Pastoral Theological Reflection Research Articles

Cracks and Care: Pastoral-theological Reflections on the Gender Implications of the Covid-19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT This article explores the highly ambivalent impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on gender identities, roles, and relations. Western media have reported widely on the regressive effects that have pushed women during the pandemic into the ‘double shift’ situation of having to combine home making with home office. What has caught less public attention are the many subtle ways in which the pandemic has subverted the traditional distinctions between public and private, ‘at home’ and ‘at work’, indoors and outdoors etc., that have long constituted the ideological foundation of gender relations in industrial societies. This article explores how the disruptive effects of the pandemic on the gender order provides opportunities for pastoral theology to support men in reworking their fractured male identities towards more life-giving visions of human flourishing.

When Xenophobia Spreads Like a Plague: A Critical Pastoral Theological Reflection on Anti-Asian Racism During the COVID-19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT As the coronavirus pandemic exponentially mushrooms across the globe, xenophobia comes after it almost immediately. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 began, Asians and Asian Americans have been subject to various types of anti-Asian violence. From a pastoral theological perspective, this social phenomenon is deeply troubling because Asians and Asian Americans continue to be victimized by racial biases and social prejudices. How should we then address this communal crisis theologically? I answer this question by uncovering the hidden stereotypical, sociocultural narratives that have historically contributed to scapegoating people of Asian descent. In doing so, I critically appropriate René Girard’s social analytic framework and theological insights, especially engaging in his ideas such as mimetic desires, the scapegoat mechanism, and the sacralizing of violence. I argue that to dismantle and shift the scapegoating narrative, it is imperative for the racially victimized and socially marginalized to resist the toxic mechanism of victimization in solidarity.

4차 산업혁명의 기회와 도전 – 목회신학적 관점에서

본 논문은 개인 영역에서 뿐만 아니라 사회 전체에 큰 반향을 일으키고 있는 4차 산업혁명에 대한 목회신학적 성찰을 담고 있다. 목회신학은 인간의 살아있는 경험을 중요한 신학적 성찰의 주제로 취하여 구체적인 목회 돌봄과 상담의 신학적, 비평적, 실천적 방향성을 제공하는 학문으로, 본 논문에서는 4차 산업혁명이 목회 돌봄 및 상담에 미치는 기회와 도전에 대해 살펴보았다. 4차 산업혁명의 주요 특징과 원칙, 핵심 영향과 과제를 소개하였으며, 이러한 이해를 바탕으로 4차 산업혁명이 초래하는 유익과 도전을 목회신학적으로 숙고하였다.<BR> 4차 산업혁명이 가져다줄 수 있는 건설적인 공헌으로 인간의 삶의 질 향상과 복지 및 건강 증진, 공공선과 가치 추구, 협력을 통한 서너지 효과 등을 제시하였으며, 4차 산업혁명 이면에 도사리고 있는 인본주의적인 세계관과 관점의 위험성, 초연결성이라는 명목으로 제공될 수 있는 피상적 유사관계성의 문제, 그리고 하나님 없는 무신론적 가치관이 초래하게 될 함정 등을 논의하였다. 그리고 이러한 목회신학적 성찰을 바탕으로 4차 산업혁명 시대를 살아가는 목회신학자 및 상담자들을 위한 목회 돌봄 및 상담의 방향성을 제안하였다.

A Pastoral Theological Reflection for the Healing of the Korean Church Suffering from Narcissism : Focusing on the Remedies for the Eight Principal Vices by John Cassian and that by Donald Capps

A Pastoral Theological Reflection for the Healing of the Korean Church Suffering from Narcissism : Focusing on the Remedies for the Eight Principal Vices by John Cassian and that by Donald Capps

Subjective and Personal Dimension of Healthcare in Pastoral Theological Reflection

The aim of the article is to indicate new possibilities of health protection from the perspective of pastoral theology. The Church’s teaching on the protection of human life and health is very rich. It should also be pointed out that the Church supports all social initiatives to reform health care, especially is humanisation and personalisation, which can lead to better care for the sick, but also create new opportunities in the field of health prevention, in promoting healthy lifestyles and in supporting the pursuit of daily life hygiene. Thanks to the humanisation and personalisation of health care, it will be more effective to deformalize it, so that money, profit or savings do not obscure the most important goal: to provide comprehensive care for the sick person. The good of an ill person is body health and mental balance, but the greatest gift is always to be close to God, according to the principle that people are closest to God when they give health to other people.

Thinking socially: why it matters

This article argues that a failure to draw on social and contextual perspectives, in both pastoral care and theological reflection, is behind failures in effective practice and theological reflection. This is demonstrated by reference to the clergy’s experience of pastoral care and some recent examples of theological reflection on the state of the Church today. Missing in both cases is reference to the social and contextual consequences of the catastrophic decline in church membership of the ‘long 1960s’. It is suggested that ignoring these factors reflects the impact of the decline.

The Beauty of Aging: A Pastoral Theological Reflection on Senior Care

The Beauty of Aging: A Pastoral Theological Reflection on Senior Care

칼 로저스의 재발견 : 인간중심상담에 대한 목회신학적 비평과 목회상담적 활용

칼 로저스의 재발견 : 인간중심상담에 대한 목회신학적 비평과 목회상담적 활용

“What Do I Call You?” Postcolonial Pastoral Care and Counseling: Ambiguous Sense of Self with Perspectives on the Experience of Korean Clergywomen

This research explores the ambiguous sense of self with the complexity of the psychological experiences of racial–ethnic minority women, especially Korean immigrant women’s subordinate roles in intercultural contexts. Through critical analysis of subjective experiences, this study addresses pastoral theological reflection with the ambiguous sense of self through the lens of postcolonial theology. The research method of intuitive inquiry through qualitative case study research was used in order to share the subjective experiences of five interviewees (O, H, J, M, and S), constituting both a Samo (a pastor’s wife) in Korean immigrant churches and a Moksa (a pastor) in cross-cultural and cross-racial appointments in the United Methodist Church in the United States. Using the interviewees’ narratives of being a Moksa and/or Samo, this research addresses multi-oppressions affecting Korean clergywomen working within immigrant contexts. In light of these findings, future research on the psychological influences on Korean clergywomen might consider exploring how a pastoral caregiver can respond clinically to their subordination and the gender and racial oppression they experience in their ministries and in their everyday lives.

Juxtaposition or “the Powers of Two”: A Tribute to Donald Capps in Conversation with Oliver Sacks

This essay focuses on Donald Capps’s proposal of juxtaposition as a method of pastoral theological reflection and the lessons that the author has learned from borrowing Capps’s method both as a scholar and a teacher. Resistance to psychological insights or theory is something that the author frequently encounters in teaching pastoral care courses. The use of juxtaposition, as Capps first presented it, has provided her with resources for overcoming resistance in ways that invite creativity and openness to learning by beginning with or improvising with metaphors, musical elements, or stories and movies focused on everyday life that are frequently more familiar to students than psychological theory. In this essay, the author juxtaposes the significance of story as employed by Donald Capps and Oliver Sacks in a “creative conversation” that is more realistically about the “powers of three.”

Old Testament Figures as Possible Current “Mentors”: Exploratory Pastoral-Theological Reflections

ABSTRACTThis article explored the possible role of a “mentor” and is based on theoretical pointers from the Old Testament figures. Throughout the article mentoring was explored according to the approach of (T. Van der Walt:2007, 309). The background and narratives of Old Testament figures such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Elisha, David and Solomon were investigated. They were chosen for their leadership and guidance. Abraham and Jacob were the patriarchs of the Bible. Moses was and is still recognized as the greatest leader in history. Elijah and David were great and mighty prophets and kings. These narratives linked with the theory about mentoring and the significance thereof in today’s society of a father as mentor in a home.

Diálogo entre Geografia e Teologia: Construção de um novo lugar, a experiência de Vigolo (Nova Trento)

Este trabalho surgiu de uma reflexão interdisciplinar. De um lado a reflexão teológica e do outro a geografia humana. Desejamos a partir de uma visão cultural do espaço e da reflexão teológica mostrar o quanto estas duas ciências, teologia e geografia, podem se associar na organização do espaço social. Partimos do pressuposto suficientemente explorado de que o espaço geográfico é produzido a partir de diversos interesses, dentre eles, econômico, político, esportivo, educacional, cultural e o religioso. Neste encontramos também, sem dúvida, além dos mesmos interesses, o específico da religiosidade. Geografia e teologia dialogam na reorganização do novo espaço em Vigolo, Nova Trento. A cultura religiosa, tendo como cenário a vida de Madre Paulina, foi se firmando e abrindo espaço para uma nova função espacial. A fim de acolher as novas exigências do despertar da fé em Santa Paulina, muitas transformações ocorreram nos lugares onde viveu, trabalhou e fundou sua comunidade religiosa. A religiosidade popular de Vigolo passa a ter como centro a vida e obra de Madre Paulina, e sua santificação lhe garante o estatuto para realizar no espaço da Vila Vigolo tudo o que for necessário para despertar ainda mais a devoção à primeira Santa Brasileira. Novas formas com novos conteúdos para receber os peregrinos e também os turistas, um novo espaço com outras funções.

ALL SHALL BE WELL: FLOURISHING AND WELL-BEING IN POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY AND FEMINIST NARRATIVE PASTORAL THEOLOGY

Positive psychology is a recently emergent sub-field within psychology that has grown very quickly. Until recently pastoral theologians have not engaged significantly with this sub-field. The concept of flourishing serves as a lens to explore the intersections and disconnection between positive psychology and a feminist narrative pastoral theology. Martin Seligman’s PERMA model of flourishing provides the framework for a brief review of some of the research in positive psychology. A pastoral theological reflection on each of these dimensions illuminates some of the similarities and differences between these two visions of flourishing. The article concludes with a consideration of the mutual contributions of each perspective to a more robust view of human flourishing.

CULTIVATING UBUNTU: AN AFRICAN POSTCOLONIAL PASTORAL THEOLOGICAL ENGAGEMENT WITH POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

This paper engages positive psychology in intercultural dialogue with the African tradition of ubuntu, with a focus on examining understandings of the good life and well-being found in both areas of knowledge and practice. The comparison and contrast of the two spheres of knowledge and practice shows the need to engage positive psychology from a postcolonial perspective in order to promote a globally relevant view of human well-being and flourishing in our postcolonial and globalizing world. The paper concludes with some postcolonial pastoral theological reflections and ideas for pastoral care practices informed by postcolonial analysis, positive psychology insights, and the African tradition of ubuntu.

A Pastoral Theological Reflection on Cognitive Behavior Therapy and its Clinical Implications

A Pastoral Theological Reflection on Cognitive Behavior Therapy and its Clinical Implications

Love as a Starting Point for Pastoral Theological Reflection

This article draws on recent work in the theology of love to propose steps toward the development of a pastoral theology of love in order to inform the practice of pastoral care. A pastoral theology of love is a necessary foundation for an ecclesial practice of pastoral care that promotes growth in love. The article defines love and addresses key issues in the theology of love, namely, human agency and the analogies that exist or do not exist between human and divine love and the concept of growth in love, or sanctification. The article concludes by proposing and sketching some key features of a pastoral theology of love for pastoral practice.

TOWARD A PASTORAL THEOLOGICAL PHENOMENOLOGY: CONSTRUCTING A REFLEXIVE AND RELATIONAL PHENOMENOLOGICAL METHOD FROM A POSTCOLONIAL PERSPECTIVE

Few practical or pastoral theologians reflect on the philosophical background of the qualitative methodologies that practical and pastoral theologians often use for their empirical research. In the absence of such reflection, pastoral theologians are in danger of choosing their research methods as one might choose a recipe from a cookbook, without reflecting on the philosophical grounding of such methods. Qualitative research methods, as social science methods, come with philosophical values that can conflict with theological commitments that pastoral theologians have. I perceive some urgency in the need for such reflection, especially as students in practical theology departments are expected to conduct qualitative research, despite the rarity of pastoral or practical theological reflection to help them navigate the complicated process of choosing a methodology congruent with their theological commitments.In this paper, after I locate my pastoral theology, I will reflect on one phenomenological research method, as this particular method is deeply rooted in a philosophy that has the potential to conflict with theological commitments that many pastoral theologians hold. I will examine the philosophy’s history and assumptions, which will lead to a revision of this method from a postcolonial and pastoral theological perspective. I argue that the reflexivity of the researcher needs to be included in the phenomenological reduction process.1

Pastoral Theological Reflection on Grief: Contemporary Theory and the Practice of Ministry by Melissa Kelley

This article highlights four of Melissa Kelley’s contributions in her book Grief: Contemporary Theory and Practice. The author identifies these as: 1) Kelley’s capacity to distill and synthesize the most important areas of contemporary grief theory; 2) her work on attachment theory and its relationship to people’s ways of coping with grief; 3) the focus on the research of Bonanno et al. (Journal of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 60:67–73, 2005) and showing us who is most vulnerable and in need of pastoral care during grief; 4) her emphasis on meaning making as the core of the grieving process. The article also lifts up questions concerning communal practices for grieving loss born of injustice and the need for prevention and fostering coping mechanisms so that the worst effects of grief might be mitigated.

What happened to the three days between Jesus' death and resurrection?: Pastoral Theological Reflection on the betweenness and sakim

What happened to the three days between Jesus' death and resurrection?: Pastoral Theological Reflection on the betweenness and sakim

Pastoral theological reflections on caregiving and religious pluralism

In this essay, I take up the topic of what is required of religious caregivers to “open up” to persons of different faiths.1 Religious pluralism is a crucial focus for reflection on caregiving because of the obvious increase in recent years of interreligious encounter in everyday life and in the practices of caregiving. I explore this topic, first, by making explicit some of the challenges inherent in interreligious caregiving. This is an important first step in light of the risks of romanticism and simplification with regard to openness and interreligious care. In the remainder of the essay, from my religious location within Christianity, I offer pastoral theological reflections on caregiving in light of religious pluralism by means of two methods commonly employed in the field: self-reflexivity and reflection on a specific relationship of care.