ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book has two main purposes First, to give examples of practical theology written by people from across the evangelical and Pentecostal traditions in the UK. Second, to discuss the issues evangelicals raise when they engage in practical theology whether as practitioners, educators, or researchers. It explores the tensions that exist between evangelicalism and practical theology, arguing that such tensions are largely related to methodology. The book proposes a mode of doing practical theology based on Walter Brueggemann’s notion of ‘prophetic imagination’, which is derived from his assessment of the biblical prophet’s engagement with the world. It addresses the role of teleology in practical theology. The response by evangelicals has been to prioritise a starting point in Scripture, in contrast to practical theology’s emphasis on starting with experience.
