Poles Apart? Reflections Arising from Pastoral Care and Liberation Theology

Poles Apart? Reflections Arising from Pastoral Care and Liberation Theology

Poling J. SUN

The article contends that pastoral care must not neglect its broader political and social context. Arising from Stephen Pattison's Pastoral Care and Liberation Theology, the author agrees that liberation theology has much to offer. The author points out along with Pattison that mainstream pastoral care has focused so much on psychology and counseling that it has lost sight of a broader perspective and context. Very often pastoral care is so limited to an individual and privatized dimension that the ministry itself is hardly effective. The author illustrates his observation with Christian responses to social events and issues.