Pastoral Relationship with People with Intellectual ... - Theses

42normality relates to issues such as ease of access to a broad spectrum of personalrelationships, community facilities and lifestyle opportunities.Thirdly, in the face of the objectified, medicalised form of care thusdescribed, pastoral care offers a meaningful and necessary form of care that has afundamental regard for the worth of the person in question as a human beingcreated in “the likeness of God” (Genesis 1:26). 611.10 ConclusionIt is the purpose of this extended reflection to propose and describe apastoral care model that most authentically and validly affords a mutuallyenriching,liberating form of pastoral relationship between pastoral carer and theperson with an intellectual disability accommodated in an institutional context. Amodel of care will be proposed that affirms worth on the basis that all people arecreated in the image of God, including those institutionalised people withintellectual disability.In undertaking this task, Molly, as described in the Prologue to thisextended reflection, is understood as a person principally related to byinstitutional staff as someone in need of professional health care service.However, she is also to be regarded from the perspective of one of a communityof people with intellectual disability thus defined from a socio-politicalperspective. Later narrative and pastoral considerations will serve to highlight theinterplay between these two institutional spheres of relation, as it will alsoconsider the role of the pastoral carer and his or her mode of pastoralunderstanding and practice.Oliver, Michael. Understanding Disability: From Theory to Practice. 2nd ed. (London andNew York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009), 87-105.Despite such criticism it can still be argued that normalisation points to the incapacity ofinstitutions to address the basic needs of people with intellectual disability.61 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. The HolyBible, Old Testament, 1.