Exploring Local Church Praxis of Public Theology

مرکز و کتابخانه مطالعات اسلامی به زبان های اروپایی

منو

" Exploring Local Church Praxis of Public Theology "
Darren Cronshaw

Document Type	:	AL
Record Number	:	1069319
Doc. No	:	LA112948
Call No	:	‭10.1163/15697320-12341601‬
Language of Document	:	English
Main Entry	:	Darren Cronshaw
Title & Author	:	Exploring Local Church Praxis of Public Theology [Article]\ Darren Cronshaw
Publication Statement	:	Leiden: Brill
Title of Periodical	:	International Journal of Public Theology
Date	:	2020
Volume/ Issue Number	:	14/1
Page No	:	68–96
Abstract	:	The Baptist Union of Victoria (BUV) encourages local churches to give priority to contributing to the well-being of their local neighbourhoods through community engagement and advocacy. This commitment to holistic mission and local community development is an integral part of the public theology of local churches, given Elaine Graham’s argument that ‘practical care and service constitutes the essential praxis of public theology’. But to what extent does the reality of BUV local church mission match this rhetoric? The 2016 National Church Life Survey (NCLS) helps identify what community service BUV churches and their members are involved in. This article discusses the statistical state-wide responses of Victorian Baptists from NCLS 2016, together with interview responses from church leaders. It explores aspects of community development most valued by attenders, where church members are volunteering, and how and where churches are providing social services, prophetic advocacy and environmental care. This denominational case study illustrates that churches offering social services and fostering advocacy and creation care are functioning as the local praxis of public theology. The Baptist Union of Victoria (BUV) encourages local churches to give priority to contributing to the well-being of their local neighbourhoods through community engagement and advocacy. This commitment to holistic mission and local community development is an integral part of the public theology of local churches, given Elaine Graham’s argument that ‘practical care and service constitutes the essential praxis of public theology’. But to what extent does the reality of BUV local church mission match this rhetoric? The 2016 National Church Life Survey (NCLS) helps identify what community service BUV churches and their members are involved in. This article discusses the statistical state-wide responses of Victorian Baptists from NCLS 2016, together with interview responses from church leaders. It explores aspects of community development most valued by attenders, where church members are volunteering, and how and where churches are providing social services, prophetic advocacy and environmental care. This denominational case study illustrates that churches offering social services and fostering advocacy and creation care are functioning as the local praxis of public theology.
Descriptor	:	advocacy
Descriptor	:	community development
Descriptor	:	environmental care
Descriptor	:	public theology
Descriptor	:	social justice
Location & Call number	:	‭10.1163/15697320-12341601‬