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Psychological Dynamics of Pastoral Identity

Psychological Dynamics of Pastoral Identity 51 REINARD NAUTA PSYCHOLOGICAL DYNAMICS OF PASTORAL IDENTITY The different faces of empathy SUMMARY In the research reported in this paper, the psychological dynamics of pastoral identity are explored by relating different dimensions of professional identity to a more general and personal orientation towards others: empathy. Significant differences were found between catholic pastors and protestant ministers. The catholic pastoral ministry is cognitively oriented, separating personal involvement from professional understanding and commitment. The Protestant pastoral ministry is affectively oriented, but expressing a rather ambiguous social involvement. These differences are explained in terms of differences in theology and career motivation. 1. Introduction When pastors answer questions about their pastoral identity - answers to the question: Who am I as a pastor?, they tend to answer in terms of particular role models. Therefore it cannot be ruled out that they will try to present a picture of themselves which corresponds more to an ideal of the pastorate as they prefer it, than to the reality they experience in everyday life. These identity-providing role models are considered to predict the way pastors perform their clerical duties. In fact, however, it may be more realistic to analyse identity as a result of performance: http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Journal of Empirical Theology Brill

Psychological Dynamics of Pastoral Identity

Nauta, Reinard
Journal of Empirical Theology , Volume 9 (1): 51 – Jan 1, 1996
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Publisher
Brill
Copyright
© 1996 Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
ISSN
0922-2936
eISSN
1570-9256
DOI
10.1163/157092596X00033
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

51 REINARD NAUTA PSYCHOLOGICAL DYNAMICS OF PASTORAL IDENTITY The different faces of empathy SUMMARY In the research reported in this paper, the psychological dynamics of pastoral identity are explored by relating different dimensions of professional identity to a more general and personal orientation towards others: empathy. Significant differences were found between catholic pastors and protestant ministers. The catholic pastoral ministry is cognitively oriented, separating personal involvement from professional understanding and commitment. The Protestant pastoral ministry is affectively oriented, but expressing a rather ambiguous social involvement. These differences are explained in terms of differences in theology and career motivation. 1. Introduction When pastors answer questions about their pastoral identity - answers to the question: Who am I as a pastor?, they tend to answer in terms of particular role models. Therefore it cannot be ruled out that they will try to present a picture of themselves which corresponds more to an ideal of the pastorate as they prefer it, than to the reality they experience in everyday life. These identity-providing role models are considered to predict the way pastors perform their clerical duties. In fact, however, it may be more realistic to analyse identity as a result of performance:

Journal

Journal of Empirical Theology – Brill

Published: Jan 1, 1996

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