Winter 2013/Houston
CN535
Spidell

CN535: GRIEF, LOSS, DEATH AND DYING. Steven Spidell.

DESCRIPTION: The nature of human suffering and loss, the problem of theodicy, the meanings of pain, the mystery of healing, and the discovery of hope will be theological and experiential themes central to the course. Grief, pain, loss, separation, death and dying--the major crises of life--will be explored experientially, psychologically and culturally. The focus will be on personal growth as the preparation for readiness to provide pastoral care and counseling in times of death, grief, and loss.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: The major opportunities for pastoral care emerge from loss, pain, grief, death and the encounter with dying, support in crisis and loss, and offering a constructive theology of suffering that faces the problem of theodicy in pastoral theology.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon completion of this course, the participants will have (1) encountered the reality of their mortality; (2) reflected deeply on the need for thoughtful completion of life pilgrimage; (3) articulated the multiple processes of grieving loss, encountering death, supporting the bereaved; (4) gained an awareness of their vulnerability to compassion fatigue, and (5) deepened skills in empathy and embodying incarnational presence.

COURSE FORMAT: The course offers both content and process: understanding the nature of loss experiences, of grieving, of encountering the reality of dying, of ministry in each of these crises and owning, facing, exploring and embracing our own losses. Lecture and experiential process will be parts of the whole experience of correlating theology and therapy. The class will meet once a week, 6:00—9:30 PM.

REQUIRED READING:

Albom, Mitch. Tuesdays with Morrie. New York: Doubleday, 1997. (190 pp.) $8.50. ISBN: 978-0767905923.

Cole, Allan Hugh, Jr.Good Mourning: Getting Through Your Grief. Westminster John Knox, 2008. (128 pp.) $8.00. ISBN-13: 978-0664232689.

Craddock, Fred, et al. Speaking of Dying. Recovering the Church’s Voice in the Face of Death. Brazos Press, 2012. (210 pp.) $12.50. ISBN-10: 1587433230. $12.50.

Swinton, John, ed. Living Well and Dying Faithfully: Christian Practices for End-of-Life Care. Eerdmans, 2009. (320 pp.) $16.00. ISBN 978-0802863393.

VanDuivendyk, Tim P. The Unwanted Gift of Grief. A Ministry Approach. New York, Haworth, 2006. (200 pp.) $20.00. ISBN:978-0789029508.

Worden, J. William. Grief Counseling and Grief Therapy. A Handbook for the Mental Health Practitioner. 4^th Edition. New York: Springer, 2008. (300 pp.). $37.00. ISBN:978-0826101204

RECOMMENDED READING:

Becker, Ernest. The Denial of Death. New York: Free Press, 1973. (330 pp.) $7.50. ISBN:978-0684832401.

Cobb, John. Matters of Life and Death. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1991. $6.00. ISBN-13: 978-0664251697.

Lester, Andrew. Hope in Pastoral Care and Counseling. Louisville: Westminster, 1995. $14.00. ISBN-13: 978-0664255886.

Lewis, C. S. A Grief Observed. Harper, 2001. $9.00. ISBN-13: 978-0060652388

Sittser, Gerald. A Grace Disguised. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, Expanded, 2005. $11.00. ISBN-13: 978-0310258957

Soelle, Dorothy, Suffering. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1984. $20.00.ISBN-13: 978-0800618131

Viorst, Judith. Necessary Losses. New York: Fawcett, 1986. $5.00. ISBN-13: 978-0684844954.

Wolterstoff, Nicholas. Lament for a Son. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1987. $10.00. ISBN: 978-0802802941

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. Assigned Reading. Demonstrate familiarity with readings in Grief Journal and in Final Paper.

2. Three entries per week in Grief Journal (approximately 15 minutes of writing time per entry, 27 entries, 30% of grade).

3. Final Paper: “Ministry to the Dying and the Bereaved,” 20-25 pages (70% of grade)
This is to be an integration of your study, reflection, and life experiences presented in the form of an academic paper with quotations, footnotes, and bibliography. HINT: Think of this paper from day one. Good notes and attention in class should bring you to the end of term with this paper all but written. This project should center you in ministry to the dying and to the bereaved and enable you to have some key elements to draw on, remold, or discharge and replace with new visions for ministry.

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets the MDiv core requirement in Pastoral Counseling (MIN 5).

FINAL EXAMINATION: No.