Difference between revisions of "Pastoral Care"

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The ability to care adequately for the Flock of God (the Church) entrusted to us
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In actuality, pastoral care is a ministry of the entire body of Christ. Jesus gave us an example at the last supper of washing his disciples’ feet (John 13:12-15), and there are numerous scriptural references regarding the calling of Christians to care for one another (II Thessalonians 1:3 and Ephesians 4:16) Serving is listed as a spiritual gift in Romans 12:7 and I Peter 4:10, and I Corinthians 16:15 even mentions the family of Stepahas, that “devoted themselves to the service of the saints.”
  
Pastoral Care involves many facets of a pastor or shepherds' role, from being able to teach Christian doctrine and safe guarding the Flock of God from heresy and error, to tending to the needs of the flock, caring for the sick, administering the sacraments, strengthening the weak, comforting the afflicted, encouraging all toward holiness, counseling, preparing those to be baptized, confirmed, married, etc. Burying the dead and comforting the sorrowful. (1 Peter 5:2-3).
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Ordained Christian leaders are particularly called to serve their congregations. In Jesus’ third appearance to the disciples after his resurrection, he reaffirmed Peter’s ministry, by commanding him to “feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-17) This “feeding” is not just a matter of teaching, but of sharing the love of Christ to those who are hurting, lonely, or grieving, whether the circumstance faced is physical, emotional, or spiritual.  
  
The candidate must be able to express with clarity his/her role as shepherd of the sheep in the Name of Jesus the Great Shepherd of our souls, in reference to each of those roles mentioned above.
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==Recommended Reading==
  
# [[Evangelism]]
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St. Gregory the Great. <I>The Book of Pastoral Rule</I>. Translated by George E. Demacopoulos. Popular Patristics Series. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2007.
# [[Discipleship]]
 
# [[Constitution & Canons of the ACNA & Diocese of the Candidate]]
 
# [[Homiletics]]
 
# [[Sacramental Life]]
 
# [[Leadership Development]]
 
# [[Pastoral Care]]
 
# [[Church Administration]]
 
  
==[[Canonical Areas]]==
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Oden, Thomas C. <I>Becoming a Minister</I>. Classical Pastoral Care. Vol 1. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2000.
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==Resources for Further Study==
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Stephen Ministries (Saint Louis)  is an effective congregation-based training program for laypersons for the ministry of pastoral care, and is an excellent resource for training clergy, as well. [https://www.stephenministries.org/default.cfm]
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==Back to [[Practical Theology]]==
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==Return to [[Canonical Areas]]==

Latest revision as of 18:19, 3 June 2019

In actuality, pastoral care is a ministry of the entire body of Christ. Jesus gave us an example at the last supper of washing his disciples’ feet (John 13:12-15), and there are numerous scriptural references regarding the calling of Christians to care for one another (II Thessalonians 1:3 and Ephesians 4:16) Serving is listed as a spiritual gift in Romans 12:7 and I Peter 4:10, and I Corinthians 16:15 even mentions the family of Stepahas, that “devoted themselves to the service of the saints.”

Ordained Christian leaders are particularly called to serve their congregations. In Jesus’ third appearance to the disciples after his resurrection, he reaffirmed Peter’s ministry, by commanding him to “feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-17) This “feeding” is not just a matter of teaching, but of sharing the love of Christ to those who are hurting, lonely, or grieving, whether the circumstance faced is physical, emotional, or spiritual.

Recommended Reading

St. Gregory the Great. The Book of Pastoral Rule. Translated by George E. Demacopoulos. Popular Patristics Series. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2007.

Oden, Thomas C. Becoming a Minister. Classical Pastoral Care. Vol 1. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2000.

Resources for Further Study

Stephen Ministries (Saint Louis) is an effective congregation-based training program for laypersons for the ministry of pastoral care, and is an excellent resource for training clergy, as well. [1]

Back to Practical Theology

Return to Canonical Areas