Stefan Gärtner

In a late modern society, the church, spiritual/pastoral care and practical theology face a new situation. Pluralization and individualization, globalization and standardization, detraditionalization and secularization, necessity of reflection and multiplication of perspectives are key terms to describe the present wave of modernization. It is a fundamental task for spiritual and pastoral care to strengthen religious identity. This leads to a reflection on the identity of the pastor as professional and of practical theology as scientific discourse. My research investigates the typical late modern challenges for both. It focusses on the Dutch context of the Catholic Church in particular, often in comparison with the situation in Germany.

Degrees/career

• 2001-present: Assistant Professor of Practical Theology, Tilburg University.
• 2008: qualification as a university lecturer (Habilitation and Privatdozent), University of Münster.
• 1998-2001: researcher for pastoral care of the youth, German conference of bishops, Düsseldorf.
• 1999: Ph.D.: University of Münster.
• 1994-1998: research assistant, University of Münster.
• 1995: MA Theology, University of Münster and University of Bamberg.
• 1985-1988: training as a bookseller, Bielefeld.

Assigned grants

• Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG): Chairman of the international network Practical Theology and late modernity, 2009-2012.

Click here for my courses.