Purpose of the Course:  The course will introduce students to basics of the psychological and spiritual care of others in community, and of oneself.  This course is not intended to make pastoral counselors of you, but it will help you to recognize signs of mental distress in others and yourself, and train you to competently refer persons under your pastoral care to professional mental health workers.  The instructor understands pastoral care not just as a task for pastors, but as a communal responsibility performed by many kinds of care-givers in a community of faith.  So the course involves not just a study of self and selves, but community too; and perhaps most importantly, community.

Pedagogy:  There will be discussion of assigned readings, and some lecturing by the instructor, and student presentations of book reports.  But the majority of class time will involve presentation and discussion of case studies based upon students’ experiences in their respective churches/families.  All such class sharing must be held absolutely confidential, which means it must not be shared even with one’s spouse or closest friend.  This self- discipline of confidentiality must be agreed to by all students at the outset.

Book Reports:  Each student will present a book report on a book approved by the instructor.  These book reports will be presented during the final two class meetings.  In general, the book you choose should pertain to mental and spiritual health as it applies to yourself and others in community.

The class schedule and content will be as follows:

Oct. 6th:  Discussion of the first 50 pages of Spiritual Wholeness for Clergy.  Covenanting concerning confidentiality.  Scheduling of student case studies and book reports.  Explanation of how to write and present a case study.  Lecture on the genogram.

Oct. 20th:  The remainder of Spiritual Wholeness for Clergy, and Part I of Cultivating Wholeness.  Case studies.

Nov. 3rd:  Parts II and III of Cultivating Wholeness.  Case studies.  Presentation of book reports.

Dec. 8th:  Part IV of Cultivating Wholeness.  Remaining case studies.  Presentation of remaining book reports.

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