5.0 out of 5 stars A practical guide to pastoral care-caregiving within community

C.S. · February 12, 2019

Dr. Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner, Professor of Pastoral Care at Southern Methodist University, suggests that the best approach to studying pastoral care is within community. Using the metaphor of the 19th century one-room schoolhouse, Stevenson-Moessner’s seven chapters offer a step-by-step guide to the practical study of pastoral care. Drawing on the parables of the Good Samaritan and the Good Shepard, interspersed with her own personal stories of pastoral care, Stevenson-Moessner supports and encourages students of pastoral care to honor all journeys, their own and those of others, whether caregiver or patient. Throughout the book, Stevenson-Moessner includes practical exercises to support individual learning and promote balanced caregiving as a way of life. By acknowledging our experiences, both positive and negative, and bringing them into the classroom, we learn to share our journey. By listening to others’ stories, noting similarities and differences, we gain insight that will help us practice discernment. By obeying the commandment to love God and to love our neighbor, we re-learn to love of self, opening ourselves to compassionate caregiving. As pastors, lay ministers, or employed health workers, we will be called upon to share others’ difficult journeys of illness, loss of a loved one, or death. How we respond may change the lives of others and will certainly change our own life. Mindful contemplation of the A, B, Cs of pastoral care, as presented by Stevenson-Moessner, will enable students of pastoral care to reduce anxiety and learn to walk with confidence alongside suffering people.Stevenson-Moessner’s book focuses on caregiving within community. In chapter four, she reminds her readers of Jesus’ words in Luke 10:27, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” While this is often read as if we are to care for others to the exclusion of ourselves, Stevenson-Moessner points out that the end of the verse, “and your neighbor as yourself,” highlights a balanced approach to the give-and-take of love of God, love of neighbor, and love of self. Using the parable of the Good Samaritan throughout the book, she leads the reader to rediscover the many facets of this familiar story by asking questions such as, doesn’t the Good Samaritan demonstrate love of self by continuing on his journey after taking care of the wounded man? Doesn’t he delegate caregiving responsibilities to the innkeeper, relying on professionals to minister to the wounded man? Later, in chapter seven, she affirms that, “this respectful love of self, interconnected with love of neighbor is exactly what Jesus, the great Samaritan, needs.” As students of pastoral care, we are called to see ourselves and others as part of a team of caregivers, a team founded upon the grace of God.Earlier in the book, Stevenson-Moessner makes a comparison between a very ill seminary student and Jesus’ walk to Emmaus with the two disciples. Again, Stevenson-Moessner seeks to discern the story’s application to pastoral care rather than its “Sunday School” meaning. This is not a story of one person helping, saving, or fixing another. It is another story set in community. Jesus joins the disciples in their grief and walks with them, modeling pastoral care. Stevenson-Moessner observes that “as they traveled, [Jesus] asked a few questions, listened, shared information or facts, allowed for this information to be processed, waited for them to invite him further into the relationship and to discover truth on their own. Then he knew when to leave.” This theological connection to the very practical demonstration of pastoral care is the essence of love of God, love of neighbor, and love of self. Finding balance in the giving and accepting of love in community is foundational to the practice of pastoral care.

5.0 out of 5 stars Very empowering for lay ministers although the details would have to come from somewhere else

R.S. · October 5, 2017

A Primer in Pastoral Care by Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner focuses on lay counselors. A lay minister is usually a person in the church trained to help and interact with other members. The book encourages lay counselors, and gives examples of lay counseling, the qualifications to be a lay counselor, scriptural visions of lay counseling, and lists common instances where lay counseling is needed.A Primer in Pastoral Care tells lay counselors that Jesus will be with them and they will be a blessing. Churches who involve their congregation in pastoral care activities can wake up the church and make them vibrant and alive as members care for one another. Many instances of lay counseling require no formal qualifications. Lay counselors bake cookies, call, pray, and take out the trash for people. Simple actions like giving other members a hot or cold drink can qualify as lay counseling. A Primer in Pastoral Care gave this author a solid understanding of the basic process of pastoral care as a lay minister. It showed how a pastor can empower others to serve others in the body of Christ. With a little training, many people who don’t feel qualified to help lonely and hurting people can feel confident in assisting in the many circumstances where a helping hand or a listening ear is needed. I personally love to empower others and would love to set up a program where members feel confident about helping each other out in difficult situations. This gave me a heart for lay ministry although the details would probably have to come through a program like the Stephen ministry.

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful and Practical Primer on Pastoral Care

P.R.M. · February 12, 2019

I very much appreciate almost everything about this book. I have been looking for exactly such a pastoral care primer for a while. My learning style is such that I want to know just a little about the underlying theory of a subject before moving on to practical case studies. This book is structured exactly in this way. The only place where I felt myself wishing for more was in the section on theodicy. The discussion on the five frameworks of Jerry Zurheide (p. 86) was helpful, but I was hoping for a few, practical examples of what might be appropriate responses to those oh-so-difficult questions. On top of the theoretical and practical aspects of pastoral care, I found the Samaritan model of care giving to be immensely helpful. I tended to default to the Good Shepherd paradigm which bring along with it the very high expectations of representing Christ to others. This was, frankly, an anxiety-producing way to think for me. However, the Samaritan opened up the possibility of another way. One focused on collaboration, teamwork, and positive self-care. After reading this primer, my internal monologue has changed from "I'm not cut out for pastoral care" to "maybe I can learn to do this after all." That, in itself, is an important gift.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Primer in Pastoral Care

W.D. · August 3, 2013

I thought the writer had some very good insights into how to show people you care about them. It wasn't a technical textbook type selection. It was a "primer" and a very good one

4.0 out of 5 stars this is one of those kinds of books that gives ...

A.C. · September 27, 2014

this is one of those kinds of books that gives a minister a sense of direction in pastoral care for his/her congregation and the church community, as well.

5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars

T.M. · March 6, 2015

On time and as described