About Site Language

WHDL is viewable in multiple languages. Use the pull-down menu to select a language to view the site.

I changed my language, but I’m still seeing resources in the other languages?

If a resource or text has not been translated into your selected language, it will appear in the initially added language. We are always looking for help translating these resources. If you can help, contact us!

WHDL - 00019443

GENERATIONS REVIEW Kent Brower and Deirdre Brower Latz

Resource Types

Article

Resource Languages

English

Institutional Repository

Didache
WHDL

Description / Abstract

Deirdre Brower Latz I think that I stumbled into practical theology. I am called to be a pastor, but love teaching, and when the opportunity presented itself to me to teach, I took it. Initially I was involved in teaching in the field of youth ministry - NTC had just started a programme in Youth work and Ministry. Then, over time, my interests shifted towards contextual and practical theology – in dialogue with history. I think that part of my character is activism, and so an area of theology that had its roots in the soil (so to speak) was strongly appealing, but mindfulness of the big questions of why we do what we do as well as how we do seems really important.

Kent Brower Yes, Deirdre, you probably did stumble into the discipline of practical theology. But I remember when you talked to me about your call to be a minister. I knew it would be costly for you, and I recall the chats we had about the pressure on women in ministry but confirming my full confidence in you and your response to this call. I have also watched you emerge as a very gifted teacher. You probably scored better than most because of your experience as a youth pastor and international leader in NYI. That certainly made you the ideal person to be part of our new programme. Of course, your BA (honours) and MA dissertations in John Wesley prepared you for the PhD research you have been conducting on Wesley and the Emergent church. I have watched this with great interest and learned a lot from it. I see whole areas of great interest and importance stemming from this general topic that will be of potential benefit to the church. In some senses I stumbled into biblical studies. I think it was during my MA studies that biblical studies began to rise to the surface (I was also very interested in philosophy of religion), but it was not really until I finished my PhD that the direction was clear. In fact, for four years after finishing my MA, I did something completely different – I returned to the family farm to work with my father and brother. On reflection, that contributed more to my development than might Didache: Faithful Teaching 9:1 (Summer 2009) ISSN: 15360156 (web version) – http://didache.nts.edu 2 be thought. So, I would probably say that my sense of direction and calling emerged over the years rather than a clear direction from the start.