Recent Movements in Pastoral Theology

AbstractThe article maps the major trends and movements in the field of pastoral care and counselling and pastoral theology during the last ten years as they are reflected in publications. The areas which receive focused attention are the influence of and response to postmodern culture; renewed interest in ethical problems and the way these are attended to; the phenomenal contributions by feminist and womanist pastoral theologians; the much more prominent use of theological language rather than psychological jargon; renewed interest in the importance of pastoral anthropology; the recurring theme of spirituality; the attention given to the communal and contextual aspects of pastoral work; the effort to recognise the importance of making provision for congregational pastoral counselling; and the new emphasis on narrative and outcomes-based models of pastoral counselling. A model is proposed for pastoral work which recognises four distinct forms of care: mutual care, pastoral care, pastoral counselling and pastoral therapy.