The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Political Theology

Abstract

In 1950 practical theology, as an academic discipline encompassing the disciplines of pastoral care, Christian education, homiletics, liturgics, and congregational studies, began to be retrieved from its 19th century roots with Schleiermacher and others. “Professors [Ross] Snyder and [Seward] Hiltner organized the Association of Professors in the Practical Fields in 1950. Snyder was elected the first President, and the Association had a very productive life for more than 20 years. The [U.S.] Association of Practical Theology and the International Academy of Practical Theology have now succeeded it” (Moore, 2012). I attended my first meeting with this group in Denver in 1980 and my first international meeting in The Netherlands in 1982. A significant omission in this volume is that I did not find the names of Ross Snyder and Allen Moore, my mentor in practical theology. As pioneers in practical theology, they deserve our gratitude.