Experiencing God to renew the church

Memory and Perspective on an Inclusive Pastoral Ministry

Abstract

In this article, we examine the tension between traditional pastoral ministries, focused on healing and spiritual transformation based on conventional mission, and the proposal of inclusive Lutheran pastoral care, developed between 2005 and 2019. The latter seeks not only social transformation but also ecclesial renewal, prioritizing the experience of God from within the community and promoting the integration of historically excluded sectors. A distinction is made between experimental pastoral ministry, aimed at evangelizing specific populations, and experiential pastoral ministry, which first seeks to understand the realities of marginalized individuals before conveying a message of faith, challenging hegemonic notions of care and health. The inclusive Lutheran community positioned itself as a pioneer in opening its doors to LGBT+ individuals and promoting an unbiased interpretation of the Bible. Its key methodological principles are theoretical silence (suspending exclusionary theology to listen to marginalized voices and God) and operational disarmament (eliminating discriminatory actions and discourses). The necessary ecclesial renewal today demands this process of experimentation and learning, recognizing that diversity is a reality and inclusion an objective.