A biblical foundation for public pastoral care practice: A biblical reflection

Abstract

The rise of public theology has resulted in a challenge for pastoral care to consider public issues. Therefore, the need for pastoral care to be public has given birth to the notion of public pastoral care. With pastoral care as a Christian religious practice, its biblical and theological basis must be established. This article poses the question: What is the biblical basis of public pastoral care? It articulates a theology of public pastoral care to address this question by arguing that public pastoral care originates with God, who revealed himself to humankind in biblical history, culminating with the incarnation of Jesus. The Bible presents a normative and authoritative approach to public pastoral care. The numerous places in the Bible where God addresses poverty, social injustice, marginalisation, et cetera from a public pastoral care perspective provide a heuristic framework to guide public pastoral care practice. Thus, this article carefully outlines a biblical framework of public pastoral care.

Contribution: This article employs a literature study approach. It contributes to practical theology, especially pastoral care, by articulating a public pastoral care theology. It defines public pastoral care and then provides a concise discussion of the biblical basis that undergirds it.