MI-231 Pastoral Care

Pastors and church members meet people in trouble: the sick, the grieving, the guilty and the afraid. Learn basic care as a share in Christ's own care.

Following Pastoral Care, this course begins with Christ the Chief Shepherd and the whole church caring, through presence, listening and visits with Scripture and prayer. It then turns to the carer's limits, to keeping people safe, and to care in crisis, death and grief. It ends with guilt and restoration, long hard roads, the fear of curses and witchcraft, and care for the carer. It teaches principles; practical skills are practised in your internship, under a mentor.

What you will study

• Christ the Chief Shepherd, and care as the whole church's work
• Presence and listening, the first gifts of care
• Visiting the sick, the prisoner and the elderly with Scripture, prayer and the Lord's Supper
• Knowing your limits and referring well
• Confidentiality, and keeping children and vulnerable people safe
• Crisis, death and grief
• Guilt, confession and restoration
• Hard roads, fear of curses and spiritual powers, and the carer's own rest

Course materials

• Pastoral Care, a WWES textbook
• The Bible