Left Brain, Right Brain

Abstract

Parish pastor “The trouble with you seminary professors is that you don't know what's going on in the parish. Your ivory-tower theology has little to do with the problems I encounter in my work. Six months as an assistant here and you'd teach something different.” Seminary professor in a practical field „The problem with so many of you in the classical fields is that you never make what you teach practical enough. What good is comparing Luther's and Barth's understanding of law and gospel? What we need is a theology that directly addresses the specific issues of ministry. We need a theology of death, of evangelism, of administration. You have to speak to the concrete realities of the parish.” Seminary professor in a classical field: “What do I know about psychology, church growth, conflict management, or spiritual formation? I have enough trouble keeping up to date in my field, without also reading about psychotherapy or Christian education. You practical types are the ones to bridge the disciplines so that theology has an impact on practice. Otherwise students can just as well study what you teach at the university.”