ABSTRACT
It is a common assumption that one of the fundamental roles of public theology is to ‘speak truth to power’. This article examines the work of William Temple and Elaine Graham to suggest there are problems with this model. In particular, in our postmodern context, it is difficult to agree on what constitutes truth as well as locate the powerful to whom truth should be spoken. Richard Rorty’s notion of edification is suggested as an alternate model for public theologians. In this schema the public theologian redescribes social, political and cultural texts with a view to providing original insights which engender empathy for the poor and oppressed.
