Pastoral Theology

Christian Ministry Resoures

Pastoral Theology for Church Leaders

• Theologies Based on the Ministry and Work of Jesus
• Theologies Based on the Ministry of Paul
• Theologies Based on Other Biblical Characters
• Theologies Based on Social Backgrounds and Biblical Metaphors
• Theologies Based on Classical Traditions
• Theologies Based on the Tasks of Ministry
• Theologies for those New to Ministry
• Related Areas

**See the closely related guide on Ministry Ethics and Ministry Burnout/Self-Care.

Definitions

First, let’s define the term. Many whose training has been more pragmatic and “skills-based” (which is good, but not adequate in itself) may be unfamiliar with pastoral theology. Others who are more theologically trained may prefer the term “practical theology” over “pastoral theology.” Not all would draw a distinction between the two, but the literature of the field usually does.

As used on LifeandLeadership.com, practical theology, sometimes called “applied theology,” applies the classic theological truths of Christianity to the practices of the church such as worship, mission, preaching, etc. A theology of preaching is a practical theology, as would be a theology of pastoral care, etc. Pastoral theology is a kind of practical theology, but with a narrower focus on the role of Christian leaders. As pastoral theology, it reflects theologically on work of “pastoring” or “shepherding” the flock. Authors often use the terms practical and pastoral theology interchangeably, and there is enough common ground between them to merit this. But when categorizing the literature, especially that which comes from the United States, it often helps to separate them.

There are many other sections of practical theology on this site. Please refer to the bottom of the page for related resource listings. See especially the closely related guide on Strengthening and Renewing the Ministry Call.

Introductions to the Importance of Theological Work

• Anthony B. Robinson, What’s Theology Got to Do with It?: Convictions, Vitality, and the Church – A very popular book on “practical” theology. Suggests congregations should be able to grasp a clear understanding of the Christian story, navigate responsibly through Scripture, and articulate bedrock Christian beliefs.
• Howard W. Stone and James O. Duke, How to Think Theologically – This is a primer on “practical” theology with the main purpose to equip readers on how to do ongoing theological reflection about real-life situations, including congregational matters. It is a non-technical invitation to a theologically reflective life.
• Miroslav Volf and Dorothy Bass, Editors, Practicing Theology: Beliefs and Practices in Christian Life – Informative essays by 13 first-rate theologians from diverse traditions explore the relationship between Christian theology and practice in the daily lives, ministry, and education of believers.

Introduction and Overview of Pastoral Theology

• Jackson W. Carroll, God’s Potters: Pastoral Leadership and the Shaping of Congregations — A well-researched statement on the state of ministry in contemporary society. It is based on one of the most extensive surveys of Protestant and Catholic ministers ever undertaken as part of the Pulpit and Pew project.
• John Patton, James Woodward, and Stephen Pattison, Editors, The Blackwell Reader in Pastoral and Practical Theology (Blackwell Readings in Modern Theology) – An anthology of select articles that provide meaning to specific areas of ministerial practice. It is divided into sections that cover the history, approaches/methods, integration of theory and practice, and evaluating pastoral and practical theology.

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General Works on Pastoral Theology

• Ray Sherman Anderson, The Soul of Ministry: Forming Leaders for God’s People — An excellent refinement of years of teaching and reflection from one of the most respected professors of practical theology. Built on the foundation that the ministry of God is to the world, for the sake of the world, and it is in the world that the continuing ministry of Christ is carried out by the people of God.
• Ray Sherman Anderson, The Shape of Practical Theology: Empowering Ministry With Theological Praxis — Highly respected text stressing the nature of practical theology as the Word of God being brought to bear on the work of God.
• David G. Benner, Care of Souls: Revisioning Christian Nurture and Counsel — Focused on theology of pastoral care, and stresses the importance of pastors as caregivers of souls and not quasi-therapists.
• David W. Bennett, Metaphors of Ministry: Biblical Images for Leaders and Followers – An often referenced scholarly work on the images used in the New Testament for leadership and followership. Examines virtually every term (over 30) Jesus used in the Gospels to refer to his disciples, classifies them, and describes the larger themes of Jesus’ teachings about leadership.
• Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community – Written out of Bonhoeffer’s experience of leading an underground seminary during the rise of the Nazi regime in pre-WWII Germany, it is one of the most inspiring pictures of Christian community ever written.
• Dave Early and Ben Guitierrez, Ministry Is…How to Serve Jesus with Passion and Confidence — A foundational look at the meaning, motives, essentials, manner, and methods of ministry.
• Henri J. M. Nouwen, The Wounded Healer: Ministry in Contemporary Society – Presents a hopeful model of ministry that compassionately identifies with the fundamental woundedness of human nature.
• Eugene Peterson, The Pastor: A Memoir — This is the magnum opus of one of the most thoughtful authors in pastoral theology. It is my top recommendation
• John Piper and D. A. Carson, The Pastor as Scholar and the Scholar as Pastor: Reflections on Life in Ministry – A pastor-scholar and a scholar-pastor team up to discuss the healthy blending of these two callings.
• William C. Placher, Callings: Twenty Centuries of Christian Wisdom on Vocation – An anthology of classic writers over the centuries who have addressed the notion of life calling. It is not limited to the “ministerial call,” but encompasses all walks of life with the challenge to see what they do as an expression of God’s mission.
• Os Guinness, The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life – The modern classic on the subject of discerning and living out God’s call for one’s life.

Theologies Based on the Ministry of Jesus

• Efrain Agosto, Servant Leadership: Jesus & Paul – A work of biblical scholarship that looks at how Jesus and Paul demonstrated servant leadership, primarily with the poor and oppressed, through lives of hard work and sacrifice.
• John A. Berntsen, Cross-Shaped Leadership: On the Rough and Tumble of Parish Practice — A theology of pastoral leadership, written from the standpoint of the theology of the cross. Bernsten derives six affirmations on the nature of cross-shaped ministry.
• Ajith Fernando, Jesus Driven Ministry – A deeply thoughtful series of devotional reflections on ministry that reflects the characteristics of Christ.
• Henri J. M. Nouwen, In the Name of Jesus: Reflections of Christian Leadership – Discouragement in ministry often comes from a minister’s perceived inabilities or failures in the quest to be relevant, popular, and influential. Nouwen treats each of these quests as serious temptations that must be overcome by God’s healing grace. Based on Jesus’ temptation narrative.
• Andrew Purves, Reconstructing Pastoral Theology: A Christological Foundation — Challenges pastoral theologies that come out of a “clinical, psychotherapeutic, or, more generally, social-scientific direction rather than a theological or doctrinal direction.” He believes these have resulted not only in the loss of theological grounding but also in the domination of “secular goals and techniques of care.” Thus he raises the question: “What makes pastoral work Christian?”
• Andrew Purves, The Crucifixion of Ministry – The first in a series that is followed by The Resurrection of Ministry (2007). It would be hard to find a more powerful combination for anyone wanting to revive their ministry by deepening it. Here, he theologically unpacks an approach to ministry characterized as participation in Christ. Purves is by far the most inspiring academic pastoral theologian, a close second to Eugene Peterson as a practitioner-theologian.
• Andrew Purves, The Resurrection of Ministry: Serving in the Hope of the Risen Lord — Excellent theology that builds upon the nature of the resurrection as a theological basis for renewing one’s hope and sense of calling. A sequel to Purves’ The Crucifixion of Ministry.