Our SPTSA 2026 Conference will be hosted at the University of Pretoria in Pretoria, South Africa, from 20 to 22 January.

Theme: Practical Theology’s “Homecoming”

The field of Practical Theology is marked by its commitment to engage lived experience, foster justice, and cultivate meaningful theological reflection within contemporary contexts. As global realities continue to shift—ecologically, politically, socially, and spiritually—there is an urgent call to revisit, reimagine, and re-root our theological endeavours. In light of this, we invite scholars, practitioners, and researchers to reflect on Practical Theology’s “Homecoming”: a symbolic and literal return to the spaces, relationships, and values that foster belonging, encounter, and flourishing.

This year’s conference seeks to convene diverse voices across the various strands of Practical Theology to consider what it means to “come home”—as a theological act, a social imperative. We welcome papers that engage theological scholarship with empirical insight, interdisciplinary rigour, and constructive imagination. We encourage contributions that engage, but are not limited to, the following sub-themes:

1. Practical Theology and Human Flourishing
How does your specific practical theological discipline contribute to human flourishing within today’s complex global environment? Topics may include, but are not limited to:
• Engagement with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• Implementation of Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want
• Theological frameworks for promoting social cohesion, mental health, ecological justice, and peacebuilding

2. Making Others Feel at Home in the World
How is your discipline actively shaping inclusive spaces of welcome, dignity, and belonging for those on the margins? Contributions may explore:
• Theological engagement with LGBTQI+ identities and faith communities
• Disability theology and ecclesial inclusion
• Pastoral responses to family diversity (e.g., single-parent households, blended families)
• Migration, asylum, and spiritual care

3. Encountering the Other: Hospitality and Dialogue
How does your practical theological tradition or method facilitate authentic encounter across boundaries? We are especially interested in:
• Ecumenical and interfaith initiatives fostering shared dialogue and cooperation
• Practices of radical hospitality within local and global ecclesial contexts
• Participatory models of ministry and community development

You may submit your abstract over HERE