Required Text:
Howard John Cllinebell, Basic Types of Pastoral Care and Counseling
David Hansen, The Art Of Pastoring, Ministry Without All the Answers
Description:
Introduction to Pastoral Care for Lay Pastors and Lay Pastor candidates is not intended to turn the student into a professional counselor. The course assumes that everyone in the community of faith can participate in caring for others in a way that helps persons to more fully become what God has created them to be. Our goal for each of you is found on page 4 of the book, ? Companions in Hope,? namely, ?To enhance personal talents in the areas of listening, being supportive, problem-solving, dealing with crisis and knowing when and how to refer??
The course will consist of readings, brief quizzes, group discussions, and small group discussions. Each student will have specific responsibility for leading class discussion for a portion of the reading. A summary of the reading will be posted to which the rest of the class will respond. The course will have a practical component wherein each student will select a person in their ministry context with whom they will interact for the purposes of growing in ?pastoral conversation.? (Pastoral conversation is conversation with someone to whom we are intentionally offering care on behalf of Christ.) These ?pastoral conversations? will become a part of a practicum for small group interaction. A final 3-4 page reflection paper will summarize the student's learning for the course.