Abstract:
This article explored the meaning of love as an ethical principle and the aim of providing
pastoral counselling and care. The author, inspired by the work of Professor Julian Müller,
applied Paul Tillich’s notion of love to affirm the value of pastoral counselling as a constituent
practice and research focus of practical theology. The focus of the discussion was upon love as
the primary witness of the church and motivating factor for offering pastoral counselling and
care to those who seek it. Distinctions were drawn between psychotherapeutic counselling
and pastoral counselling. Müller’s postfoundationalist approach to listening and reflecting
upon the work of pastoral counselling and valuing the counselee or co-researcher role as
teacher was supported.
