Becoming a Minister

Oden has an interesting goal, which is to explore *classical* Christian pastoral care. This means that Oden does not use any sources prior to 1700. To many professors of pastoral care, this might seem worthy of a pamphlet, but a four book series, surely not? Truth be known, pastoral care is not a modern phenomenon, despite what most pastoral care manuals might suggest. In fact, if one probes the writings of great Christians from the Bible until the 1700s, great wisdom and insight are available for pastors and priests seeking to better understand and practice their ministerial office.This volume (One of Four) focuses on becoming a minister, including the individual and community's call, classical pastoral metaphors, and ordination. He discusses different understandings of ecclesial offices, including bishop, presbyter, and deacon. He also outlines the traditional means of preparing for soul care, including moral development, and the balance of academics and practical training. Throughout the book Oden generally embraces doctrines, practices, and metaphors for pastoral care that are based on classical ecumenical agreement, that is, on doctrines and practices that the worldwide Church has embraced. For instance, if Roman Catholics have a particular practice that is unknown to Anglicans and Orthodox, it is likely Oden might explain it, but he will fall back on the more ecumenical view. This makes his book useful for most mainline Christians in the catholic tradition. However, Oden does accept women's ordination, making generally good arguments in its favor.This book is useful because it is littered with classical Christian wisdom. There is more text quoted from classical Christian writers than Oden himself has written. The major figures, including John Chrysostom, Augustine, Gregory the Great, Luther, and others are liberally represented. Even smaller figures are quoted, showing the depth of Oden's knowledge in this field. Sometimes, the book has so much information built into each chapter it can be trying reading. However, that potential weakness aside, as modernism is dying, and its ideas are seen in a far worse light, Oden's book is a breath of fresh air. Believe it or not, Pastoral Care is far more than just the thought of 19th and 20th century secular thinkers expressed with church terminology. Oden shows that the classical catholic tradition has much value for pastors and future pastors, and I wish this were a standard textbook in today's seminaries.