Models of Public Theology

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eneida Jacobsen
Keyword(s):  
Religious Discourse ◽  
Public Theology ◽  
Universal Model ◽  
Contemporary Society ◽  
Contextual Model ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Third ◽  
Action Models ◽  
The Church ◽  
Accessible Form

Abstract In this article, different models of public theology are characterized according to the reasons given for the importance of and need for a public theology (foundational models) and the ways proposed for its realization (action models). There are three emphases of identified foundations: the first understands public theology as a task driven by God (model of disclosure); the second anchors the need for public theology in religious questions that affect all of humanity (universal model); the third bases itself on the finding of the public presence of religious discourse in contemporary society (factual model). With regards to the prospects for action, three principal ways are identified, which affirm the possibility of the publicization of theology: addressing different audiences, such as the academy and the church (model of the audience); articulating itself through a style and an accessible form of argument (apologetic model); addressing contextual challenges (contextual model).

Mission’s public engagement: The conversation of missiology and public theology

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Kim
Keyword(s):  
Public Engagement ◽  
Common Good ◽  
Kingdom Of God ◽  
Global Network ◽  
Public Theology ◽  
Contemporary Society ◽  
The Public ◽  
Significant Interest ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Church

The recent development of public theology, the formation of the Global Network for Public Theology, and active scholarly discussions through the platform of the International Journal of Public Theology demonstrate that there is significant interest in the public engagement of theology in contemporary society. Public theology could be identified as critical, reflective, and reasoned engagement of theology in society to bring the kingdom of God, which is for the sake of the poor and marginalized. As David Bosch suggests, mission transforms society and at the same time the concept of mission is being transformed as the church interacts with the wider society. This article aims first to highlight some key features shared by missiology and public theology; second to discuss ways and means to enhance each discipline in its engagement in society, particularly as regards the common good; and third to explore a possibility of “public missiology” or “missiology of public life” in the context of secular and multicultural societies.

scholarly journals An enquiry on poverty discourses in public theology for the calling of the church to respond to poverty: A case for the Africa Inland Church in Kenya

2016 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Noah K. Tenai
Keyword(s):  
Christian Faith ◽  
Public Theology ◽  
Ordinary Life ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Square ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Theological Perspective ◽  
Africa Inland Church ◽  
Poverty Levels ◽  
The Church

As an emergent and rapidly growing international field of study, public theology has its focus on how Christian faith and practice impact on ordinary life. Its principle concern is thewell-being of society. In Africa, and in Kenya in particular, where poverty levels are still high, there is a need to enquire into the value and efficacy of the poverty discourses in publictheology, for the calling of the church to respond to poverty. One of the main and fast growingchurches in Kenya, the Africa Inland Church (AIC), has vast resources used for, amongst otherthings, various on-going work amidst the poor and the vulnerable in remote and poor areas. Due to the unrelenting nature of poverty in Kenya, the AIC needs a theological perspective, which is sufficiently sensitive to poverty and can enable it to respond to poverty moreeffectively. Public theology’s emphasis on gaining an entrée into the public square andadopting the agenda of communities, including public theology’s calling on churches toactively participate in rational and plausible public discourses, can assist the AIC to respondeffectively to the challenge of poverty in Kenya.

Notions of the Public and Doing Theology

2007 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 431-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dirkie Smit
Keyword(s):  
Final Section ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Public Theology ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Third ◽  
Theological Discourse ◽  
Elective Affinities ◽  
Similar Range ◽  
The Public Sphere ◽  
Descriptive Sense

AbstractThe notion 'public' can have widely different meanings and, accordingly, many also understand the notion 'public theology' in different ways. Why would some who regard themselves as doing public theology prefer certain notions of 'public', while others prefer different understandings? In the first part, the article distinguishes three broad types of understanding the notion 'public'; ranging from a technical and almost prescriptive sense, following Habermas' description of the public sphere, to a vague and almost descriptive sense, following Tracy's description of all theological discourse as public. The second part serves as reminder of the similar range of possible meanings of the notion 'public theology', roughly corresponding to this wide spectrum of uses of 'public'. The third and final section then briefly reflects on the question why certain theologians prefer to do certain forms of public theology, suggesting both sociological reasons, like Tracy's 'elective affinities', as well as theological reasons; fundamentally different ways of viewing God and divine involvement in the world.

scholarly journals Prophetic witness: An appropriate mode of public discourse in the democratic South Africa?

2010 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Etienne De Villiers
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Public Discourse ◽  
Critical Discussion ◽  
Second Step ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Third ◽  
Democratic Societies ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Prophetic Witness ◽  
The Church

The question asked in the heading was answered in this article in four steps. In the first step, an attempt was made to find an accurate account of biblical prophecy by means of a critical discussion of certain influential interpretations of it. In the second step, the extent to which biblical prophecy could serve as a model for contemporary Christians was discussed and an acceptable Christian model of prophetic witness was formulated by drawing on the views of different authors. In the third step, the impact of democracy on the prophetic witness of the church was discussed. The Dutch theologian, Gerrit de Kruijf’s view that the public prophetic witness of the church is not appropriate in democratic societies was criticised and the legitimacy of certain forms of prophetic witness in such societies defended. In the final step, a number of examples of the prophetic witness that is needed in the present democratic South Africa were provided.

Mendelssohn and the Transformation of Leipzig Musical Culture

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey S. Sposato
Keyword(s):  
Church Music ◽  
Musical Culture ◽  
Major Work ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Third ◽  
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy ◽  
Felix Mendelssohn ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Church

This chapter is the third of three chapters to look at the relationship between a Thomaskantor, who oversaw the church music, and a Kapellmeister (music director) of the public concerts. Thomaskantor Moritz Hauptmann and Kapellmeister Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy are examined. Mendelssohn was hired in 1835 to move the Gewandhaus orchestra away from light, popular fare and toward artistic, canonical music. When Thomaskantor Christian Theodor Weinlig died in 1842, Mendelssohn arranged for his friend Hauptmann to fill the position. Hauptmann shared Mendelsson’s vision of canonical music, so that church music moved in this stylistic direction. The chapter concludes by noting that the concert format Mendelssohn favored as Gewandhaus director, consisting of lighter fare in the first half (often involving a soloist), an intermission, and a complete symphony or other major work in the second half, provided the model for classical concerts as we experience them today.

Doing Theology: Engaging the Public

2007 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 290-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison Elliot
Keyword(s):  
Public Theology ◽  
Church Of Scotland ◽  
The Public ◽  
Theological Understanding ◽  
Different Characteristics ◽  
The Church

AbstractThis article examines the characteristics of some of the contexts in which public theology is done. Examples are taken from Scotland and particularly the experience of representatives of the Church of Scotland. Three publics are identified as target audiences: an institutional public in which official positions are debated and defended; a constructed public in which theological understanding is developed in the company of others; and a personal public which characterizes some forms of broadcasting. Discourse in each public has different characteristics, drawing on distinctive theological assumptions about church and faith. The article examines how public theology can draw strength from practice in each context.

scholarly journals Pastoral Letters and the Church in the public square: An assessment of the role of Pastoral Letters in influencing democratic processes in Malawi

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qeko Jere ◽  
Vhumani Magezi
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Church History ◽  
Public Theology ◽  
Checks And Balances ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Square ◽  
Pastoral Letters ◽  
The Voice ◽  
The Church

The contributory role Pastoral Letters play in Malawi’s democracy cannot be underestimated. Historically, Pastoral Letters have been the voice of the Malawian people, and these have forced authorities to accommodate social and political reforms. From colonialism, federations and independence to the birth and consolidation of democracy, Pastoral Letters have been issued by the Church to State authority demanding political change and improvement in governance issues. For instance, Pastoral Letters issued by the Church put pressure on the British to end colonialism in Malawi, and in 1992, Pastoral Letters hugely contributed to the dismantling of Dr Kamuzu Banda’s, and the Malawi Congress Party’s, three-decade autocratic rule. Even in the multiparty dispensation, which was ushered in during 1994, Pastoral Letters have provided checks and balances to government in the consolidation of democracy. Thus, Pastoral Letters represent the voice of the voiceless in every political dispensation. The article is informed by the Pauline Pastoral Letters’ conceptual framework. The main argument governing this article is that unless there is continuity in the issuing of Pastoral Letters by the Church in addressing specific challenges within a democracy, sustainability of democratic value will always be compromised and not realised.Interdisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This is an interdisciplinary article that touches on practical and public theology focusing on Church history and polity in assessing the role of Pastoral Letters in influencing the sustainability of democratic processes in a public square. The article contributes to a wider debate on the role the Church’s Pastoral Letters play in determining the sociopolitical landscape in Malawi. However, this is the only article written from a Pauline Pastoral Letters’ conceptual framework.

scholarly journals The Religious Imagination and Contemporary Public Theology

Kairos ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-122
Author(s):  
Beneamin Mocan
Keyword(s):  
Christian Theology ◽  
Substantial Contribution ◽  
Public Theology ◽  
Human Being ◽  
Contemporary Society ◽  
Religious Imagination ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Square ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Christian Message

The process of secularization, known as the process of the privatization of religion or its denial from the public square, is a heritage of Modernity. This reality had (and continues to have) important consequences for Christian theology. Hence, the renewal of Christian theology is urgent, and has a lot at stake, especially regarding the need for a renewed Christian message within contemporary society. Though public theology appeared as a normal consequence of the need for the renewal of Christian theology, this renewal is not necessarily present in many of its methods. The rigidity of both of its theological methods and language remains a problem for public theology. This article suggests that the new shift in anthropology should be taken into consideration when constructing a viable public theology nowadays. The category of “religious imagination” is of utmost importance since it takes into consideration the new definition of the human being, which is in line more with postmodernism than modernity. Thus, the article sketches the possible substantial contribution the religious imagination brings towards the revitalization of contemporary public theology. Moreover, the article mentions recent Romanian studies on the imagination, which stresses, even more, the richness hidden within it and its possible usage for the construction of a viable public theology.

scholarly journals Probing the “global Reformed Christ” of Nico Koopman: An African-Kairos perspective

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 495-538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakub Urbaniak
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Human Dignity ◽  
Public Theology ◽  
Black African ◽  
The Public ◽  
South Africans ◽  
Economic Issues ◽  
Major Factors ◽  
The Church

This study seeks to probe Nico Koopman’s Christological approach through the lens of the theological framework spelled out in the Kairos Document (1985), and in particular its understandings of church theology and prophetic theology, critically re-appropriated in the current socioeconomic context of South Africa. Four essential aspects of Koopman’s Christological perspective are examined: (1) the Reformed view of the lordship of Christ as the basis for the public vocation of theology; (2) Trinitarian and Christological foundations of human dignity; (3) Jesus as the epitome of divine and human vulnerability, and (4) the organic connection between the threefold office of Christ and the public calling of the church. In conclusion, I argue that Koopman’s Christ, albeit displaying an African veneer, upon scrutiny, appears to be unfamiliar with and unconcerned about the problems faced by most South Africans today, and thereby fails to constructively engage with African (especially black African) contexts of our day. This is due to four major factors, namely (a) Koopman’s choices regarding theological references; (b) his cursory and un-nuanced treatment of African theological notions; (c) his a-pathetic mode of theologising; and (d) his inability (or lack of willingness) to engage with structural (especially macro-economic) issues. I further suggest that my conclusions concerning Koopman’s “global Reformed Christ” may be (at least tentatively) extrapolated into a number of approaches developed by South African theologians under the umbrella of “public theology”. I also point to some promising (prophetically-loaded) insights coming from the chosen public theologians, including Koopman himself, as a way of illustrating the tension between civic spirit and public anger, inherent in this mode of theologising.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document