A sideways glance – being on an editorial board for 25 years: personal and theological reflections

Journal article

This theological reflection is based on 25 years of membership of being on the editorial board of the first CONTACT, now Practical Theology. Autoethnographic in style it focuses on the key role of theological reflection and how Practical Theology models and encourages how people can become practical theologians. This includes conscious and unconscious elements focussing on the development of an individual theology alongside key events from each person’s past. Theological reflection emerges out of this personal context, but which is enhanced by being in touch with other practical theologians in varying stages of their development. To this end, Practical Theology, and CONTACT before it, offered a place to belong, a community of people engaged in shared endeavours. This is vital in times of complex social, political and spiritual change. As knowledge advances, in such areas as neuroscience, these can be allied to the rich heritage of pastoral traditions held in practical theology. There is the potential for a new dimension of theological reflection.

Authors: Ross, A

• Publication status: Published
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• Journal: Practical Theology
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 243-252
• Publication date: 2025-05-11
• Acceptance date: 2025-04-18
• DOI: 10.1080/1756073x.2025.2496856
• EISSN: 1756-0748
• ISSN: 1756-073X
• Language: English
• Keywords: theological reflection; contact; editorial board; neuroscience; unconscious; belonging