Is there a “theology’ in Seward Hiltner's pastoral theology?

Pastoral Psychology - Hiltner with his two-way, dialogical theology raises questions about the general adequacy of the two main options (Barth and Tillich) in theology today. Barth, it seems, has...     

Art and pastoral theology

In this article, art and art viewing are discussed in regard to pastoral theology. Stemming from case situations in classroom and clinical contexts, some of the parameters of art and art viewing and their role in the process of caregiving are given special attention. Using Seward Hiltner's understanding of shepherding, art viewing is examined in relation to guiding and the educative process. With its potential for eliciting the emotive response in the viewer, art is considered as a conducive medium for spirituality and an expression of worship.     

A theology of pastoral multiplicity

The contemporary moment is characterized by liquidity and difference. “Liquidity” means rapidly changing social structures, accelerations in consumption, and constantly changing personal and group identities. In this increasingly diverse context, encounters with difference are not only inevitable, they are essential—and can be transformative for our understandings of our multiple selves, for our pastoral encounters with others, and for our theological imagination, as well. Viewing the self, especially the pastor's self, as a collection of multiple selves, identities, and performances illumines pastoral leadership; pastors who claim their multiplicity more wholly meet “others” when encountering difference. The triune God reveals divine multiplicity, so pastors who claim their multiplicity as their identity thereby make a theological claim.     

Toward a psychologically liberating pastoral theology

A psychologically liberating pastoral theology is proposed based on the identity and mission of Christ and the Church. The Church is subsequently challenged to develop a theology which is not narrowly evangelistic and so only addresses eternal matters such as salvation of the soul, but one which also includes temporal liberation from poverty, brokenness, and oppression. This theology can only develop as the pastor's role is redefined from evangelist to shepherd, thus enabling the pastor to attend to his or her fundamental calling to care for souls. A mission rooted in temporal and eternal concerns must be central to the pastor's theology, must be passed on to Church leaders and teachers, and must become integral to the ongoing life of the community of faith. The Church is thus called to embrace its Christ-like identity by being an agent of psychological liberation among individuals, families, communities, and in broader societal contexts. Good stewardship of its unique gifts paired with the responsible use of other professional services will enable the Church to more effectively continue the broad mission of Christ in temporal and eternal matters.     

The body as theology in pastoral psychology

The physical body is explored as a metaphor of transformation and healing in pastoral psychotherapy. Three sections of the paper outline 1) the perception of the body as a point of critical clinical intervention, 2) the understanding of body as a living image of soul, and 3) the body as corporal participant in the mystical Body of Christ. Primary concern focuses on correcting possible misperceptions (among both secular and pastoral bodyists) of bodily dysfunction as retribution for sinful existence rather than, more biblically, as signaling an opportunity for the inrushing of healing, divine grace. A brief clinical example highlights some possible theoretical and methodological consequences of this clinical world view.Terrill L. Gibson, Ph.D., is a Director of the Christian Counseling Service in Tacoma, Washington, where he serves as Minister of Finance and Education.