For the Sake of the Church

Abstract In this article practical theologians from three Dutch Protestant institutions reflect on developments in the field. Their started as ministry training centers and still have a strong focus ecclesial practices. This has been reinforced by international trends Practical Theology, mainly gradual shift towards an empirical way of working, with emphasis participative methods ethnography. However, field Netherlands continues to connection church history systematic theology. The authors discern themes that characterize their institutes’ contribution conversation PT: divine action within practices, God’s promises context his covenant, realistic view brokenness, sin, failure.