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A Christian View Of Sickness

A large portion of pastoral care, including the portion addressed in Christian worship, is directed to those who battle sickness in some form. Every culture and worldview has a unique way of thinking about sickness, with important implications for how care is administered. The following article describes one way of viewing sickness from a Christian perspective.

A Christian View Of Healing

Both the Old and New Testaments are filled with references to the healing of disease. Healing is an important metaphor for understanding the nature and significance of God's love for us and of salvation in Christ. This article describes healing from a biblical point-of-view and lays the foundation for imaging the role that liturgy has as a vehicle of pastoral care.

Ministry To The Sick

Offering care and solace for those who are sick are essential ministries of every Christian pastor and of the whole Christian community. The sick need the healing news of Christ and the power of the Spirit to both fight against disease and to find comfort and hope. The Christian community, likewise, needs the sick to teach what is most important in life and to witness to the power of the gospel.

Defining Pastoral Care And Liturgical Renewal

Pastoral care is often thought to involve one-on-one listening and counseling. Yet this is only one setting where pastoral sensitivity and guidance may be shown. For genuine pastoral care involves living and expressing God's presence in all aspects of life, including pastoral counseling, spiritual direction, and liturgical ministry. Worship leaders can effectively develop their pastoral sensitivity by considering themselves pastoral care-givers.

Spirituality And Pastoral Care

Genuine pastoral sensitivity arises out of the pastor's own spiritual life and the pastor's experience of God's presence. Whether pastoral care is demonstrated through counseling or liturgical leadership, it must be grounded in faith and permeated with prayer.

Ritual In Pastoral Care

The author gives a concise definition of ritual, its meaning and origin, and looks at the pastoral care aspects of liturgy, stating that "for many Christians, the sacraments are the primary meeting place of ritual and pastoral care. " He concludes with a look at the use of ritual prayer in the traditional one-on-one counseling relationship.

Human Situations In Need Of Ritualization

Ritual responds to the human need to negotiate times of change, to reaffirm the world of meaning in tragic and meaningless situations, and to mark transitions in life's journey. Yet some of our rituals do not seem to reach far enough; and there are still other situations for which there is no ritual at all. This article looks at shortcomings in ritual and offers some suggestions about how ritual might better support situations of pastoral care.

The Church’s Response To Abuse

The abuse of women is one of the most tragic social problems of modern society and is found both outside and inside the church. The following article describes the staggering proportions of this problem and offers guidelines for the church's response to it.

Human Situations In Need Of Ritualization

Ritual responds to the human need to negotiate times of change, to reaffirm the world of meaning in tragic and meaningless situations, and to mark transitions in life's journey. Yet some of our rituals do not seem to reach far enough; and there are still other situations for which there is no ritual at all. This article looks at shortcomings in ritual and offers some suggestions about how ritual might better support situations of pastoral care.