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Pastoral Theology Paper

The central theme or image that I use to inform my pastoral theology is Henry Nouwen's

image of a wounded healer. Each one of us carries our own wounds like battle scars. Some of

our wounds have been treated and they are healed with only a scar to show for it, but other

wounds have either been ignored, or require more time to heal. The wounds in our lives that

are still open can diminish ones ability to offer sound pastoral care. Ones woundedness is

often understood by society as being weakness and therefore is a negative. A common reaction

to negativity in our lives is to overcome it with positivity, but when one ignores ones hurt, the

effects can be exponentially worse later. When one reaches the point that one realizes that

hurt and pain are part ofthe human condition, one can start to honestly deal with ones own

pain in a healthy way.

Scripturally I form the foundation of my pastoral care theology and my understanding of

the wounded healer from what is written in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. Paul writes, "but he said to

me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will

boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for

the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong." Not only is the idea of

woundedness (weakness) presented here, but also the idea that despite our own failings, God's

grace is sufficient. My Lutheran understanding of anthropology and original sin makes grace a

central theme to my soteriology, or in other words, how I understand salvation. Furthermore,

the idea of embracing weakness as a source of strength is a counter-cultural act. We are not

taught by society that when we are weak we are actually strong. This is a theory that I had to

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chaplain or pastoral care provider is the one who is giving wholeness to another. The pastoral

care giver cannot fulfill this obligation and therefore must leave that duty to God. Therefore

the pastoral care giver can only be provider of space so that people can explore their pain and

find connectedness to God once again.