpeople. youth ministryahelpful methodology within which toexplore thepractices es oftheologicalrigour. Practical theologytherefore presents tothestudyof ology that maintains the interest in practice without sacrificing the challeng and notmerely pragmaticallydriven.Practicaltheologyprovides amethod this comingFridaynight. Yet itisessentialthatsuchplansbetheologically that the practicing youth minister is particularly concerned with what to do demands ofenergetic teenagersandanxiousparents itisunderstandable than theologians;more concernedwiththe‘how’than‘why’.Given youth ministry. Youth ministershavelargely beenknownas‘activists’rather tical theologicalinquiry. leads toarenewed practice, creating anewcontextforfurthercyclesofprac practice. renewed in tasks) two first the in (determined actions God’s of derstanding theology culminatesina the faith(inboththeoryandpractice)are authentically‘Christian’.Practical resources oftheChristiantraditioninorder todiscernwhichformulationsof then engagestheinsightsgainedfrom thedescriptive/analytictaskwith to givevoicethevaluesandtheoriesimpliedinpraxis.The sive cycle.Practicaltheologybeginswitha THEOLOGY THAT BEGINS AND ENDS INPRACTICE ministry educationinlightofareformed practicaltheology. at Pentecost in Acts 2 before outlining two principles that could shape youth sermon between Scripture, theology andpracticewillbedrawnfrom Peter’s cal theologyfrom areformed perspective. An illustrationoftherelationship 5 These three tasks are adapted from Osmer’s four: Osmer separates thedescriptive- These three tasksare adaptedfrom Osmer’s The aimofthispaperistopropose anunderstandingoftheological Promising thoughpracticaltheologyappearsforthestudyofyouth Herein liestheparticularvalue ofpracticaltheologyforthestudy Practical theologiansessentiallyengageinthree core tasksinarecur 5 The three tasks create a cycle where the final performative task performative final the where cycle a create tasks three The performative task Practical Theology: An introduction, thatseekstoembodyrenewed un descriptive/analytic task descriptive/analytic Eerdmans, Grand normative task normative inorder ------75 JOURNAL OF YOUTH & THEOLOGY - VOLUME 12 - NUMBER 1 - 2013