This is a bridge that takes me to a place where my family has gathered for many summers in coastal Maine. Passing over this bridge signals that I am moving closer to a time of connection, to a time of deep rest, to moments of joy. Passing over this bridge means that I am closer to a place where I belong, a place where I am uniquely loved, and a place that moves me to live well beyond routines, tasks and to-dos.
Practical theology is this kind of bridge, one that is in between the secular and the sacred, the ordinary and the extraordinary, the vast and the specific. This is a bridge that we don’t cross once in life but one that is integrated into our spiritual routes. We are always bridging our own lived experiences with the context that we serve within. We listen, we observe, we seek understanding of the deepest needs of the people we are in relationship with.
In pastoral care, we ensure that we bridge people’s lived, daily experiences to God. We hold the most tender stuff of life. We support people in bearing witness to joy and making sense of grief. We might not have answers and feel limited in our own response and so we surround people with care through resources and referrals, all the while reminding those we pastor that they belong to God.
In worship, we put God in the center, explicitly building a bridge to the divine. Our theology is expressed through accessible, intentional experiences that hold space for people to meet God. We facilitate opportunities for the Holy Spirit to move. We proclaim the Word of God to remind all of those gathered who God is and how God works through Jesus Christ. As Dr. Tony McNeill says, we hold space for cosmic questions. Worship is a bridge, an opportunity to step out of the hustle and bustle of life to be reminded that we belong to God.
In spiritual formation and education, practical theology serves as a bridge in ensuring people learn who God is through relevant experiences that speak to their context. We design curriculum, choose readings, facilitate conversations, and uncover learning opportunities that honor the people we serve. We ask questions and draw connections, we honor different learning styles and creatively engage the mind, body and spirit of seekers. Our pedagogy is a bridge to making meaning of how we belong to God.
My definition of practical theology is rooted in intentional facilitation, building this bridge to the holy one worship experience, prayer group, youth fellowship activity, Session meeting, hospice visit and shared cup of coffee at a time. I believe that practical theology brings holy belonging to life through acts of pastoral care, worship, and formation. I seek to build bridges of belonging – to God and to one another.
Susan Landrum 