Notes for an introductory lecture on Pastoral Theology.

1. PASTORAL THEOLOGY
Pablo A. Jiménez
www.drpablojimenez.net 1

2. INTRODUCTION
In this presentation we will explore the definition
and methodology of Pastoral Theology.
We will also list the many disciplines covered by
Pastoral Theology, also called Practical Theology.
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3. IT ALL STARTS WITH A
LITTLE BIT OF FAITH
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4. THE EXPERIENCE OF FAITH
Human beings seek God when we have an
experience of faith.
That experience of faith brings us closer to God, to
join a community of faith and to worship the Lord in
community.
The experience of faith is the starting point of all
theological reflection.
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5. THEOLOGY & WORSHIP
Worship is the cradle of theology! It is through the
experience of worship that the believer relates to
the proclamation of the Word of God, to the
celebration of ordinances or sacraments, and to the
presence of the Holy Spirit.
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6. WORSHIP & EDUCATION
Worship has an educational dimension.The people
learn fundamental theological principles through
songs, biblical readings and sermons.
Believers learn more quickly and remember more
accurately the theology they learn through the
elements of worship.
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7. “LEX CREDENDI, LEX ORANDI”
This ancient Latin phrase means: "The law of prayer
is the law of faith." It describes the relationship
between worship and theological reflection. It
implies that the liturgy leads to theology.
All this emphasizes the educational dimension of the
worship experience. In addition, it explains why the
Church produced faith creeds and confessions
before developing theology manuals.
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8. WORSHIP:THE FIRST ACT
Therefore, it is clear that the practice of faith
through worship and community life is the first act.
Theological reflection is a second act, which arises
when the person of faith begins to reflect in a
disciplined and systematic way about his or her
practice of faith.
8

9. Casiano Floristán,Teología Práctica, p. 140
“Faith is the first act; one begins, then, to be a
Christian by an act of conversion. ”
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10. THEOLOGY:
THE SECOND ACT
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11. REFLECTION ON LIFE
Theology is the disciplined and rigorous study of the
person, character and acts of God.
That study arises from the reflection made by the
believer about his own practice of faith. It is
reflection on the life of the faith communities that
constitute the Church.
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12. STARTING POINT
Hence the starting point of all theological reflection
is reality; It is the experience that people of faith live
daily in their social and historical context.
Theology correlates this reality with the fundamental
documents of the Christian faith, seeking guidelines
for both Christian life & pastoral action.
12

13. Casiano Floristán,Teología Práctica, 145-146
“A theology far from the Bible and the liturgy has
the danger of being religious metaphysics. But a
theology far from social reality ends up being a
timeless or a-historical theology that moves in the
pure terrain of abstraction. ”
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14. PRACTICE OF FAITH
Every person and every community has a "practice"
of faith, defining "practice" as the way of doing
something, the way of thinking or acting, or the
method used to do things.
The practice, in itself, does not carry any ideological
burden.
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15. PRAXIS OFTHE FAITH
"Praxis" also includes actions, specific acts and ways
of thinking.
However, it differs from mere practice at a crucial
point: "Praxis" is an ideologically motivated practice
which purpose is to cause a change in society,
transforming thus reality.
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16. PRAXIS &THE KINGDOM OF
GOD
If we understand the Kingdom of God as the utopia
that serves as a model and goal for the Christian
community, the Church should not limit itself to
having a "practice" of faith.
On the contrary, the Church must develop a
“praxis” that seeks to transform reality in the light
of the values of the Kingdom of God.
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17. REFLECTION ONTHE PRAXIS
From the point of view, Christian theology must be
"reflection on the praxis of faith."
This "praxis" is manifested in the daily lives of
people and communities of faith, which are
developing lifestyles that embody the values of the
Kingdom of God with the purpose of transforming
society, in the name and image of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
17

18. Casiano Floristán,Teología Práctica, p. 140
“To emphasize more the tension between theory
and practice that occurs in pastoral action, some
use the word praxis, together with the ecclesial
adjective.The Greek word praxis (also derived from
the verb prasso), modernly put into circulation from
Marx, amounts to a revolutionary action that
demands commitment and critical awareness, in
the face of a radical change, from the mutation in
the root of man or of society. ”
18

19. Casiano Floristán,Teología Práctica, p. 140
“It is not about interpreting society, but about
transforming the unjust world into the Kingdom of
God's justice. Now, pastoral action or ecclesial
praxis is not labor or political praxis, neither it is a
simple symbolic praxis. It is historical praxis. ”
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20. CF, 187
“Pastoral theology is understood as a theory of a
praxis of salvation (theologia praxeos); faith is,
consequently, praxis of saving liberation. ”
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21. CF, 179
“... praxis is social change and militant
commitment, transformation of structures and
critical attitude, renewal of the social system
and personal emancipation. It is not mere
practice, namely acceptance, compliance,
repetition and inalterability. ”
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22. CF, 180
“Human action is praxis insofar as it conforms to a
liberation project.The end of all practical activity or
of all praxis is the real transformation of the
natural or social world, whose reality must be a new,
more human and freer reality. ”
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23. CF, 180
"Praxis tries to transform the organization and
direction of society, changing economic, political and
social relations."
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24. CF, 180
“Again we start with an affirmation: not all praxis
are legitimate.There are counterrevolutionary
transformative praxis that we could call anti-praxis
or pseudo-praxis.To legitimize a praxis it is
necessary to verify, evaluate and criticize it from
ideological, economic and political perspectives that
entail previous ethical options.”
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25. CF, 181
"Therefore, without praxis of faith or without praxis
in the light of faith there is no Christian self-
understanding."
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26. THEREFORE
It is clear that the "praxis" of faith through worship
and community life is the first act.
Theological reflection is a second act, which arises
when the Church reflects in a disciplined and
systematic way on its "praxis of faith."
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27. SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY &
PASTORAL THEOLOGY
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28. LEVELS OF REFLECTION
The Church does theology at different levels. Every
person who preaches or teaches the faith, in a
sense, does theology.
In the same way, every song and every document
written from and for the faith, to some extent, does
theology.
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29. TYPES OFTHEOLOGIES
In the academic field, we find several main ways of
doing theology.
Biblical Theology
Systematic Theology, Historical Theology & Moral
Theology
Pastoral Theology, also known as Practical Theology.
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30. BIBLICALTHEOLOGY
It refers to the systematic study of the Bible,
considering its historical context, its content,
exegetical methods, hermeneutical models, the
history of biblical interpretation, and the inspiration
and authority of the Holy Scriptures.
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31. SYSTEMATICTHEOLOGY
Systematic Theology, also called doctrinal theology,
explores in a disciplined way the content of the
Christian faith.
Is studies the central themes of the Christian faith,
known as "doctrines" and also as "theological
places" (in Latin, "locus teologicus").
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32. TRADITIONALTHEOLOGICAL
PLACES OR “LOCI”
Prolegomena: Revelation, sources of theology and theological method
Theology (as Doctrine of God),Trinity (pericoresis) Christology &
Pneumatology
Soteriology & Hamartiology
Anthropology & Ecclesiology
Missiology & Apologetics
Eschatology
32

33. CF, 164
"Theological knowledge falls within the ‘general
theory of action.’ In this theology three elements are
taken into account: the current Christian tradition,
the present situation assumed and the impulse of
the action. ”
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34. HISTORICALTHEOLOGY
It considers issues related to the history of the various
Christian communities, such as:
Church History (content & method)
History of Christian doctrines
History of the missions (which is incorporated more
and more into the history of the Church)
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35. MORALTHEOLOGY
Is the theological reflection on the behavior of people
& communities of faith.
Ethics
Social Ethics
Moral
35

36. PRACTICAL OR PASTORAL
THEOLOGY
36

37. PASTORALTHEOLOGY
Pastoral Theology, also known as Practical Theology,
is the reflection on the praxis of faith of Christian
communities.
Pastoral Theology explores the various disciplines
related to the pastoral work of the Church.
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38. Casiano Floristán,Teología Práctica, p. 10
“Undoubtedly, all theology, at least remotely, should
be pastoral, but in any case there is an immediately
practical theology that uses precisely ‘practical
reason’ as a mediation of reflection. Practical
theology is theological science in relation to praxis.”
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39. Casiano Floristán,Teología Práctica, p. 136
“As practical science, theology is intelligence of the
praxis of faith in the self-realization of the Church
or science of ecclesial practice."
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40. Casiano Floristán,Teología Práctica, p. 139
“The Christian life of believers and the theological reflection
inherent in faith give rise to two different and necessary, but
mutually related, functions: the pastoral function and the
theological function.The pastoral function is equivalent to the
ecclesial action of the people of God in the world.The
theological function is to reflect on the manifestations and
interventions of God in humanity through Jesus Christ through
the Church. Since the theological function is a reflexive act, it is
a second act. Before thinking one is, and before there is a
Christian theology there is an ecclesial life of believers.
Obviously, the reflexive operation produces a theological
knowledge, which is preceded by a pastoral act, which is a first
act. ”
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41. Casiano Floristán,Teología Práctica, 144
"By pastoral action we understand the totality of
the action of the Church and of the Christians, from
the praxis of Jesus, with a view to the implantation
of the kingdom of God in society."
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42. CF, 148
"Pastoral theology is the theological reflection on
the praxis of the Church and of Christians."
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43. CF, 149
“Obviously, without pastoral action there is no
Church, but without theological reflection there is no
true pastoral action. In other words, the Church
would cease to be a Church without pastoral work
understood as action.Without doctrine, the Church
would not be as it should be.The doctrinal is not
opposed to the pastoral, for both are necessary. ”
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44. TRADITIONAL PASTORAL
DISCIPLINES
Worship (Leitourgeia)
Proclamation (Kerusso) & Preaching (Martyria &
Parakaleo)
Evangelism (Euangelizthestai)
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45. Discipleship (Matheteuo) & Spiritual Formation
(Didaskalia)
Stewardship (oikonomía) & Church Administration
Communion (koinonia) / Pastoral Counseling
Service (Diakonia)
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46. PASTORALIST
"Pastoralist" is the title given to the person
dedicated to do Practical or Pastoral Theology.
Pastoral agents are not mere executors of pastoral
theology, but actors of it.They are not objects, but
subjects of reflection.Through their ecclesial
practice, they do Pastoral Theology.
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47. Casiano Floristán,Teología Práctica, P. 10
“The pastoralist is between the theologian and the
pastor.The pastoral agents are not simply
executors of what theology says, as if praxis should
be subordinated without further theory, but those
who exercise, for the mission, their Christian
responsibility, while reflecting on it. ”
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48. ACTION-REFLECTION
Theology, therefore, is part of a process of action-
reflection, where the community of faith acts —
according to an evangelical praxis — and then
reflects on its pastoral action.
This reflection modifies and improves the praxis of
the Church and leads us to further action, in a
continuous process of action and reflection.
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49. Casiano Floristán,Teología Práctica, p. 10
"For this reason the theory-praxis binomial, -
dialectically understood - is fundamental in Practical
Theology, which is theology of praxis."
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50. CF, 147
"Action in the human being is prior to reflection."
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51. THE MODEL OF JESUS
Jesus is the model of pastoral praxis for the Church.
In addition, it is our model for ministry.
In a sense, there is only one ministry:That of Jesus.
All we may do, we do as collaborators of Christ (2
Cor. 5.18-21).
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52. JESUS ISTHE FOUNDATION
Pastoral Theology is framed between the
fundamental practice of Jesus — model and goal of
the practice of the Christian faith — and the
historical and social reality that people experience in
their lives.
Remember that the people who, even if thy do not
know or recognize it, are still the "people of God."
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53. CF, 183
“The action of Jesus, which for the believers is
saving, translates into the accomplishment of the
works of God.All the life and work of Jesus was
praxis. ”
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54. ORTHODOXIA & ORTHOPRAXIS
Pastoral Theology seeks a faith based on the best
and clearest evangelical teachings.
Pastoral Theology seeks to foster an effective
pastoral action that contributes to the
transformation of society.
We must seek orthodoxy and orthopraxis, at the
same time.
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55. CF, 173
"Christianity can be considered and interpreted -
and indeed it is - as a way of acting (orthopraxis)
rather than as a way of thinking (orthodoxy)."
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56. CF, 185
“In short, truth is not only thought of, but also done
or practiced.Truth is not, then, what I capture
distantly with my mind, but what I achieve with
faithfullness, in a committed attitude.The verifying
criterion of truth is effective love or charity, in union
or solidarity between brothers and sisters. ”
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57. TESTIMONY OF THE
PRACTICE
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58. PRAXIS ASTESTIMONY
Preaching has an undeniable testimonial character.
Preachers testify about what they have "seen and
heard and felt" (1 Jn. 1.1-5).
Preachers must bear witness to a life dedicated to
pastoral praxis, celebrating the actions of love that
seek the transformation of society, even the smallest
victories.
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59. CF, 392
“Testimony is a trial that carries with it a crisis of
the idols of domination.The Christian message is
credible to the extent that believers engage in
action for justice. ”
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60. CF, 186
“Christian is the one who practices love to the
extent that love changes social relationships
through truly human actions and praxis.A christian
is a disciple of Jesus, the only one who ‘fulfilled’ the
‘works’ of the Father. It is a practitioner who
believes in hope rather than a believer who
practices a faith. In short, a christian is a person
who acts according to Jesus' praxis. ”
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61. PERFORMATIVE LANGUAGE
The Church in worship uses an artistic-religious
language that employs symbols to transcend mere
talk.
It is powerful language that not only describes a
reality, but creates new realities when the people
believe the word and accept it as a divine message.
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62. CF, 556
"The language of the homily is not primarily
narrative but performative, namely, that of an order,
request, desire, proclamation, etc."
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63. THE END
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