Theological Reflection for Human Flourishing: Pastoral Practice and Public Theology

by Helen Cameron, John Reader, Victoria Slater, Christopher Rowland

Overview

This book is aimed at those training for ministry, those in ministry and lay people wishing to reflect upon their work. It seeks to enable those in pastoral ministry to reflect upon their institutional encounters and to enable lay people who work in institutions as professionals or managers to reflect upon their pastoral encounters. By generating shared encounters of theological reflection between these two groups the authors identify points of solidarity and tension between them.The book seeks to address the commonly voiced concern that clergy and laity talk past each other and don't engage on the issues that they find perplexing. Readers of the book will gain an increased confidence in reflecting upon their own practice and engaging with others in theological reflection.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780334043904
Publisher:	Hymns Ancient & Modern
Publication date:	06/28/2012
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	158
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Helen Cameron is Public Affairs Officer for the Salvation Army and a Research Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Ecclesiology and Practical Theology.

John Reader is Rector of Ironstone in the Oxford Diocese and former Diocesan Rural Officer.

Victoria Slater is Research Officer at OxCEPT, Ripon College Cuddesdon.

Chris Rowland is Professor of Biblical Exegesis in the University of Oxford.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements vii

Introduction ix

1 How can Theological Reflection be Used? 1

2 Triggering the Conversation: Introducing Blurred Encounters 16

3 Describing the Encounters 27

4 Exploring the Encounters 49

5 Engaging with Scripture 74

6 Learning from the Encounters 94

Conclusion: Anticipating Further Encounters 118

Bibliography 127

Editorial Reviews

'The authors of this book have provided us not only with a valuable account of the importance of theological reflection in a world where human flourishing is contested and in no way guaranteed, but also with a demonstration of the process. This is a brave move, which helpfully allows the reader to see the learning actually happening, and along the way to listen in to a fascincating account of some 'blurred encounters' in pastoral and public theology. Most imaginatively teasing of all is the 'blurred encounter' which happened in the learning process itself over the engagement with scripture.'

Zoe Bennett