The Shape of Practical Theology: Empowering Ministry with Theological Praxis [Paperback]

Ray S. Anderson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 31, 2001

Too often in the life of the church, theological reflection and the practical matters of leading and serving have been considered independently. The result has been the impoverishment of both Christian faith and Christian practice. In this groundbreaking book Ray Anderson reflects theologically and practically on preaching, worship, ethics, social justice, therapy, family, homosexuality, burnout in ministry, reconciliation in relationships and theological education itself. The result is The Shape of Practical Theology, a new and renewing foundation for engaging in Christian ministry. Anderson lays out his threefold goal as follows:

• to define more clearly the shape of practical theology as truly a theological enterprise rather than mere mastery of skills and methods
• to demonstrate the praxis of practical theology as critical engagement with the interface between the word of God as revealed through Scripture and the work of God taking place in and through the church in the world
• to deal with practical pastoral theology from the perspective of those who are on the "field of play" of life and ministry, where preaching, counseling and teaching does affect for many persons the outcome of the game

Illuminated by stimulating discussion and helpful case studies, The Shape of Practical Theology is aimed at seminary students, at Christian educators, and at working pastors and counselors. Anderson's work, fascinating and fruitful, brings together the Word of God with the Spirit of God in the ever-changing context of real-life ministry.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is exactly the kind of book my students are thirsting to read. Anderson faces the real theological issues such as postmodernism, the nature of a 'praxis' theology, theological hermeneutics and theological anthropology as well as crucial ministerial concerns such as clergy burnout, homosexuality, forgiveness, the nature of Christian counseling and ministry to the family." (Christian D. Kettler, Professor of Theology and Philosophy, Friends University (Witchita, Kansas) )

"This book represents a constructive step forward in understanding the relationship between practical and dogmatic theology. Anderson offers important insights which draw the discipline beyond its more formal descriptions into a distinctively trinitarian formulation. Those who teach in this area will find in his fresh and exciting proposals for the practice of ministry a welcome resource." (Michael Jinkins, Professor of Pastoral Theology, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary )

"Theology lives; it really does. Ray Anderson persuades and convinces us. He takes us on--pastors and teachers are his target--insisting that until theology lives in us, in our words and actions and prayers, it cannot rightly be called theology. He boldly gathers the large and complex world of Christian ministry and shows how it becomes a lived response to the Holy Spirit's action among us." (Eugene H. Peterson, Professor Emeritus of Spiritual Theology, Regent College (Vancouver, British Columbia) )

"Anderson has written a hard-hitting Christocentric interpretation of practical theology, which that field badly needs. Case after case he marks out a sensitive, sophisticated, biblical and theological approach to concrete ministerial situations. The approach behind this book has the potential to revitalize ministry at all levels of the Christian life." (James E. Loder, Mary D. Synnott Professor of the Philosophy of Christian Education, Princeton Theological Seminary )

Product Details

• Paperback: 342 pages
• Publisher: IVP Academic (January 31, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830815597
• ISBN-13: 978-0830815593
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #397,369 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Mixed Bag: Great Content But At Times Way Too Hard To Read, May 14, 2009

By 

A. Carvalho (San Mateo, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Shape of Practical Theology: Empowering Ministry with Theological Praxis (Paperback)

Unlike what another reviewer wrote, this book does not deny absolute truth at all. The contents of the book are quite good. In this book Dr. Anderson critiques the dichotomy between theory and practice, 'pure' theology and 'practical' theology, and then advocates for a unified approach: for a Theology that both directs and arises out of ministry - Particularly Jesus' ministry: "Cristopraxis".

The center of the book is very theoretical and abstract in nature (strange for its 'practical' goals), attempting to provide theological and theoretical mechanisms for the application of Dr. Anderson's Cristopraxis model. The last third of the book contains chapters in specific subjects as examples of the implication of Cristopraxis.

Some of the chapters are OUTSTANDING, such as ch.7, which deals with the role of the Spirit of God in Theology and Ministry, or ch. 16 on Theology and Homosexuality, and ch. 18 on a Theology of forgiveness. Thus, the content of the book is actually well-thought through, deep and insightful (even when your opinion diverges from the author's). The problem lies elsewhere.

First, Dr. Anderson's logic is at times very convoluted. He makes statements that are extremely abstract, gives examples that don't completely clarify, and then arrives at conclusions that don't clearly to follow.

Second, at certain points the writing is EXTREMELY terse. Many statements could be said in simpler form and with greater flow, without sacrificing content.

Third, Dr. Anderson can be wordy. He sometimes uses 1,000 words to state what could have been said with 500 or less. Add to this the fact that, as yet another reviewer has stated, the print is way too small (328 pages of it!), and some parts are simply unnecessarily drab. Like for instance the seemingly endless musings in the exposition on the "Concept of Neighbor in the Ethics of Karl Barth" (ch. 9).

Dr. Anderson is at his best - even outstanding - when being practical and pastoral. He is at his most boring and difficult to read, or even care, when being theoretical. Still, I would recommend the book for the good chapters alone. Just skip the other ones. Take it from someone who read them all.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Relevant ministry for the 21st century, January 28, 2008

By 

Jonathan A. Smith "Pastor Jonathan Smith" (Clinton, MS USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Shape of Practical Theology: Empowering Ministry with Theological Praxis (Paperback)

The Shape of Practical Theology: Empowering Ministry with Theological Praxis, is a deftly articulation of the praxis of pastoral theology by Dr. Ray S. Anderson. Dr. Anderson boldly rejects the sharply drawn lines of demarcation, established by some scholars that separate academic theology from practical theology, and argues effectively that a "bridge" has been constructed that achieves greater collaboration. Dr. Anderson's thorough and reasoned definition of what practical theology is was insightful, exhilarating, and daunting considering the theological context that most clergy professionals find themselves operating in.

1.0 out of 5 stars Most difficult and impractical book I ever read!, September 21, 2010

By 

Brett A. Dietrich "Racing Kingpin" (Kansas City...) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Shape of Practical Theology: Empowering Ministry with Theological Praxis (Paperback)

First...If you don't have a Doctorate degree, then this book is HARD...and I MEAN HARD!!!! to read. If I didn't have to read it for a class I'm taking....would have pitched it in the circular file by now! Mr. Anderson could have used some simpler terms and methods to convey his points, but chose the difficult path. I had to re-read MANY sections just to understand (if I even could) the concepts of what he was trying to convey. It was if, at times, he was more trying to prove HIS brilliance, then to convey a practical message. ODD...considering the title of the book.

This book MOST CERTAINLY promotes a more liberal theology found in the Emerging or Emergent Church. An earlier poster shared this comment:

"Behind the book is a stated premise that there is no such concept as absolute truth. No passage of Scripture is held to be an absolute commandment, applicable to all peoples in all generations or all cultures. Everything is relative and subject to redefinition based on the standards of the society in which one lives."

If you don't agree with this assessment of the book, I suspect you are a practicing member of an emerging church...or teaching liberal theology somewhere. I do agree with this assessment of the book. It is undeniable!

Another key comment that the poster made...which is ABSOLUTELY true about the message this book is promoting:

"Since Scripture lacks absolute truth, and has no absolute commandments, every passage is subjective in nature, based on how the individual pastor or parishioner feels the Spirit may be leading.....Pastors must use culture to determine what action to take based on the suggestive and subjective guidelines of Scripture. Exegesis is replaced with Praxis as a hermeneutic criterion, and the loose concept of "finding antecedents" becomes the preferred means of interpreting the Word."

This book truly IS a blueprint for the subjective use of God's Word. PERIOD!