Abstract:
The article discussed the idea of skilled helping in relation to what has been put forward
as practical theological facilitation. It has been argued that various helping relationships,
amongst which the author refers to coaching, facilitation, and therapy has more in common
than what differentiates them if epistemology is viewed as a unifying concept. As such the
scope of practical theology in terms of the contexts and themes in which it might be involved
is said to widen. The public dimension of the organisational context, more so than the
congregational context, has been put forward as an important habitus of practical-theological
facilitation. The organisational involvement of the practical-theological facilitator in terms of
professional-vocational skilled helping takes on an actual role through facilitation and other
helping modalities.
Description:
This article was initially a paper delivered at the annual meeting of the Society for Practical Theology in Potchefstroom, 23–25 January 2013. The theme of the conference was ‘Practical theology and service delivery’. Dr Elmo Pienaar is currently a research fellow of the Department Practical Theology, University of Pretoria who is working under supervision of Prof. Julian Müller from the same department.
