Yale University Library Research Guides: Practical Theology: Home

Welcome

This subject guide is tailored to students seeking resources on Practical Theology.

Here you will find resources on:

Pastoral Care
Spiritual Formation
Religious Education
Qualitative Research Methods
Journals related to practical and pastoral theology

Relevant Research Guides

Ethics Guide

Psychology

REL 600 Introduction to Theology

REL 626: Systematic Theology

Resources for Preaching

Getting Started

Pastoral Care by Bill Merrington Designed to help ordained and lay members of the church to be more confident and better equipped in pastoral skills. Included are sections on understanding pastoral ministry, how to minister safely, developing appropriate skills for use in church and in the wider community and how to minister to oneself.
An Introduction to Practical Theology: History, Theory, and the Communication of the Gospel in the Present by Christian Grethlein An expansive sweep of practical theology as both an academic and an ecclesial discipline.
Introducing Practical Theology: Mission, Ministry, and the Life of the Church by Pete Ward This introduction to the field of practical theology reclaims a theological vision for the life and work of the church. Argues that practical theology is part of the everyday life of the church and that there are a variety of possible approaches, helping readers evaluate the approach that is most appropriate to their ministerial context and theological tradition.
Opening the Field of Practical Theology by Kathleen A. Cahalan (Editor) Introduces students to practical theology through an examination of fifteen different approaches-ranging from feminist to liberationist, Roman Catholic to evangelical, Asian American to Latino/a.
Practical Theology: An Introduction by Richard R. Osmer Develops a framework for practical theological interpretation in congregations by focusing on four key questions: What is going on in a given context? Why is this going on? What ought to be going on? and How might the leader shape the context to better embody Christian witness and mission?