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FOUNDATIONS OF PASTORAL AND PRACTICAL THEOLOGY
Spring 2016
Prof. Tom Beaudoin
Fordham University, Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education
Office: Keating Hall 303, Rose Hill Campus
Office Hours: Wednesday 5:30-6:30 and by appointment.
Phone: 718.817.5965
Email: [email protected]
About the Course
This class is intended to inform and enrich the practice of pastoral professionals through the
study of practical and pastoral theologies. It is especially designed to serve as a “foundations” course
in which fundamental questions about the relationship between religious tradition and
contemporary practice are explored.
Course Objectives
[1] Demonstrate the relationship between research on religious tradition and professional
practice (Pastoral Area goal)
[2] Understand how one’s work in a situation is reconstructed through critical and
appreciative engagement with theological discourse (Course goal)
Required Books
The following books are required for the course. They are available at the campus bookstore or you
may procure them otherwise on your own. All other readings will be available through Blackboard.
• Kathleen A. Cahalan and Gordon S. Mikoski (eds.), Opening the Field of Practical Theology: An
Introduction (Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, 2014)
• Mary Clark Moschella, Living Devotions: Reflections on Immigration, Identity, and Religious Imagination
(Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2008)
Coursework
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Presence and Participation
Successful completion of the course presumes that students will be active participants.
Students should be fully prepared for all classes, demonstrate respectful speaking and listening, and
be ready to discuss the readings, specifically including critical and appreciative agreements,
disagreements, questions, and connections made to theological matters in students’
professional/pastoral work. No personal digital devices (cell phones, etc) may be on during class.
“A” presence and participation reflects the student’s excellence in these practices; “B”
presence and participation reflects superior work in these practices; “C” reflects adequate work.
Short Papers
Beginning in the second week of class, and every week thereafter, a short paper will be due.
Papers should be: written in Microsoft Word; 275-325 words, no more and no less; single-spaced;
clearly written and cleanly edited; stylistically conformed to the Chicago/Turabian style manual for
footnotes, etc; titled “Student Lastname Paper#” (for example, “Beaudoin 1”); and submitted as an
attachment through Blackboard.
The paper must include the following elements: select and excerpt one sentence from the
reading that speaks significantly and simultaneously to the whole of the reading and to your
situation (this sentence does not count toward the word count); explicate how the excerpt relates
to the argument of the reading as a whole; explain how it relates to your situation; discuss what the
interaction of the reading with your recollection of an aspect of your situation means for your
situation/practice now and/or in the future.
“A” papers reflect excellent grounded interpretation: meeting all editorial requirements
(above), showing close and careful reading of the text, offering economical and thick description of
a situation, and displaying clear reckoning with local implications; “B” papers are superior; “C”
papers are adequate. (This coursework meets Course Objective 1.)
Final Paper
The final paper is a synthetic review of your learning during the semester. Taking your
graded short papers as your primary documents, review your work, reading it critically and
appreciatively, for what it indicates about what your engagement with pastoral and practical
theology portend for your situation and practice. Citing your own work over the semester, answer
the following questions: (1) What am I learning from practical and pastoral theology? (2) From my
situation, what am I contributing to practical and pastoral theology? (3) Where does the interaction
between the readings and my situation indicate that my practice can go?
Papers should be written in Microsoft Word, 1000-1250 words, no more and no less;
single-spaced; clearly written and cleanly edited; stylistically conformed to the Chicago/Turabian
style manual for footnotes, etc; titled “Student Lastname Final Paper” (for example, “Beaudoin
Final Paper”); and submitted as an attachment through Blackboard.
“A” papers show excellence in close and careful reading of Short Papers, thorough and clear
answering of the three questions, with appropriate, sufficient and critical use of evidence from
course material. “B” papers are superior, and “C” papers are adequate. GSRRE “Research Readiness
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Review” criteria will be distributed and discussed when the assignment is given and will be used in
marking the paper. (This coursework meets Course Objective 2.)
Note on Late Work, Technology, and Plagiarism
Late work will be deducted one letter grade up to one week late, and will not be accepted
after that. Cell phones and other devices that are not directly used for class work should not be on
or used in class. Please be familiar with the GSRRE policy regarding plagiarism. Plagiarized work
will result in failing the assignment and, usually, the course.
Note on Disabilities
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation
Act of 1973, all students, with or without disabilities, are entitled to equal access to the programs
and activities of Fordham University. If you believe that you have a disabling condition that may
interfere with your ability to participate in the activities, course work, or assessment of the object
of this course, you may be entitled to accommodations. Please schedule an appointment to speak
with someone at the Office of Disability Services (Rose Hill - O’Hare Hall, Lower Level, x0655 or
at Lincoln Center – Room 207, x6282).
Course Schedule
PART ONE: BEARINGS
Wednesday 20 January 2016
Introduction
Introductions
Reviewing the syllabus
Introductory remarks on pastoral and practical theologies: basic questions, terms, problematics, and
purposes; cognate discourses
Reading:
[1] James Sweeney, Chapter One, “Catholic Theology and Practice
Today,” in James Sweeney, Gemma Simmonds, David Lonsdale (eds.),
Keeping Faith in Practice: Aspects of Catholic Pastoral Theology (London: SCM,
2010), pp. 11-25
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[2] Richard R. Osmer, Practical Theology: An Introduction (Grand Rapids:
Eerdmans, 2008), Introduction, “Four Tasks of Practical
Theology,” pp. 1-29
Wednesday 27 January 2016
Embedded Theologizing and the Complexity of Theological Material
Reading:
Edward Foley, Reflective Believing: Reimagining Theological
Reflection in the 21st Century (manuscript), pp. 5-95
Wednesday 3 February 2016
Everyday Life as Faith: Karl Rahner
Reading:
[1] Karl Rahner, The Content of Faith: The Best of Karl Rahner’s Theological
Writings, Karl Lehmann and Albert Raffelt, eds.; Harvey G. Egan,
translation ed. (New York: Crossroad, 1994), “Laughter,” pp. 148-152
[2] Karl Rahner, The Mystical Way in Everyday Life (Maryknoll: Orbis,
2010), “A Theology of Everyday Life,” pp. 172-188
Wednesday 10 February 2016
“From Above”: Religious Teachings as Practice
Reading:
Ellen Charry, By the Renewing of Your Minds: The Pastoral Function of
Christian Doctrine (New York: Oxford, 1997), Chapter One, “The Art of
Christian Excellence,” pp. 3-32; Chapter Three, “Authoritative
Teaching: The Sermon on the Mount,” pp. 61-83; Chapter Six,
“Dwelling in the Dignity of God: Augustine of Hippo,” pp. 120152
Wednesday 17 February 2016
“From Below”: Religion in Practice from the Ground Up
Reading:
Mary Clark Moschella, Living Devotions: Reflections on Immigration,
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Identity, and Religious Imagination (Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2008),
pp. 1-212
Wednesday 24 February 2016
Practice-Minded Theologies as Cultural Projects
Reading:
[1] Dale P. Andrews, “African American Practical Theology,” in
Kathleen A. Cahalan and Gordon S. Mikoski (eds.), Opening the Field of
Practical Theology: An Introduction (Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield,
2014), pp. 11-29
[2] Courtney T. Goto, “Asian American Practical Theologies,” in
Kathleen A. Cahalan and Gordon S. Mikoski (eds.), Opening the Field of
Practical Theology: An Introduction (Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield,
2014), pp. 31-44
[3] Hosffman Ospino, “U.S. Latino/a Practical Theology,” in
Kathleen A. Cahalan and Gordon S. Mikoski (eds.), Opening the Field of
Practical Theology: An Introduction (Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield,
2014), pp. 233-249
[4] Tom Beaudoin and Katherine Turpin, “White Practical
Theology,” in Kathleen A. Cahalan and Gordon S. Mikoski (eds.), Opening
the Field of Practical Theology: An Introduction (Lanham, MD: Rowman and
Littlefield, 2014), pp. 251-269
[5] Joyce Ann Mercer, “Feminist and Womanist Practical
Theology,” in Kathleen A. Cahalan and Gordon S. Mikoski (eds.), Opening
the Field of Practical Theology: An Introduction (Lanham, MD: Rowman and
Littlefield, 2014), pp. 97-114
Wednesday 2 March 2016
Religion, Culture, and Power in Practice
Reading:
[1] Tom Beaudoin, “Secular Catholicism and Practical Theology,”
International Journal of Practical Theology 15:1 (2011), pp. 22-37
[2] Tom Beaudoin, “Postmodern Practical Theology,” in Kathleen
A. Cahalan and Gordon S. Mikoski (eds.), Opening the Field of Practical
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Theology: An Introduction (Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, 2014), pp.
97-114
PART TWO: INTERVENTIONS
Wednesday 9 March 2016
Pastoral and Practical Theologies Cluster 1: Critical Care for Lived Religion
Reading:
[1] Ada María Isasi-Díaz, “Mujerista Discourse: A Platform for
Latinas’ Subjugated Knowledge,” in Ada María Isasi-Díaz and Eduardo
Mendieta (eds.), Decolonizing Epistemologies: Latina/o Theology and Philosophy
(New York: Fordham University Press, 2012), pp. 44-67
[2] Michelle A. González, “If It Is Not Catholic, Is It Popular
Catholicism? Evil Eye, Espiritismo, and Santería: Latina/o
Religion Within Latina/o Theology,” in Ada María Isasi-Díaz and
Eduardo Mendieta (eds.), Decolonizing Epistemologies: Latina/o Theology and
Philosophy (New York: Fordham University Press, 2012), pp. 151-168
Wednesday 16 March 2016
No Class: Makeup will be attendance at the Association of Practical Theology
Conference in April
Wednesday 23 March 2016
Spring Break
Wednesday 30 March 2016
Pastoral and Practical Theologies Cluster 2: Specifying Normative Ecclesial Practices
Reading:
[1] Craig Dykstra and Dorothy C. Bass, “A Theological
Understanding of Christian Practices,” in Miroslav Volf and Dorothy
C. Bass (eds.), Practicing Theology: Beliefs and Practices in Christian Life
(Eerdmans, 2002), pp. 13-32
[2] Ched Myers and Matthew Colwell, Our God is Undocumented: Biblical
Faith and Immigrant Justice (Maryknoll: Orbis, 2012), Chapter Three,
“Our God is Undocumented: Sanctuary and Prophetic
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Hospitality,” pp. 53-71; Chapter Four, “From Immigrant to
Immigrant Justice Organizer: Moises Escalante,” pp. 73-89
[3] Tammy R. Williams, “Is There a Doctor in the House?
Reflections on the Practice of Healing in African American
Churches,” in Miroslav Volf and Dorothy C. Bass (eds.), Practicing
Theology: Beliefs and Practices in Christian Life (Eerdmans, 2002), pp. 94-120
Wednesday 6 April 2016
Pastoral and Practical Theologies Cluster 3: Discerning Communal Life
Reading:
José M. de Mesa, Why Theology is Never Far From Home (Manila: De La Salle
University Press, 2003), Chapter Three, “Hermeneutics of
Appreciation,” pp. 112-172
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 8-10 April 2016
Association of Practical Theology Conference:
Fordham University and UN Church Center
Choose at least 2 hours of the conference to attend (there will be no charge), although you will find it profitable
to attend as much as possible this weekend; student registration will be arranged for you.
Wednesday 13 April 2016
Debriefing the Association of Practical Theology Biennial Conference
Reading:
To Be Determined
Wednesday 20 April 2016
Pastoral and Practical Theologies Cluster 4: Liberating Practices
Reading:
[1] Elaine Graham, “Pastoral Theology as Transforming Practice,”
in Elaine Graham, Words Made Flesh: Writings in Pastoral and Practical Theology
(London: SCM Press, 2009), pp. 153-161
[2] Emmanuel Yartekwei Amugi Lartey, “Postcolonial African
Practical Theology,” Journal of Pastoral Theology 21:2 (2011), pp. 1-17
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Wednesday 27 April 2016
Pastoral and Practical Theologies Cluster 5: Guiding Pastoral Work
Reading:
[1] Courtney T. Goto, “Pretending To Be Japanese: Artistic Play in
a Japanese-American Church and Family,” Religious Education 103:4
(2008), pp. 440-455
[2] Christian Scharen, “Learning Ministry Over Time: Embodying
Practical Wisdom,” in Dorothy C. Bass and Craig Dykstra (eds.), For Life
Abundant: Practical Theology: Theological Education, and Christian Ministry
(Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008), pp. 265-288
Wednesday 4 May 2016
“Bring It On Home”
Student Presentations and Review of the Course
Final Paper due at 12:00 noon on Monday 9 May