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.