Spring 2013/Pasadena
CN535
Cass
CN535: GRIEF, LOSS, DEATH AND DYING. Ramona Cass.
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.
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) deepened skills in empathy and embodying incarnational presence; and (5) surveyed the dynamics of death in a modern health-care environment.
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 pastoral care. The class will meet once a week for a three-hour session.
REQUIRED READING:
Long, Thomas G. What Shall We Say?: Evil, Suffering, and the Crisis of Faith. Eerdmans, 2011. ISBN: 978-0802865144, Pub.price $25.00 [158 pp.].
Swinton, John & Payne, Richard. Living Well and Dying Faithfully: Christian Practices for End-of-Life Care. Eerdmans, 2009. ISBN: 978-0802863393, Pub.price $25.00 [320 pp.].
Tolstoy, Leo. The Death of Ivan Ilych. Walking Lion Press, 2006. ISBN: 978-1936594665, Pub.price $7.77 [76 pp.].
Walsh, Katherine. Grief and Loss: Theories and Skills for the Helping Professions, 2/E Pearson, 2012. ISBN 978-020582791, Pub.price $58.00 [192 pp.].
RECOMMENDED READING: The remaining 850 pages of reading may be selected from the list below or from a broader bibliography available in the syllabus.
Albom, Mitch. Tuesdays with Morrie. Doubleday, 1997. ISBN: 978-038548450, Pub.price $23.95 [224 pp.].
Boss, Pauline. Loss, Trauma, and Resilience: Therapeutic Work with Ambiguous Loss. W.W. Norton, 2006. ISBN: 978-0393704495, Pub.price $27.50 [280 pp.].
Cobb, John. Matters of Life and Death. Westminster/John Knox, 1991. ISBN: 978-0664251697, Pub.price $30.00 [124 pp.].
Floyd, Scott. Crisis Counseling: A Guide for Pastors and Professionals. Kregel, 2008. ISBN: 978-0825425882, Pub.price $17.99 [264 pp.].
Kelley, Melissa M. Grief: Contemporary Theory and the Practice of Ministry. Fortress Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0800696610, Pub.price $20.00 [160 pp.].
Lester, Andrew. Hope in Pastoral Care and Counseling. Westminster, 1995. ISBN: 978-0664255886, Pub.price $30.00 [176 pp.].
Lewis, C. S. A Grief Observed. New York: Seabury Press, 1963. ISBN: 978-0060652739, Pub.price $16.99 [96 pp.].
Long, Thomas G. Accompany Them with Singing—the Christian Funeral. Westminster John Knox, 2009. ISBN: 978-0664233198, Pub.price $25.00 [224 pp.].
Mitchell, Kenneth R. All Our Lossses, All Our Griefs: Resources for Pastoral Care. Westminster John Knox Press, 1983. ISBN: 978-0664244934, Pub.price $20.00 [182 pp.].
Soelle, Dorothy, Suffering. Fortress, 1975. ISBN: 978-0800604196, Pub.price not available [178 pp.].
Viorst, Judith. Necessary Losses. New York: Fawcett, 1986. ISBN: 978-0671456559, Pub.price $18.95 [447 pp.].
Wright, Norman H. Recovering from Losses in Life. Revell, 2006. ISBN: 978-0800731557, Pub.price $13.00 [240 pp.].
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
1500 pages reading minimum; students will provide a list of all books read, along with one paragraph about the book’s main themes and usefulness to ministry. (10%)
Class participation in lectures, experiential processes, and journaling assignments. (10%)
A six-page personal self-expression paper or equivalent in journaling, composition, poetry, art, photography or sculpture. 20%
Ministry goes to the movies: Students will view (from a list provided) three movies and write a two-page paper, responding to questions provided. (20%)
An 8-page research paper or practical ministry project in an area of particular interest to the student. (20%)
FINAL exam. Multiple choice, true and false, and essay. (20%)
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets the MDiv core requirement in Pastoral Counseling (MIN 5).
FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.