The future of pastoral theology

Abstract

Paper reviews proceedings of colloquim in which present status and future prospects of Pastoral Theology were discussed. Notes uncertainty about the term as well as about the status and existence of field. Reviews themes by distinguishing two ways a discipline may be defined: humanly and descriptively in professional terms and ideally in terms of the area's problematic and procedures. Proposes Pastoral Theology as practical knowledge whose task is to develop a body of practical theological knowledge of how to care for human beings. Reconsiders Seward Hiltner's writings from this perspective.