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Pastoral Theology

High-end look at Pastoral Theology as the study of how and why Christians care.

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Pastoral Theology

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  1. Pastoral Theology By Robert H. Munson, ThD Celia P. Munson, BCCC (CPSP)‏ Bukal Life Care, 2021

  2. What is Pastoral Theology? -Margaret Whipp. Pastoral Theology (London: SCM Press,, 2015.)

  3. What is Pastoral Theology? There are other uses of the term. For some Pastoral Theology is another word for Practical Theology--- that is, all forms of theology that bridge the gap between systematic theology and practical ministry. Some others use the term for the underlying theology of the office of the pastor. Rather than dispute the merits of these, or lack thereof, this presentation will follow what we consider to be the more “normal” understanding of pastoral theology being the form of practical theology that underpins pastoral care and counseling.

  4. Pastoral Theology is Part of the Process of Theology. • It is a Form of Practical Theology, much like Missions Theology, Worship Theology, Homiletics, and so forth. • It Links Systematic Theology with Actual Ministry • It is Contextual, Correlative, Practical, Contingent, Anthropological, Dynamic

  5. Theology Flowchart (It is tied to other theology categories)

  6. It is also tied to ministry and the context.

  7. Some Pastoral Theology Characteristics Contextual -It is linked to the setting in which it is used. It is not universal Practical -Pastoral Theology that is not “usable” or practical, is BAD pastoral Theology‏ Dynamic -It can and does change... non-linearly

  8. Some More Characterisitcs Iterative -It is a repeating process of change. Anthropological -Seeks to understand what it means to be human and to relate to self, others, and God, as a human.

  9. Comparing Systematic Theology and Pastoral Theology There are many similarities between Systematic Theology and Pastoral Theology, there are Many Many differences. Dr. Doug Dickens uses Trees to compare and contrast the differences. Each branch of the Systematic Theology tree has a comparable branch and underlying concern in the Pastoral Theology tree. As such, each branch in the Pastoral Theology tree is informed by Systematic Theology, and people.

  10. Pastoral Care “The ministry of the cure of souls, or pastoral care, consists of helping acts, done by representative Christian persons, directed toward the healing, sustaining, guiding, and reconciling of troubled persons whose troubles arise in the context of ultimate meanings and concerns.” - William A. Clebsch and Charles R. Jaekle, Pastoral Care in Historical Perspective (Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentiss-Hall, 1964).

  11. Pastoral Theology Guiding Pastoral Care One way that pastoral theology is foundational to pastoral care and counseling is in what is the source(s) of knowledge we use in informing the care we provide. For example, should we be guided by the Bible? Examples of Church History? Theology? Social Sciences? And Others? Consider the issue of whether we focus more on theology or more on psychology and whether one should seek to integrate them or keep them separate?

  12. Levels of Explanation Model Psychology deals with psychological and natural problems in human behavior and relationships. The Bible looks at spiritual problems and our relationship with God. As such they are separate disciplines that deal with unrelated problems. Key Ideas: Perspective, “Levels of Explanation” Example: David Myers

  13. Integration Model Psychology and biblical theology are both looking at the same thing—human nature. Two different tools to study human beings, “general revelation” and “special revelation.” They give priority to the Bible when there is conflict, but may give science priority in common practice. Key Phrase: “All Truth is God's Truth” Example: Bruce Narramore

  14. Christian Psychology Model The Bible/Theology critiques psychology at a foundational level. Foundationally, theology dominates, but psychological techniques may be brought in as part of the therapy. In practice, tends to be counselor-driven rather than theory-driven. Key Idea: The Bible critiques Psychology Example: Larry Crabb

  15. Biblical Counseling Model A high level of distrust of modern psychology and psychological methodology. Psychological insights should be used with extreme caution. The older approach, formulated by Jay Adams, put great emphasis on behavioral change and the adoption of patterns of biblical living. Much emphasis on sin, repentance, and redemption. Key Phrase: “The Sufficiency of Scripture” Example: Jay Adams, John Maxwell

  16. Remember, Pastoral Theology is Contextual Instead of asking, “Which of these four views is CORRECT?”, it may be more useful to say, “What insights from each of these four views are valuable to me as a pastoral theologian and care provider.”

  17. Perhaps a Minister's Pastoral Theology Lines Up With the Red Circle

  18. Pastoral Theology, Theological Reflection, and Pastoral Care Go “Hand-in-Hand.” If you provide pastoral care for others, you are a pastoral theologians whether you know it or not... and you practice theological reflection, whether you know it or not. Since you cannot avoid it, do it well.

  19. Pastoral Theology Considers Why We Care for Others, How we Care for Others, Who we Care for, and What is our Ultimate Goal(s)? Consider an example from the 1800s... The Irish “Potato” Famine of the middle of that century...

  20. Group 1 did not want to help the Irish at all. Some of these felt that the Irish were under the judgment of God. So to help these people would potentially undermine the work of God. (A similar thing happened in the 1980s with some Christians providing such a theological perspective to the AIDs epidemic.) In practice, this view comes down to: “Christians should provide care to people who are under God's blessing, not God's curse.” Or put another way, Christians should provide care only to people who don't need it. This view is flawed on MANY MANY levels.

  21. Group 2 did want to help... but with ulterior motive. They offered to feed the starving, if and only if the people left their former denomination (in most cases Roman Catholicism) and joined their denomination. The care is not actually a gift... but essentially a purchase... quid pro quo. In practice, this view comes down to: “Christians should help people if they become like us.” In more extreme terms, Love your enemies if and only if they first become your friends.

  22. Group 3 did seek to help sacrificially, seeing their efforts not as undermining God's desire to curse, but as active agents of God's desire to bless. They were motivated by the example of Christ to help driven by godly compassion.

  23. Note: It might be guessed that in the Irish famine, the desire not to give seeing the people as under the curse of God, may not come from a deeply thought out theology, but as a shallow reaction to ethnic bigotry. Or one might guess that the quid pro quo policy of giving to the Irish only if they leave their Roman Catholicism does not come from a nuanced understanding of the doctrine of salvation, but rather religious bigotry. In the end, it doesn't matter. Pastoral Theology is an iterative process. Regardless of whether it starts in the Bible, or in our experiences, or in our own prejudices... the end result is how all of these come together.

  24. References • “Pastoral Care in Historical Perspectives,” Book. by Clebsch and Jaekle, 1964. • “Pastoral Theology” Book, by Margaret Whipp, 2015 • “The Art of Pastoral Care” by Robert and Celia Munson, 2016 • “Dynamics in Pastoral Care: Enhancing Transformative Soul Health” by Robert and Celia Munson, 2019 www.bukallifecare.org

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