Practical theology departments at seminaries do not make theology more practical. They ensure that theology, outside PT departments, will remain impractical — that it will remain theology.
Practical theology ensures that life will remain outside theology.
Practical theology ensures that the secular remains secular.
-Peter Leithart, Against Christianity, 45.
I find this to be a problem in evangelical protestant/non sacramental seminaries, as well as ‘Truly” Reformed seminaries. Everything is sub-divided, categorized, and sectioned off. It seems like it’s a lack of believing in the supernatural. “We study theology in the classroom, not on our knees in prayer” seems to be the thinking.
The division seems to not just be “practical” and “regular” theology, but a division of theology from worship.