This advanced third-year course, The Church in Community – Pastoral Care and Counselling, is designed to provide the professional Christian counsellor with a bio-psycho-social-spiritual understanding of congregational care and community counselling.
The course explores the theological concept of “church” (ekklesia) and the theological and psychological understanding of community. Studying what makes a congregation a community where healing can take place, the social-justice responsibility of the church towards the local neighborhood is discovered.
Emphasizing group dynamics, ethical considerations, and the use of care-groups in church, parachurch, and community settings, it explores how professional pastoral counsellors can foster the psycho-social-spiritual nurturing of community members. The church is seen as part of the “village” that is endeavoring to become a community of abundance. The course provides pastoral counsellors with the theory and tools to practice as professional Christian counsellors in their church and community.
- Define the theological and psychological theory and practice of congregational care and community counselling
- Explain what makes a congregation a community where healing can take place
- Describe the social-justice responsibility of the church towards the local neighborhood
- Illustrate how professional pastoral counsellors can foster the psycho-social-spiritual nurturing of community
members - Demonstrate an understanding of group dynamics, ethical considerations, and the use of groups in the church,
para-church, and community settings - Illustrate how the church as part of the “village” can encourage a community of abundance.
- Plan the development of a professional counselling practice or Christian counselling clinic in the local church or community.