This article examines how pastoral leaders learn in the context of ministry in terms of how they see the relationship between theory and practice. The work of Wilfred Carr is introduced as a theoretical framework and clue structures are used to distinguish the different approaches to the theory and practice relationship. A case study using two examples is used to demonstrate how the clue structures are used. The article concludes with implications for the theological curriculum. (Contains 6 footnotes and 1 table.)