Thomas c oden wrote pastoral theology essentials of ministry in the mid 1980s oden laments the state of the pastoral office noting it seems to be suffering an identity crisis as some money grubbing ministers are quintessential elmer gantrys while on the other hand other pastors have fully embraced the latest pragmatic management or secular psychotherapeutic techniques without rooting . Pastoral theology essentials of ministry oden thomas c pastoral theology provides the foundational knowledge of the pastoral office requisite to the practice of ministry it will be of interest to persons preparing for ordination in its review of key issues at the same time pastoral theology will appeal to all those who have considered entering the ministry. This much needed book fully integrates principles of pastoral care leadership and theology to restore to ministers a clearly defined pastoral identity moving from a critique of inadequate models for ministry from community organizer to t v evangelist oden develops a more classical model rich in its references to the past and compatible both with christian faith and theology through . This much needed book fully integrates principles of pastoral care leadership and theology to restore to ministers a clearly defined pastoral identity moving from a critique of inadequate models for ministry from community organizer to t v evangelist oden develops a more classical model rich in its references to the past and compatible