History

You will find here photos and recollections about the history of the International Academy of Practical Theology.

Founding of International Academy of Practical Theology: Princeton Meeting, 1991. From left to right: Hans van der Ven; Don Browning, Camil Ménard; Dietriech Roessler; Rick Osmer, Riet Bons-Storm; Friedrich Schweitzer, Karl Ernst Nipkow.

                                                                                                  RECOLLECTIONS:

“The birth of the IAPT, a personal impression”, by Riet Bons-Storm

It was in 1991, in Princeton, after a meeting of seven men and one woman – I am very honoured I was woman – that the IAPT was born. But like all births, this birth was not an unexpected event. There was a gestation-period: a period of bi-lateral international meetings between practical theologians. For instance, in July 1990 about twenty practical theologians from the Netherlands and the USA met in the Mennonite Center in Elspeet, in the Netherlands. The theme was: “Transformation of the Local Church”. Although these bi-lateral conferences were interesting and fruitful, the need was felt for a broader organization, where practical theologians from all over the world could communicate. Other  disciplines had such organizations. It was time for practical theology to become an adult discipline on the forum of theologies.

            So in 1991, August, 1-4, the seven founding fathers and the one founding mother came together in Princeton, where Rick Osmer was our host. The first evening we met each other for dinner in Rick’s home: it was clear that we had one purpose and were eager to work together. But still there were differences of opinion that would have a long life in the IAPT, once founded...Read Full Text Here  

A group of the founders of the International Academy of Practical Theology, Gathered in Manchester 2004, Copyright Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner