Pastoral Theology: Essentials of Ministry

As a young ministry student I read this book for a class in pastoral theology. I remember how I highlighted numerous passages. I wrote little commentaries in the margins. In some places I agreed with the author, but in the majority I took the author to task. "This is wrong! This is short sighted! This is unscriptural! This is biased! etc."As a middle-aged pastor I picked up my old copy and re-read it. Once again, placing my little commentaries in the margins, "He was right! Boy, was I dumb! Amen! Ouch! Preach it Brother! etc."I think it took me a little while to catch on. This book is a classic. Every pastor should own a copy. No pastor should judge the book until he or she has spent a few years behind the sacred pulpit. I have no qualms about recommending this book.

Oden begins following through with his agenda for theologian's office first laid down in his book, Agenda for Theology (now published under the title, After Moderny, What?), by providing biblically oriented resources for the pastoral office. Oden unpacks the role of the pastoral office that it holds within the church by distilling the best ideas of the two millennia of ecumenical Christian thinking concerning what pastors are and do. Pastoral Theology provides the foundational building blocks of the pastoral office essential to the practice of ministry. Oden's book is primarily geared forthose who are interested or planning on entering the pastoral office. This book is also an informative resource for those interested in understanding what the clergy do and what pastoral care encompasses. For the American evangelical, this book (which now seems to have become a series of books) as well as "Biblical Eldership" (Alexander Strauch, 1995) and John MacArthur's "Rediscovering Pastoral Ministry" round out the pastoral library by presenting the Wesleyan, Brethren, and Reformed views of the teaching office within the church. I hold Oden's work the best of the bunch purely from the standpoint that he takes the time to include a historical survey of the teaching office throughout his work.

I confess I did not read the whole book, but what I read I really liked, and I plan to read the rest soon. The book was well written, well laid out, and thoroughly covered important topics. Pastors of all kinds should read it and wrestle with the issues. Should be on all our shelves!