The Role of Story in Pastoral Theology: a theological examination and critique

Abstract

Goals The thesis sets out to examine the value of the category of story in pastoral theology, and to argue for its enhanced value as one of the resources available to practical theology and thereby to the wider family of theological disciplines. In particular it seeks:1. To establish an approach to pastoral theology which focuses on narrative, not to the exclusion or detriment of other approaches but as a complement to them. By using story in this way the thesis attempts to achieve for pastoral theology what narrative categories have done for other theological disciplines.2. To offer a comprehensive categorisation of the use of story in the activity and theological reflection of the Church. The rationale for this categorisation is based on the various uses of language. The thesis attempts to examine the theological adequacy of such activity and reflection.3. To explore the importance and significance of the particular and contingent in the theology of the Church, not to conflict with, but to counter-balance, theologies which emphasise system and structure. Thus to claim a more central place for practical theology among the theological disciplines. Method The method of the thesis is to pursue a cycle of five phases of enquiry in a model of pastoral theology which focuses on narrative. Three sources of information are placed in a critical conversation with each other; these are, narrative in models of pastoral theology, narrative in two related disciplines, and narrative theology itself. This critical conversation leads to provisional conclusions on the value of a model of pastoral theology which focuses on story, and frames these conclusions in the form of active responses in the practice of the Church.