ABSTRACT
Practical theology as a subject area has grown and become more sophisticated in its methods and self-understanding over the last few decades. In doing so, it has become increasingly theoretically self-aware. This introductory chapter outlines the authors’ aims and objectives in writing this book as an exploration into the nature and conduct of advanced research in practical theology. In particular, it previews some of the key arguments of the book, which are that practical theological research emerges from and returns to practice, entails a high degree of self-awareness and reflexivity on the part of the researcher, and seeks to generate forms of practical wisdom (phron?sis) and creative imaginative possibilities (poeisis). It explains how in succeeding chapters different aspects of the research process will be explored in turn, starting with practice, the location of the researcher, research design and epistemology, and ethics. The Introduction closes by outlining four staple themes that characterise our vision for practical theological research: ‘Rooted’, ‘Changed’, ‘Lost’, and ‘Claimed’.
