Abstract

Charles Gerkin is the Franklin N. Parker Professor of Pastoral Theology, Emeritus, at Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, Georgia. Gerkin has been a pioneering voice in the field of pastoral theology both as a clinical pastoral education supervisor and as a professor. The thesis of this dissertation is that the metaphor of community is the lynchpin of Gerkin's pastoral theology. The formation and transformation of community is a caring act. Therefore, Gerkin's use of the community metaphor is an important development in reclaiming the congregation as the primary context for pastoral care. The primary sources used in this project were Gerkin's published books, journal articles, essays, and book reviews. In addition to these primary sources, personal interviews were conducted with Dr. Gerkin. ;Chapter one examines the shaping forces in the life and thought of Charles Gerkin. His background, as the son of a Methodist minister, laid the foundation for his understanding of community and pastoral care. Chapter two will focus on the transition in Gerkin's life from a focus on chaplain ministry to his emphasis on pastoral theology. ;Chapter three will analyze Gerkin's understanding of the community of faith as the provider for ministry. Primary attention will be given to the distinction that Gerkin makes between the church as centrifugal community vs. the church as centripetal community. Chapter four will present Gerkin's hermeneutic project and examine the ways in which language and narrative impact and form community. ;Chapter five will focus on the ethical dimension of Gerkin's pastoral theology. Gerkin's pastoral theology calls for the community of the church to impact the surrounding culture. Chapter six revolves around challenges to community that are presented by different stages in the life cycle, and appropriate care responses in the context of the congregation. ;Chapter seven analyzes the major contributions of Charles Gerkin's use of the community metaphor to the field of pastoral theology. The study concludes that Gerkin's use of the community metaphor has made a significant contribution to the field of pastoral theology and offers a helpful theoretical basis for anchoring pastoral care in the context of the congregation