Original Research - Special Collection: Yolanda Dreyer Festschrift

Beyond a sacrificial spirituality: Enhancing flourishing pastoral ministers

Annemie Dillen
HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies | Vol 73, No 4 | a4694 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v73i4.4694 | © 2017 Annemie Dillen | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 08 June 2017 | Published: 25 August 2017

About the author(s)

Annemie Dillen, Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, Belgium University, Belgium and Department of Practical Theology, Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

This contribution explains the value of self-giving and critically questions the discourse on self-sacrifice in relation to ministerial spirituality. In practice, what others may describe as self-sacrifice may be experienced by a care-giver as an adequate form of self-giving inspired by the Christian vocation, without any praise for one’s own deeds, without any overestimation of the heroic character of one’s own giving. An inherent danger in the concept of self-sacrifice is a closedness to critically assessing the balance of power in one’s own relationships. In this sense, theologians are asked to use the concept self-sacrifice with caution, as the theological language may inspire people, ideas and the general discourse further than intended.

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