Reflection Practice and Theological Reflection
‘Reflective practice’ and ‘theological reflection’ are terms which apply to a range of activities and a group of skills which allow us to take responsibility for our own learning, to map our own growth – and to do this in collaboration with others. In both types of reflection, detailed consideration of the situation needs to come into sustained dialogue with detailed exploration of the Christian tradition.
The first type of reflection is 'reflective practice'. Fundamental to reflective practice is the acceptance that the way you acted or responded in a particular situation could be improved. More fundamentally, reflective practice has to do with the transformation of our characters. At times it can take the form of repentance. In all cases, it involves reflecting on our practice, our ministry to others, in the light of the Gospel and the needs of those we seek to serve.
The second type of reflection is 'theological reflection'. How we do this will depend on the way we understand the relative importance and authority of experience in relation to, say, Scripture and tradition. Some will argue that experience can be a source of answers in theology. Others would limit themselves to the observation that throughout Christian history, reflection on experience has often acted as a trigger for an individual or group to explore the Christian tradition anew.