Empowering Future Generations of Pastoral Caregivers and Theologians to Build a Just World

Abstract

Welcome to this special issue of the Journal of Pastoral Theology. The issue was envisioned after the Editorial Board of the journal discussed the importance of forming and empowering future generations of pastoral caregivers and theologians, while being a conversation partner in the continuing education of experienced care providers and pastoral theologians. It seeks to increase caregiver competence and theological reflection as we build a just world where persons can grow and flourish. We imagine that the essays in this issue will meet these goals and be widely used in especially introductory seminars in pastoral theology or pastoral care and counseling. It is a privilege to come alongside persons and communities as a pastoral caregiver, to partner with the environment to secure a sustainable future for the earth. How shall one define pastoral theology and the care it informs? James Dittes, who was a key figure in the early years of the discipline, saw pastoral theology and care as ‘making space, leaving space, for others to move into and to grow.’ Pastoral theologian Barbara McClure complements this definition when she defines her discipline as ‘the art of paying attention’ in the service of ‘promoting the flourishing of all.’ ‘Attending is similar to, but distinct from, some of the more recognizable terms in our field. Listening, holding space, being a non-anxious presence, being with, and developing self-awareness are all venerable terms, as are the theological concepts of prayerfulness, meditation, and discernment,’ McClure writes. Pastoral care, simply put, is the art of creating space for others to grow. How does one become a competent, compassionate caregiver? Like an artist who slowly progresses on the path of mastery of their trade, care and creating space for others is never an easy task. Rather, it demands the ability to engage oneself in mindful reflection, to enter into relationships, to empathically imagine what another is experiencing, thinking theologically and spiritually, holding psychological, sociological, and scientific knowledge, reading intersectional systems, awakening hope, and more. For novice and seasoned caregivers alike, care is a challenging, sometimes elusive art. We need not be ‘perfect’ to be an effective caregiver, just ‘good enough,’ as our first essay argues. ‘No [person],’ writes Seward Hiltner in his classic 1958 text, Preface to Pastoral Theology,