Pastoral theology is a branch of theology that focuses on the perspective of grazing on all the activities and functions of the church and the pastor, then draw theological conclusions from observations made. Since the time of the Protestant Reformation, the term “Pastoral” is used in two senses. First, the “Pastoral” as an adjective of “Father”. Because Father implement grazing, the Pastoral term in this context means the same as the grazing itself. Understanding the second is a study of grazing Pastoral itself.
History
The use of the term “Pastoral Theology” in Protestantism emerged in the 18th century. In fact, Pastoral Theology has not been recognized as a new discipline emerged in 1830 through a book written by Klaus Harms in Germany, while in America had just appeared in 1847. In the early days of this, Pastoral Theology interpreted as an effort to apply theology to in practice.
Actually, the ideas of Pastoral Theology itself has emerged since the previous, as previously associated with the term Seelsorge (healing and maintenance of souls) even though the two are not identical. Zwingli never wrote a treatise about the shepherd who is right and wrong. Besides Zwingli, Martin Bucer also wrote about the service to the church in Protestantism and divide it into five categories. In fact, Martin Luther himself made a lot of posts related to the maintenance of life (Seelsorge) is.
In the 17th century, Richard Baxter wrote a book for pastors under the title “The Reformed Pastor” who advocate for services to your homes. In this book, he criticized the sense of responsibility that is owned by a pastor to the congregation. He demands a serious preparation of priests before doing pastoral ministry. However, he did not look important theory and found practical ability to see a variety of needs is more important.
Approaching the beginning of the 19th century, books on practical tips for pastors began to appear and emphasize things like wisdom, knowledge, piety, prayer, and self-denial in the pastor. In addition, a pastor is also required to frequently visit his flock. Studies specifically Pastoral Theology started in Germany in the 19th century, but has been developed systematically by Britain and the United States around 1873 to develop practical theology, a theology study section Friedrich Schleiermacher regarded as a field of study that is wider than Pastoral Theology. In the early 19th century also began to appear a variety of views about the scope of Pastoral Theology, for example WGT Shedd who looked Pastoral Theology as the study of visitation, teaching, personal life, prayer, and the minds of pastors and Van Oosterzee who view Pastoral Theology as Poimenika study, ie as a theory of pastoral ministry.
In the United States, Pastoral Theology systematic work was first made by Enoch Pond of Bangor Theological Seminary. Gregory Thurson Bedell, a Bishop of Ohio and Washington Gladden was first introduced on the system of division of labor group (group work) in his article titled “Church serving.
In the 17th century, Richard Baxter wrote a book for pastors under the title “The Reformed Pastor” who advocate for services to your homes. In this book, he criticized the sense of responsibility that is owned by a pastor to the congregation. He demands a serious preparation of priests before doing pastoral ministry. However, he did not look important theory and found practical ability to see a variety of needs is more important.
Approaching the beginning of the 19th century, books on practical tips for pastors began to appear and emphasize things like wisdom, knowledge, piety, prayer, and self-denial in the pastor. In addition, a pastor is also required to frequently visit his flock. Studies specifically Pastoral Theology started in Germany in the 19th century, but has been developed systematically by Britain and the United States around 1873 to develop practical theology, a theology study section Friedrich Schleiermacher regarded as a field of study that is wider than Pastoral Theology. In the early 19th century also began to appear a variety of views about the scope of Pastoral Theology, for example WGT Shedd who looked Pastoral Theology as the study of visitation, teaching, personal life, prayer, and the minds of pastors and Van Oosterzee who view Pastoral Theology as Poimenika study, ie as a theory of pastoral ministry.
In the United States, Pastoral Theology systematic work was first made by Enoch Pond of Bangor Theological Seminary. Gregory Thurson Bedell, a Bishop of Ohio and Washington Gladden was first introduced on the system of division of labor group (group work) in his article titled “Church serving.