Pastoral Relationship with People with Intellectual ... - Theses

197The statement also affirms that greater understandings of truth occurthrough dialogue and interaction between ecclesial and wider societal contexts. Italso highlights the dialogue that is embedded in the co-relational process ofreflection detailed in the methodological process presented in the previouschapter. That process concerns the ongoing interaction between the pastoraltheological and social science perspectives for the purposes of gaining the mostcomprehensive understanding of the narratives under consideration.Thus, the Basis of Union, standing as it does within a Reformed scripturaltradition and undergirded by its historic documentation, can be regarded asendorsing, sustaining and informing a ministry that seeks Christ-centred pastoralengagement with contemporary, culturally-grounded institutions such as thosethat accommodate people with intellectual disabilities.It is also this faith tradition that is consistent with the fundamentalprinciples of liberation theology. Whilst there is differentiation based on sociopoliticalcontext, there is a fundamental consistency between the theological andecclesial ethos expressed in the Basis of Union and its supporting documents, andof liberation theology.6.1.2 Liberation TheologyAmidst the range of positive influences that liberation theology can bringto bear on contemporary, pastoral theological thought the followingconsiderations are the most pertinent to this extended reflection.6.1.2.1 A Preferential Option for the PoorLiberation theologians speak of a God who is on the side of those who aresocially, economically or politically poor and who, as stated in relation to Freirein the previous chapter, are sustained in such poverty by those in positions ofauthority seeking to entrench their socio-politically derived status. Gutierrezspeaks of this as God’s option or preference for the poor when he states,In the final analysis, an option for the poor is an option for theGod of the kingdom whom Jesus proclaims to us. ... The entireBible, beginning with the story of Cain and Abel, mirrors God'spredilection for the weak and abused of human history. Thispreference brings out the gratuitous or unmerited character ofGod's love. 523523 Gutierrez, A Theology of Liberation, xxvii.