Customer Reviews

Skillful Shepherds: An Introduction to Pastoral Theology

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Derek Tidball, who is a British Baptist minister and prominent scholar specializing in the fields of theology and sociology, has written a book exploring the nature of pastoral theology. The book entitled `Skilful Shepherds: Explorations in Pastoral Theology" seeks to establish the idea that the pastoral function is better explained when it is connected with the analogy of the shepherd or the shepherding perspective. This is because it has "roots in doctrine." This, I reckon, is the main thesis of the book. Tidball presents his development of ideas in three parts of the book which deal with the biblical foundation, the historical perspective of how the pastoral role has developed through history and the final part is on contemporary application.

Pastoral theology and the role of the pastor have in many ways eluded a coherent and steady definition. Tidball states that it has the character of an octopus and is difficult to define. Coupled with this, there is now an urgent need to get this right because of the changes outwards as well as internally that has somewhat effected pastors in seeking a sure foundation to stand in defining their roles. The widening gap between theology and practice, in which most have divorce their correlation has in more ways than none staled the effectiveness of the pastor. Tidball sees that in the shepherding perspective, theology informs practice and not in reverse which most have constructed their pastoral roles and character. This relationship, where theology forms the pragmatic ends distils the pastoral role going in tangents. Not to mean that it is forcing a hedge but to regulate what scripture accords as pastoral responsibility and character. After all theology deals with God and to that end what we do have to be made subject to how we understand God from scripture and our relationship with him.

Tidball, in the first part of his book, further unpacked his argument contending for the shepherding perspective to be the model to understand the pastoral role. The first part of the book is a sweeping vision of the biblical text, taking on the Old Testament and New Testament. He gives an overarching view of the Old Testament focusing on the pastoral models that give acute insights concerning pastoral theology. Moses is viewed as the model par-excellence on which all other servants of God would be modelled upon. Moses' leadership which is marked by a God's call and his relationship with him, which tells us that ministry is not by our own enabling but based on the one that call us. Other pastoral roles in the Old Testament can be seen expressed by parents, priests, prophets and wise men. These, according to Tidball reflect in them the shepherding expressions of "authority, tender care, specific tasks, courage and sacrifice." As we can see from the chapter here, the Old Testament is rich with pastoral perspective and can form a good base for modern pastors to reflect upon in which he gives a potent example of pastoral theology at work in the form of Isaiah's writings. Tidball's presentation of Isaiah's pastoral perspective sheds new light in how the prophet responded not abstractly to Israel's problem but combining theology and pastoral concern to the specific situation that they were in.

He furthers this idea, where theology and practice is to be treated as one, in the New Testament as a whole. In these explorations he states that theology is "called forth by the pastoral situations of the church and theology shaped to speak to particular pastoral situations." Tidball, in proposing these points to the example we see in the New Testament in which every writer had a particular situation being addressed which does not mean they were less intelligible letters but letters written with intent. The examples that he gives need not be exhaustive but rather to point that the practical bent of living the Christian life is richly theological in dimension. It also shows that, pastorally, the New Testament is to be understood pastorally at best in their perspective.

Tidball gives much attention to the biblical dimension in his explorations of pastoral work and making it a basis for his understanding of the pastor. More than a third of the book is concerned with a biblical view. Although they may not be treated exhaustively they seem to run in tangent with his thesis that, to better understand the pastoral role and character, the shepherding model comes closest to it. The important fact remains that, he derives his definition of the pastor from the bible taking into consideration the whole biblical vision as well as combining this with a comprehensive outlook on the New Testament as well. Reading Tidball's explanations we can state that theology is not abstract but should be practical in other words "Doctrine is practical and practical is doctrine."

The second part of the book moves from the biblical view to how pastoral understanding has developed through history. This is a commentary of how the pastoral perspective has waned from the New Testament vision in the example of the Middle Ages where the priesthood of all believers was neglected to the revival in the Reformation era where there was a revitalization of ministry. The historical commentary of how pastoral ministry was understood and how it developed amidst the pervading culture gives mention to us that we must be aware of the social and cultural influence that can wane our biblical vision of the role of the pastor. The historical commentary given by Tidball makes for a good vision for pastors that constant reflection and discernment has to be made so that we do not conform to cultural perspectives. This again highlights why theology has to constantly be in conversation with the way we do ministry and pastoral practice.

After exploring through the biblical vision and the historical development of pastoral theology, he now moves into the area of contemporary application. It is an unexpected turn to quickly move to application as he himself agrees. But what he writes in the third part has unmistakable reference to the first two parts which we have explored. They are to my attention the summing up of themes derived from the biblical vision as well as the historical development. He presents them as belief, forgiveness, suffering, unity and ministry. These are not meant to be exhaustive contemporary themes but they are assumed by Tidball to be important ones. Upon reading and reflection they seem to be potent themes which the church as a whole have constantly grappled with. The pastor needs to resuscitate the church's belief in the gospel in a cynical and broken world, translate the forgiving message of the gospel to better help his congregation to know God and find healing, be the source of encouragement to people devoid of hope, express to the church that God's ideal is in unity of the body, and finally the pastor needs to be firm in his understanding that it is the task to shepherd the church is what he is called to do.

Although somewhat dated, this book is filled with tomes of insights concerning pastoral theology and more importantly giving a sense of how to define pastoral theology. The book does not disappoint in its main argument, in which Tidball states that it is the shepherding perspective best explains pastoral theology, role and character. The book as I see it is a valuable introduction in modelling a worthy foundation to understand pastoral theology. This is in contention with how he has arranged his book. Building on the biblical foundation and seeing how the church has grappled with pastoral theology in history coupled with an overarching theme of what the author sees important for the pastor to address. With that, the only disappointment for me was that at points the book in some ways seems unbalanced in the application side on which specific contemporary issues are dealt with. But that would be largely due to the book being `date' to the issues that we face now. Some examples would be how pastors should respond to racism or social injustice. But regardless of that this book has great value for the pastor in defining his role and understanding concerning what is important in his vocation.