Studying Pastoral Theology in an Ecumenical Context

Abstract In this article we examine some of the helpful and less helpful features of a particular MA module in pastoral theology, taught in an ecumenical context, and raise some issues about ecumenical theological education and some issues about the nature of pastoral theology. Our experience and reflections support the view that ecumenical encounter is vital, but it is less helpful than it could be if it is not supported by explicit attention to and reflection on how that ecumenical encounter is happening and how we might all best learn from it. They further support the view that the discipline of pastoral/practical theology will be attenuated and unnecessarily exclusive if it does not pay attention to the fullest possible range of historical context, subject mater, methodology and epistemology.