DESCRIPTION: The nature of human suffering, the problem of theodicy, the
meaning 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 pastoral presence, care-giving and counseling.
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; and
(4) deepened skills in empathy and embodying incarnational presence.
RELEVANCE FOR 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.
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 for a three-hour session.
REQUIRED READING (the first three for purchase):