In Finding Voice, Kincaid
employs an often used but somewhat elusive metaphor, "voice," as a way
of speaking of pastoral identity and contends that a lively, imaginative
pastoral voice emerges from a thorough grasp of context, theology,
pastoral roles, personal journey, and systemic dynamics. Designed as a
text for the field education, contextual education, and supervised
ministry experiences of seminary students and others preparing for
congregational leadership, Finding Voice examines in depth how people
are experiencing each of these constituent parts of pastoral voice at
their student ministry sites not only to learn about each of the areas,
but also to recognize and understand what is being called forth in the
students as they engage these five key experiences and begin to
visualize their future ministry.
The book further explores the
opportunities created when the five aspects of pastoral identity are in
conflict with one another. In the absence of any one of these or the
imbalance of them, pastoral voice gets skewed, and vibrant, effective
ministry is undermined. Finding Voice urges students to begin now, with
field education, to engage a practice of ministry that is imaginative,
courageous, nimble, and faithful.
