ABSTRACT
To explore the nature and contribution of practical theology, the chapter engages with Pete Ward’s research into the UK evangelical church’s presentation of the gospel. My aim is to assess Ward’s claim that, in the UK, the evangelical church displays a disjunction between what is espoused as the ‘unchanging gospel’ and the ‘operant’ understanding of the gospel that is evident in Christians’ lived experience. I assess Ward’s contentions in light of the cultural analysis provided by the Catholic philosopher Charles Taylor. I conclude with some proposals as to how the UK church might best respond to Ward’s concerns.
