Pedagogy as Pastoral Care: Wisdom and Interpretation in Congregational Assessment

This article explores the role of pastors as educators, proposing a pedagogical model of ministry that integrates teaching with pastoral care. Drawing on practical theology and Freirean pedagogy, and using a case study methodology, the author argues that pastors should be equipped with pedagogical skills to foster holistic spiritual development within congregations. Through a personal teaching experience, the article illustrates how metaphors, inquiry-based learning, and interpretative wisdom can transform congregational learning spaces. The study emphasizes the need for seminary curricula to include pedagogical training in pastoral formation and advocates for a reimagining of the pastorate as a vocation of teaching and communal discernment.