The pastoral cycle and its use
One template for the way of thinking theologically that we've been describing is called the pastoral cycle. In detail it looks like this:
Let's go on now and use it as a way of thinking theologically about at concrete situation in your working life.
The pastoral cycle and your working life
Think about an event, a situation or an issue in your college that you are involved in.
Describe it to yourself in as much detail as possible - what's the story.
Use the pastoral cycle method to think theologically about, around and through it.
You could focus your thinking using these questions:
- What is at stake for the gospel and the Kingdom of God in this situation in Further Education today?
- What's God's take on the situation? How does God see it?
- What am I, a member of the Body of Christ, a bearer of good news today, being beckoned towards?
If you have opportunity, do this with other Christian colleagues at work, or through the fbfe channels, or if you want, talk it through with members of your church community.