Pastoral Formation in the Caribbean: Reassessing Formal, Informal, and Non-Formal Theological Education in Contemporary Ministry

Abstract

Pastoral formation in the Caribbean has long been shaped by a complex interplay of spiritual calling, communal recognition, and diverse educational pathways. Yet scholarly attention to how formal, informal, and non-formal theological education collectively contribute to ministerial formation within Caribbean contexts remains limited. This article addresses that gap through a PRISMA-ScR–aligned scoping review of interdisciplinary literature spanning theology, pastoral studies, and general education. Drawing on peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and selected dissertations, the review maps how pastoral formation is conceptualized, the roles attributed to different modes of theological education, and the cultural, ecclesiastical, and historical dynamics shaping ministerial identity in the Caribbean. The findings reveal that pastoral formation in the Caribbean is best understood as a holistic, relational, and contextually embedded process rather than a linear or exclusively institutional endeavor. Formal theological education provides doctrinal grounding and critical reflection, while informal learning through lived ministry and non-formal education through mentoring and structured training play equally formative roles. Persistent tensions between Spirit-led authority and academic preparation are shown to be rooted not merely in ideology, but in colonial histories, Pentecostal and revivalist spirituality, and community-based constructions of authority. Building on these insights, the article proposes an Integrated Caribbean Formation Model emphasizing complementarity rather than hierarchy among formation pathways. The study concludes by outlining implications for theological institutions, churches, denominations, and policy frameworks, and by identifying priorities for future empirical research. In doing so, it contributes a contextually grounded framework for reimagining pastoral formation in contemporary Caribbean ministry.