Course Description: This course provides seminary students with a solid introduction to pastoral care, counseling, and intervention in congregations, institutions, and communities—thereby equipping students with the knowledge and skills for basic assessment, intervention, and follow-through in the crises, opportunities, and transitions in people’s lives. The course will follow a stepwise skill-development process, beginning with some of the most basic skills and building progressively toward an integrated approach to situations demanding pastoral care. Special attention will be given not only to the unique pastoral offices and to religious perspectives in the Anglican tradition, but also to the varied religious perspectives and needs represented by our increasingly multicultural and multi-religious society.

Learning Outcomes: Throughout this course, a successful student will demonstrate, through weekly preparation and participation in classroom discussions: a beginning grasp of pastoral theology and the practice of theological reflection; a basic understanding of the range and depth of pastoral care, from crisis care to counseling to spiritual direction and development; an increased appreciation for how people construct theological meaning systems and how cultures, subcultures, and individuals differ in their theological perspectives; and a clear articulation of broad Christian and uniquely Anglican approaches to pastoral theology. In addition, throughout the semester, the successful student will write six log and two verbatim assignments intended to: deepen self-understanding, particularly in monitoring personal anxiety, the balance of engagement and detachment, and attachments to one’s own presuppositions; develop skills in assessment of individuals, family units, and communities; and identify areas for continued learning and competency development. Finally, the successfully student will work in an assigned group of five to six students to produce one group teaching presentation demonstrating significant learning of a range of pastoral interventions and responses with individuals and groups and an ability to plan and use a variety religious resources for pastoral situations.

Course requirements: The course schedule, supplemental readings, and assignment instructions will be distributed in class and/or available on Blackboard. Students are responsible for: completing all assignments on time; attending class regularly; and preparing for and participating in classroom discussions and exercises. In addition to classroom learning, students are expected to: attend two scheduled labs sessions to practice skills in pastoral engagement; complete a structured learning log; write verbatim of two pastoral conversations; and share in the completion of one student group teaching presentation.

Assessment: This is a graded course. A passing grade is equivalent to a B- or higher in traditional grading. Individualized feedback will summarize how well each student engaged in the work of the course, what strengths were demonstrated, what skills began to develop, and areas for continued learning.

Passing grades and individualized student feedback will be determined as follows:

· Class Participation, Attendance, & Lab Work – 20%

· Structured Log – 30%

· Verbatims – 25%

· Group Presentation – 25%

Rubrics for assessing student learning and performance will be distributed in class and available on Blackboard.

Please note, all written work should conform to standard academic expectations: correct spelling and grammar, proper citation of sources when necessary, and clarity of expression. Regarding plagiarism, the same rules apply in this course as in any other course. Mark all quotes properly, and note the author and page number immediately after each quote or major idea used. This applies to any printed and internet resources. Regarding academic integrity, there is perhaps more at stake in this course than in many others. The integrity of your pastoral learning process is at stake. Please don’t try to cut corners by copying peers’ log entries as your own, inventing conversations for a verbatim, opting to interview someone you know for Verbatim #2, or minimally contributing to your group presentation.

Academic Accommodation: Students with special needs may request academic accommodations from CDSP Dean of Academic Affairs, Linda Clader at lclader@cdsp.edu, or GTU Dean of Students, Maureen Maloney at maloney@gtu.edu. Information on the GTU Consortium policy “Accommodations for Differently-Able Students” is available online at http://www.gtu.edu/admissions/life-at-gtu/students-with-disabilities.

Required Texts: Required texts are also available for library reserve.

Church Publishing Inc. (Ed.). (2005). Ministry with the sick. New York: Author.

Friedman, E. (1985). Generation to generation: Family process in Church and Synagogue. New York: Guilford Press.

Kornfeld, M. Z. (1998). Cultivating wholeness: A guide to care and counseling in faith communities. New York: Continuum Press.

Palmer, P. (1999). The company of strangers. New York: Crossroads. Taylor, C. (1991). The skilled pastor: Counseling as the practice of theology. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press.

Whitehead, J. D., & Whitehead, E. E. (1995). Method in ministry: Theological reflection and Christian ministry (Rev. ed.). Kansas City, MO: Sheed & Ward.

Wimberly, E. (1991). African-American pastoral care. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.

Course Reader of Supplemental Texts (PDF book excerpts, articles on pastoral care, psychotherapy, & social action).

Course Schedule:

February 4 What is Pastoral Theology, Practical Theology, and Theological Reflection? An Overview

February 11 Who Am I in Pastoral Ministry?

Self-Work on Personal Anxiety, Presence, Differentiation, and Listening

>>> Log Assignment 1: Begin to articulate – What is MY personal theology?

Required reading:

OPENING THE BOX > Handbook of Pastoral Studies, 21-34;

READING THE INSTRUCTIONS > Whitehead & Whitehead, ix-xiv, 1-64;

LOOKING AT AN APPLICATION > Wimberly, 11-48; Doehring, 96-111.

Section I: Ministry with Individuals

February 18 President’s Day – no class.

>>> Log Assignment 2: Anxiety in my life

>>> First Lab Series Begins

Required reading: Listening and Attending Skills with Individuals

THE ANXIETY HURDLE > Ellis, 23-45, 50-60;

ATTENDING & PRESENCE > Taylor, 1-44;

Ahlskog & Sands, 3-24, 32-48, 111-130;

A PRACTICED EAR > Taylor, 45-80; Kornfeld, 45-65;

February 25 Assessment in Pastoral Ministry: Recognizing and Reading Signals in Individuals

>>> Verbatim 1: Pastoral conversation with peer – transformative moment

Required reading:

TRIAGE, CRISIS, REFERRAL > Kornfeld, 91-112; Switzer, 36-48, 175-189;

LISTENING TO A FULL RANGE > Fitchett, 11-51;

HUMAN VULNERABILITIES > Lee, online (10p);

Ahlskog & Sands, 139-154 (155-176);

March 3 Interventions in Pastoral Ministry: Beyond the “Warm Fuzzy”

>>> Log Assignment 3: Case Situation #1 – Assessment

Required reading:

SPEAKING GOOD NEWS > Taylor, 81-119;

FOCUSING ON SOLUTIONS > Kornfeld, 114-143;

SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE > Bidwell, 1-12, 38-51, 69-83.

Optional reading:

Cade & O’Hanlan, 42-92 (please review)

Section II: Ministry with Small Units (Couples, Families)

March 10 Listening, Attending, and Assessment with Small Units

>>> Log Assignment 4: Case Situation #1 (continued) – Intervention

>>> Second Lab Series Begins

Required reading:

FAMILY SYSTEMS & DYNAMICS > Friedman, 1-64, 294-309.

LIFE TRANSITIONS > Kornfeld, 230-277.

March 17 Couple and Family Interventions in Pastoral Ministry

Required reading:

GIVING FAMILIES PERSPECTIVE > Friedman, 67-146;

BEGINNINGS & ENDINGS > Kornfeld, 147-229;

March 24 Spring Break – no class.

Section III: Ministry with Congregations, Communities, and Culture

March 31 Attending, Listening, and Assessing in Community

>>> Verbatim 2: Pastoral theological “interview” with a stranger

Required reading:

CHURCH MEDIATING CULTURE > Palmer, 34-89;

CONGREGATIONS DEVELOPING > Rothauge I, 5-38;

Fowler, 37-51, 82-98, 113-120;

REFLECTIVE CONGREGATIONS > Whitehead & Whitehead, 76-99;

Kretzman & McKnight, pp. 1-18.

April 7 Communities of Commitment and Responsibility

>>> Log Assignment 5 (choice A): Case Situation #2 – Assessment

1. Parish: Size, cycle, faith development, practices, type of focus; needs, interests, assets

2. Community: Socioeconomic status, risk, opportunity, safety, background belief systems

3. Parish in Community: level of engagement, connect/disconnect

Required reading:

COMMUNITIES OF COMMITMENT > Ting – God is Love excerpts

Etzioni, 251-267 (please review);

hooks, 3-17 or 209-225;

BRINGING TOGETHER CONGREGATION

& COMMUNITY CONCERNS > Ahlskog & Sands, 130-136;

Whitehead & Whitehead, 103-121;

FOSTERING A NEW IDENTITY > Kretzman & McKnight, 345-376 (please review);

Rothauge III, 3-29; Palmer, 118-152;

CREATING SAFE BOUNDS > Nathan Network, 4-10;

SHIFTING SOCIAL HABITS > Etzioni, 116-133;

April 14 Pastoral Interventions in Community Contexts: Helping Values Meet Reality

>>> Make-up Lab Session

>>> Log Assignment 5 (choice b): Case Situation #3 – Assessment

Required reading:

FAMILY & CONGREGATION SYSTEMS CHANGE > Friedman, 193-249;

CONFLICT NEGOTIATION BASICS > Fisher & Ury, 3-14;

INCLUSION AS JUSTICE > hooks, 113-127, 188-208;

Smith, 687-695;

PROTEST AND CONFLICT RAISING > Bobo, 8-27, 71-79;

PASTORAL CARE AS A POLITICAL PROCESS> Wimberly (2006), 19-36.

April 21 Examining Prayer and Beliefs

>>> Log Assignment 6: Why Are You Praying What You’re Praying?

(Church Publishing & other traditions as a launching for discussion)

Required reading:

CPE AND HOSPITAL MINISTRY > Ahlskog & Sands, 177-208;

PRAYERS, RITES & RITUALS OF CARE > Church Publishing Inc.;

RELIGIOUS BELIEFS & FORGIVENESS > Ellis, Nielsen, & Johnson, 15-39, 227-245;

MINISTRY AT DEATH > Anderson 213-225.

April 24-27 OPTIONAL: PANA Pilgrimage to Manzanar, California

http://www.psr.edu/pana.cfm?m=307#manzanar

April 28 Where Have We Come? Unpacking, Other Issues

We will use the second half of class for groups’ presentation preparations and consultations.

May 5 Groups 1, 2, & 3 Presentations

May 12 Groups 4, 5, & 6 Presentations

May 19 Where from Here? Wrap-up, Advanced Topics, Resources, Feedback

Required reading: Whitehead & Whitehead, 142-151.

May 23 Last day to submit late assignments

Course Reader of Supplemental Texts: Supplemental texts will be provided to you via Blackboard, or as eMail attachments, class handouts, or library reserve. Information on printed and electronic readers is available on request.

Ahlskog, G., & Sands, H. (2002). The guide to pastoral counseling and care. Madison, CT: Psychosocial Press. pp. 3-50, 111-137, 379-381 [basic premises & skills]; pp. 139-176, 361-376 [assessment & referral basics]; pp. 177-208 [CPE basics].

American Psychiatric Association (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author. pp. 29-32, 755-761 [assessment aids for individuals’ vulnerabilities & strengths].

Anderson, H. (2006). Living until we die: Reflections on the dying person’s spiritual agenda. Anaesthesiology Clinics of North America, 24, 213-225.

Berger, P., & Neuhaus, R. J. (1996). To empower people: From state to civil society (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: American Enterprise Institute. pp. 157-208 [intermediate institutions in society (Communitarians)].

Bobo, K., Kendall, K., & Max, S. (2001). Organizing for social change. Chicago, IL: Seven Locks Press. pp. 8-27, 71-79.

Cade, B., & O’Hanlon, W. H. (1993). A brief guide to brief therapy. New York: W. W. Norton. pp. 42-92 [intervention strategies for short-term or one-time interactions].

Daloz, L. A. P., Parks, S. D., Keen, C. H., & Keen, J. P. (1996). Common fire: Leading lives of commitment in a complex world. Boston, MA: Beacon Press. pp. 1-4a, 9-16a [community & developmental assessment], 213-242 [setting pastoral theological aims].

Doehring, C. (1999). A method of Feminist Pastoral Theology. In B. J. Miller-McLemore & B. L. Gill-Austern (Eds.). Feminist and Womanist Pastoral Theology. Nashville, TN: Abingdon.

Ellis, A. (1998). How to control your anxiety before it controls you. New York: Kensington Publishing. pp. 23-60, 159-169 [recognizing & disputing personal anxiety and avoidance efforts].

Ellis, A., Nielsen, S. L., & Johnson, W. B. (2001). Counseling and psychotherapy with religious persons: A rational emotive behavior therapy approach. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. pp. 15-39 [REBT and religious beliefs], pp. 227-245 [REBT & forgiveness, Protestants & Catholics].

Etzioni (1993). The spirit of community: The reinvention of American society. New York: Touchstone. pp. 1-4, 23-53, 247-250, 99-115, 116-133.

Fisher, R., & Ury, W. (1991). Getting to Yes: Negotiating agreement without giving in (2nd. ed.). New York: Penguin Books. pp. 3-14 [basic conflict negotiation strategies].

Fitchett, G. (1993). Assessing spiritual needs: A guide for caregivers. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg. pp. 11-51 [a wide-range assessment approach].

Fowler, J. (1987). Faith development and pastoral care. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press. pp. 37-51 [theological frames for assessing individual & corporate faith development], 82-98 [ranges of faith development], 113-120 [pastoral role].

hooks, bell (2001). Salvation: Black people and love. New York: Harper Perennial.

Nathan Network. (n.d.). Model policies for the protection of children and youth from abuse. Retrieved from http://www.nathannetwork.org/ModelPolicies.htm

Palmer, P. J. (1999). The company of strangers: Christians and the renewal of America’s public life. New York: Crossroad. pp. 34-55 [assessment of public life aims, strengths, needs], 118-152 [public engagement as ministry aims].

Rothauge (n.d.). Congregational size, life cycle, evangelism resource booklets. Episcopal Church Center.

Smith, L. (2005). Psychotherapy, classism, and the poor. American Psychologist, 60, 687-698.

Ting, Bishop K.H. (2004). God is love. Colorado Springs, CO: CCMI. pp. 91-129, 242-259.

Watts, F., Nye, R., & Savage, S. (2002). Psychology for Christian ministry. New York: Routledge. pp. 100-120 [basics on psychosocial and faith development].

Wimberly, E. P. (2006). African American pastoral care and counseling: The politics of oppression and empowerment. Cleveland, OH: Pilgrim Press. pp. 19-36 [pastoral care and counseling as political processes].