Dictionary.com
- pastoral theology – the branch of theology dealing with the responsibilities of members of the clergy to the people under their care.
Etymonline.com
– – this term isn’t in their database – –
pastoral:
“of or pertaining to shepherds,” early 15c., from Old French pastoral (13c.), from Latin pastoralis “of herdsmen, of shepherds,” from pastor (see pastor (n.)). The noun sense of “poem dealing with country life generally,” usually dealing with it in an idealized form and emphasizing the purity and happiness of it, is from 1580s.
Discussion/Explanation
As you can see, this one is quite straight-forward in meaning. Poimenics and pastoral theology are both used interchangeably though I’d say I see the second more often these days.
As the definition states, this is an area of study that studies the Bible’s instructions for clergy (pastor, elder, bishop, etc.) in how they serve the body, the people of the church under their care.
Monergist Gratia 