1 What Is Practical Theology? by H. David Schuringa The church of Jesus Christ, due to the constantly changing times in which we live, desperately needs a proper understanding and outworking of practical theology. There is a need for this with respect to the so-called "worship wars," but it is true for every area of the church's ministry. When the church's practical theology is either functionally nonexistent or functioning inappropriately, she will find herself constantly struggling with the tendencies of pragmatism or traditionalism When this happens, the "tail is wagging the dog." With a properly functioning PT, the church has the necessary tools to discover obedient ways to minister effectively in God's world today. In fact, only a proper functioning practical theology can provide effective guidance for the church's praxes, or ministry. This article briefly describes the contours of a reformed practical theology. Historical Overview The field of practical theology in America, until the last decade or so, has had the reputation of being persistently pragmatic. In homiletics, for example, over seventy years ago, T. Hoekstra, in his review of the history of preaching, noted that homiletic studies in the English- speaking world were characteristically pragmatic. 1 Not only are many of the texts mentioned by Hoekstra in this regard still valued among some in the American school, 2 American practical theologians' own assessments of the situation indicate that his comments are still, to some extent, apropos. It has been observed, still looking at homiletics, that “a glimpse from a number of self-designated preaching ‘textbooks’ that have appeared on the American scene the last three years” indicates “a lack of shared discussion, defined direction, and academic base.” 3 This is in stark contrast with German homiletics which “is more aware of itself as an academic and theological discipline…[that]…tends to be more theoretical, [and the] American more pragmatic.” 4 1 T. Hoekstra, Gereformeerde Homiletiek (Wageningen, The Netherlands: Gebr. Zomer & Keunings, 1926). “Also here theory follows practice” (p. 135). “In England and America…the method continues not to flow from a principle, but is commended on the basis of that which appears to the homiletician to be the best in the praxis, i.e. in many cases, the most successful” (p. 136). “In America…these works bear, like those of the English, mostly a pragmatic character and consist of a condensation of the praxis--mostly a description of the author’s own preaching experiences” (p. 138). (Note: All translations of non-English sources are my own, HDS.) 2 Cf. Albert Mohler Jr., “Classic Texts Deserve Valued Spot on the Preacher’s Bookshelf,” Preaching IV, no. 5 (March-April 1989): 33. 3 Paul Scott Wilson, “Is Homiletics Academic?” Homiletic XIII, no. 1 (1988): 3.