Pastoral theology is the branch of theology concerned with the practical application of theology in the pastoral context. This approach to theology seeks to give practical expression to theology. Normally viewed as an 'equipping' of ministers, practical theology is often considered to be more pragmatic than speculative. Hence its main interests are in those areas of theology which will aid the clergyperson in ministry. Topics tend to include homiletics, pastoral care, sacramental theology, and ethics. Theology is reasoned discourse concerning God (Greek θεος, theos, God, + λογος, logos, word or reason). It can also refer to the study of other religious topics. ... Homiletics (Gr. ... Pastoral care is the ministry of care and counseling provided by pastors, chaplains and other religious leaders to members of their group (church, congregation, etc). ... A sacrament is a Christian rite that mediates divine grace—a holy mystery. ... Ethics (from Greek ἦθος meaning custom) is the branch of axiology, one of the four major branches of philosophy, which attempts to understand the nature of morality; to distinguish that which is right from that which is wrong. ...
Pastoraltheology is a branch of practical theology; it is essentially a practical science.
Moral theology explains the laws of God and of the Church, the means of grace and hindrances thereto; pastoraltheology teaches the practical bearing of these laws, means, and hindrances upon the daily life of the priest, alone and in touch with his people.
The name pastoraltheology is new; the science is as old as the Church itself, as appears from the manifold instructions given by Jesus to His Apostles for the care of souls (Matthew 10:6 sqq.
The aim of the present article is to address this problematic from the vantage point of pastoraltheology since the task of facilitating the interaction between academic theology and pastoral ministry belongs in a preeminent way to pastoraltheology, at least as it is being defined and practiced today.
According to Rahner, pastoraltheology (or practical theology, as he prefers) is not limited to the work of the clergy but extends to everything which the church as such has to do.
According to definitions of pastoraltheology such as these, there is a mutual interaction between the experiential situation and theological reflection; concrete experience is the starting point and effective pastoral ministry of the church is the goal.
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