Volunteer Chaplain Training

Disclaimer Through almost fourteen years of work as a chaplain and over 25 years on pastoral ministry, I have gleaned a lot from many sources. It is not always possible for me to remember where a particular ideas originated. I have tried to give proper credit where I can. I may not have done so in every instance. If I have failed to give proper credit where it is due, I apologize. If anyone recognizes such a failure, please bring it to my attention, and I will correct it. --Al Henager

What is Pastoral Theology? • Pastoral theology = “Practical Theology” • It is theology put into practice • The “praxis” of ministry • Pastoral Care • The heart of practical theology • Theology of Pastoral Care Much of slides 1-7 are derived from Dictionary of Pastoral Care and Counseling, Rodney J. Hunter, Ed. © Copyright 2001 Al Henager. Use only with written permission and with proper credit.

What is Pastoral Care? • Definition of Pastoral Care • Pastor: A Latin word meaning “shepherd” • Related to pastus meaning “feeding” • A shepherd sees to the feeding, well being, and growth of the flock • Care • Noun – watchful attention; charge or supervision • Verb – to be concerned about • Pastoral Care: To give watchful attention to or to be concerned about the feeding, well being, and growth of the flock. • Came to mean “cure of soul” © Copyright 2001 Al Henager. Use only with written permission and with proper credit.

What is Pastoral Care? • Definition of “Flock” • Applying it to theology and the church • Flock could be defined as • Members • Those closely associated with members • Friends of the church • Would-be members • Applying in larger sense • The hospital is the parish for chaplaincy © Copyright 2001 Al Henager. Use only with written permission and with proper credit.

History of Pastoral Care • Early Church • Community of believers as a “royal priesthood” • By the 3rd Century • Development of episcopoi • A separation of orders • Clergy • Laity • The Reformation • The “priesthood of the believer” © Copyright 2001 Al Henager. Use only with written permission and with proper credit.

History of Pastoral Care • Recent years • Sweeping societal changes • Swift advances in health care • Greater demand for pastoral care with less resources • The rise of the laity • Not all resources, wisdom and authority rest with the clergy • Laity can be “living stones” to build a spiritual house (1 Peter 2: 4-5) • Carry Christ to a hurting world © Copyright 2001 Al Henager. Use only with written permission and with proper credit.

History of Pastoral Care • Influence of the field of Psychology • Eric Erickson • Ego development • Life stages • Stages of psychosocial development • Carl Rogers • Client centered therapy • Reflective listening techniques © Copyright 2001 Al Henager. Use only with written permission and with proper credit.

History of Pastoral Care • Influence of Pastoral Psychology • Donald Capps • Psychosocial & theological themes • Focus on personal change • William Arnold (Union Seminary • Human development model • James Fowler (Emory University) • Stages of faith • Anton Boisen & Seward Hiltner • The “Living Human Document” • The “Use of Self” © Copyright 2001 Al Henager. Use only with written permission and with proper credit.

History of Pastoral Care • Influence of Pastoral Psychology • John Patton (Columbia Seminary) • We are held in God’s memory • That makes it possible to have human care & community • Out of that we find faith and renew it • Remembering the story of Jesus gives birth to the theology of listening © Copyright 2001 Al Henager. Use only with written permission and with proper credit.

Pastoral Identity • The care giver as “pastor” • Use of self • Who you are • Your beliefs • Your attitudes • Your needs • Your fears • Your unresolved issues • Awareness of who you are © Copyright 2001 Al Henager. Use only with written permission and with proper credit.

Pastoral Identity • Personal awareness • “What are my needs in doing this? • “Who am I here for? • “What is my agenda? • Ask: • Am I aware of my own needs and can I name them? • Do I know how my own needs influence my understanding of what is happening in visits? • Am I aware of how the way my needs have been met in the past has determined the way I think about meeting the pastoral needs of others? © Copyright 2001 Al Henager. Use only with written permission and with proper credit.

Pastoral Identity • Personal & pastoral authority • Where does my authority come from to be a pastor? • Three elements • Internal call • Am I called of God to do this? • External call • Do others (in the church) feel I am called? • Do I have the needed gifts? • Do I have the needed training? • Commissioning • “Take the authority and go forth to minister.” © Copyright 2001 Al Henager. Use only with written permission and with proper credit.

The Functions of Pastoral Care • Sustaining • Giving Support, comfort and understanding to help a person through a time of crisis whether small or great, short-lived or on-going. • Guiding • Helping another person, either by direction, clarification or confrontation, to find solutions to problems or life's questions. • Healing • Aiding a person to find wellness or wholeness from brokenness, injury or disease. • In pastoral care we usually mean brokenness, injury or disease in a spiritual and/or emotional sense. • Reconciling • Helping a person to restore a relationship that has been broken either with a person, a group of people, or God. From: William A. Clebsch and Charles R. Jaekle, Pastoral Care in Historical Perspective (New York: Harper, 1967).

Functions of Pastoral Care • Sustaining • Where cure, remedy, or resolution are: • Improbable • Or will take a long time • When out of your skill set to offer • Interventions • LISTENING • Ministry of presence © Copyright 2001 Al Henager. Use only with written permission and with proper credit.

Functions of Pastoral Care • Guiding • To help gain new • Insights • Truths • Perspectives • Interventions • LISTENING • Ministry of presence • Rogerian approach - “other centered” © Copyright 2001 Al Henager. Use only with written permission and with proper credit.

Functions of Pastoral Care • Healing • Meaning • The use of sozo varies in New Testament • To be made well (Matt. 9: 22; Luke 19: 17) • To rescue (as in Peter sinking) • To preserve (Matt. 8: 35) • Wholeness ( Luke 19: 9-10) • Healing is a wholeness involving the harmony of the body, mind, and spirit. • Interventions • LISTENING • Ministry of presence • Prayer © Copyright 2001 Al Henager. Use only with written permission and with proper credit.

Functions of Pastoral Care • Reconciling • Restoration of relationships • With God • Our neighbors • Our own selves • Interventions • LISTENING • Ministry of presence • Forgiveness © Copyright 2001 Al Henager. Use only with written permission and with proper credit.

Primary Pastoral Care Pastoral Counseling/ Psychotherapy Sustaining Guiding Healing Reconciling The Scope of Pastoral Care --------PASTORAL CARE-------- (This is an over-simplification, but a big picture overview.) © Copyright 2001 Al Henager. Use only with written permission and with proper credit.

The Scope of Pastoral Care • Philosophy • In primary pastoral care we go to be with the other person on that person's level • We go to support them or to comfort them • We do not go to • Influence them • Change them • Convince them of something or • Get them to do something • We go in without any agenda except to • Be with the other person • Listen to their situation • Hear their feelings and • Try to understand where they are & empathize with them © Copyright 2001 Al Henager. Use only with written permission and with proper credit.

Volunteer Chaplain Training