Summer 2006/Pasadena
Two-week intensive: July 17-28
CN552
Bridger
CN552: ETHICAL ASPECTS OF PASTORAL CARE AND COUNSELING. Francis Bridger.
DESCRIPTION: This course is designed for those who wish to become more
effective pastoral practitioners.
COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES: This course aims
- to enable students to bring together theological and counseling insights
from a practitioner perspective;
- to address such topics as: the nature of pastoral care; the importance of
ethics for effective pastoral care and counseling; the counselor as ethicist;
issues in the professional ethics of counseling; learning from codes and
guidelines of churches and professional counseling organizations; developing
frameworks for Christian ethical practice; ethical problem-solving;
- to develop practical skills in pastoral casework from an ethical
standpoint.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: Pastoral care and counseling are more than a matter of
technique. This course will challenge students to develop a theological
understanding of the ethical dimension in counseling and to apply insights
gained to the practice of pastoral care and counseling. Its purpose is to
provide a solid foundation for practical pastoral ministry.
COURSE FORMAT: The course is highly interactive. It contains a combination of
input from lecturer, class discussion, small group exercises, role-play,
debate, private study, and collaborative presentations. The course will meet
daily for two weeks for four-hour sessions.
REQUIRED READING:
- Bond, T. Standards and Ethics for Counselling in Action.
Sage Publications, 1997. (Contains British Association for Counseling Code of
Conduct.)
- Course Reader.
- Either
- Trull, J. and J. E. Carter. Ministerial Ethics.
Broadman and Holman, 1993; OR
- Gula, R. M. Ethics in Pastoral Ministry. Paulist Press,
1996.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Anderson, R. S., ed. Theological Foundations for Ministry:
Selected Readings for a Theology of the Church in Ministry. T&T Clark,
1997/2000.
- Bridger, F. and D. Atkinson. Counselling in Context: Developing a
Theological Framework. Darton, Longman & Todd, 1998.
- Boyajian, J., ed. Ethical Issues in the Practice of Ministry. United
Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, 1984.
- Goodliff, P. Care in a Confused Climate. Darton, Longman & Todd,
1998.
- Cunningham, D. These Three are One: The Practice of Trinitarian
Theology. Blackwell, 1998.
- Vardy, P. and P. Grosch. The Puzzle of Ethics. Fount, 1994.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Attendance at all classes and participation in one team or individual
presentation to class.
- A reflective learning journal recorded over the two-week period of the
intensive; part 1 due Monday, July 24; part 2 due Wednesday August 2 (required
but not graded).
- One 4000-word essay, due Friday, August 18 (100% of final grade).
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Pastoral Care and
Counseling (MIN 5).
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.