DESCRIPTION: The individual-in-family-within-community is the focus of study
in the pastoral care and counseling of biological families within the spiritual
family. Family theory, theology, and therapy will be integrated as the student
explores his/her own multigenerational family system and applies learnings to
one's own role in family of origin and to all family ministry.
COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES: At completion of this course, the student
will know new ways of connecting with family of origin with clear
self-definition, clean boundaries, and firm personal differentiation; will
be expressing trust and risking clarity with self, others, and God; and
will be able to do clear thought and application of systems theory in
relationships that balance integrity and genuine intimacy.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: Pastoral counseling ministry is multi-level: to the
spiritual family, to the biological families within it, to the persons within
these human contexts. This course equips the counselor to think, relate, act,
and intervene on all three levels in any ministry experience.
COURSE FORMAT: Class will meet twice weekly for two-hour sessions. The course
focuses on assisting participants in understanding, differentiating, deepening
relationships in their family of origin in personal development as a basis for
work in family intervention. Lectures, experiential process, sociodrama, case
studies, audiovisuals will be utilized to assist the pastoral counselor in
growth toward effective preventative and creative change in family systems.
REQUIRED READING: