Vanguard University
School for Professional Studies
Degree Program
“PASTORAL CARE AND
COUNSELING
MILD #440
Student Guide
11/14
Pastoral Care & Counseling: Student Guide
Vanguard University
CATALOG DESCRIPTION
Theological perspectives and psychological resources for care and counseling in the context of
the local congregation.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is intended to provide an introduction to the ministry of pastoral care in a local
church setting. It will consider basic practical, personal, biblical and theological foundations of,
and examine the ways in which the local church setting provides avenues for, pastoral care. It
will provide practical engagement with the ideas and practice of pastoral care.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
The goal of this course is that the student will develop the following core readiness skills:
• an understanding of the scope and range of the ministry of pastoral care.
• an awareness of the skills necessary for the offering of competent pastoral care.
• a theological and biblical foundation for the work of pastoral care.
• a preliminary framework of helpfulness for critical moments in the life of a church and
the people who comprise it.
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Pastoral Care & Counseling: Student Guide
Vanguard University
TEXTS AND MATERIALS
Required texts:
Larry Crabb. (2003). SoulTalk. Nashville, TN: Integrity.
Peter Scazzero (2003). The Emotionally Healthy Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan
Henri J. M. Nouwen. (1998). The Living Reminder. San Francisco, CA: Harper.
Recommended texts:
Howard Clinebell. (1984). Basic Types of Pastoral Care and Counseling. Revised edition.
Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.
Larry Crabb. (1999). The Safest Place on Earth. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.
Donald R. Hands and Wayne L. Fehr. (1993). Spiritual Wholeness For Clergy. New York, NY:
The Alban Institute.
Rodney J. Hunter, ed. (1990). Dictionary of Pastoral Care and Counseling, Nashville, TN:
Abingdon, Press.
Kenneth Leech. (1980). Soul Friend. New York, NY: Harper and Row, 1980.
Henri J.M. Nouwen. (1978). The Wounded Healer. San Francisco, CA: Harper and Row.
Wayne E. Oates. (1987). Behind the Masks. Philadelphia, PA: Westminster Press.
John Patton. (1983). Pastoral Counseling: A Ministry of the Church. Nashville, TN: Abingdon
Press.
John Patton. (1993) Pastoral Care in Context: An Introduction to Pastoral Care. Louisville, KY:
Westminster/John Knox Press.
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Pastoral Care & Counseling: Student Guide
Vanguard University
STUDENT EVALUATION
Grades will be determined based on the following criteria:
1. Book response – Nouwen (2-3 pages) (15% of final grade)
Based on a thorough, reflective reading of Nouwen, this paper is to give adequate
evidence of your reading in the book as well as your personal interaction with the content
of the book.
2. Book Reflection - Scazzero (5-7 pages) (15% of final grade)
Based on your reading of Scazzero, in a paragraph or two synopsize the argument and
rationale contained in Part 1; in a paragraph, summarize the case he makes in chapter 4;
and, in a paragraph each, summarize/describe each of the Six Principles in Chapters 5 –
10. Finally, write an in-depth reflective, personal response to the outcome of the
Inventory of Spiritual/Emotional Maturity in Chapter 4, demonstrating your selfawareness and outlining your understanding of steps needing to be taken for your
continuing growth.
3. Book Summary/Response – Crabb (5 pages) (15% of final grade)
Based on your reading in Crabb, this paper will summarize the five key points of the
concept of Soul Talk and engage in informed, thoughtful interaction with those points. A
final section of this paper will discuss how you might apply the findings in this book to
congregational life.
4. Case Study Response Papers (3-4 pages) (20% of final grade)
There will be two Case Studies, due as indicated in the weekly assignments. You will
write a response to each of the case studies which will be provided. It should include an
identification of the facts and issues of the case, relevant theological and scriptural
insights to guide your counsel, suggestions for how you might care for those described in
the case.
5. Self-Assessment (3-5 pages) (10% of final grade)
This will be a kind of personal reflection in which you discuss your journey of selfdiscovery through the course contents. It will primarily reflect what you have learned
from your self-reflection based on course contents. The goal of this integrative paper is to
pull together your awareness of your own soul especially as it pertains to caring for
others. To this end, the keeping of a journal would likely be helpful.
the keeping of a journal would likely be helpful.
6. Final Case Study (3-5 pages) (15% of final grade)
You will write a response to the final case study which will be provided. It should include
an identification of the facts and issues of the case, relevant theological and scriptural
insights to guide your counsel, suggestions for how you might care for those described in
the case. It should deliberately reflect your learning in the course.
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Pastoral Care & Counseling: Student Guide
Vanguard University
7. Attendance and Participation (10% of final grade)
Students will be evaluated by the University’s 4.0 grading system as detailed below.
Percentage
Points
Letter
Grade
Significance
Grade Point Average
(GPA)
93.0 – 100.0
90.0 – 92.9
87.0 – 89.9
83.0 – 86.9
80.0 – 82.9
77.0 – 79.9
73.0 – 76.9
70.0 – 72.9
67.0 – 69.9
63.0 – 66.9
60.0 – 62.9
0.00 – 59.9
930-1000
900-929
870-899
830-869
800-829
770-799
730-769
700-729
670-699
630-669
600-629
000-559
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
Exceptional
4.00
3.67
3.33
3.00
2.67
2.33
2.00
1.67
1.33
1.00
0.67
0.00
Above Average
Average
Below Average
Failure
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Pastoral Care & Counseling: Student Guide
Vanguard University
EDUCATIONAL TARGETS AND GOALS
Intellectual Engagement
The realities of pastoral care require the full engagement of the intellect in critical
thinking and evaluation. A broad range of helping skills and counsel demands the full
focus of the care-givers intellect, informed by the hearing of the soul of another.
Theological reflection as a framework for decision making must be emphasized.
Spiritual Formation
Care, pastoral or otherwise, flows out of the character. Attention must be paid to the
formation of a character in the imitation of Christ. This will, of necessity, include
spiritual disciplines, involvement in the larger community of the saints, and a lifestyle of
holiness.
Professional Excellence
Pastoral caring provides the potential for abuses of various kinds. It is important that the
student is aware of the ethical and professional guidelines that govern caring in a church
environment. It is likewise vital that the care given be of the highest quality possible. This
will require diligence over time with attention paid to appropriate standards.
Aesthetic Expression
Pastoral care is as much art as science. The ability to listen well to another's narrative, the
ability to tell a shaping story, the ability to hear a heart and soul, are not simply skills in
the craft of care. They come as a result of practiced work in the art form.
Responsible Stewardship
The professional ministry has an obligation as a leader in the community to model respect
for and proper use of the all the gifts brought to hand by God. This includes proper care
for self, family, relationships, and the immediate and larger social and physical
environment.
Sociocultural Responsiveness
It is possible for pastoral care to be approached from a cookie cutter kind of perspective
with one size fitting all. This is clearly not ministry in Jesus' name. Therefore, the
emphasis in this course, will be on seeking to understand the other, and to contextualize
the great love of God which draws toward, and makes possible, wholeness.
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Pastoral Care & Counseling: Student Guide
Vanguard University
STUDENT ASSIGNMENTS
WEEK ONE
1. Read Nouwen. Write a 3 page reflective paper giving adequate evidence of your reading,
and your personal interaction with the content of the book.
2. Read Case Study One, noting the important facts of the case, outlining the critical issues,
and giving consideration to the theological and pastoral responses that might guide a
response. Come prepared to discuss this case in class.
WEEK TWO
1. Read Scazzero. In a paragraph or two synopsize the argument and rationale contained in
Part 1; in a paragraph, summarize the case he makes in chapter 4; and, in a paragraph
each, summarize/describe each of the Six Principles in Chapters 5 – 10. Finally, write an
in-depth reflective, personal response to the outcome of the Inventory of
Spiritual/Emotional Maturity in Chapter 4, demonstrating your self-awareness and
outlining your understanding of steps needing to be taken for your continuing growth.
WEEK THREE
1. Read Case Two. Write a 3 – 5 page response to be turned in. It should include an
identification of the facts and issues of the case, relevant theological, scriptural, and
pastoral insights to guide your counsel, suggestions for how you might care for those
described in the case.
WEEK FOUR
1. Read Crabb. Write a 5 page paper in which you summarize the five key points of the
concept of Soul Talk and engage in informed, thoughtful interaction with those points. A
final section of this paper will discuss how you might apply the findings in this book to
congregational life.
WEEK FIVE
1. Read Case Three. Write a 3-5 page response to turned in. It should include an
identification of the facts and issues of the case, relevant theological, scriptural, and
pastoral insights to guide your counsel, suggestions for how you might care for those
described in the case.
2. This will be a kind of personal reflection in which you discuss your journey of selfdiscovery through the course contents. It will primarily reflect what you have learned
from your self-reflection based on course contents. The goal of this integrative paper is to
pull together your awareness of your own soul especially as it pertains to caring for
others. To this end, the keeping of a journal would likely be helpful.
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Pastoral Care & Counseling: Student Guide
Vanguard University
LOGISTICS CHART
Hour
1
Week 1
(Spiritual
Formation)
Week 2
(Spiritual
Formation)
Week 3
(Spiritual
Formation)
Week 4
(Spiritual
Formation)
Week 5
(Spiritual
Formation)
Course
Introduction
Pastor as
Care Giver
Soul Care
Pre-Marriage
Singleness
Nature of
Caring
Nature of
A Soul
Soul Care in
The Church
Marriage
Aging
Break
Break
Break
Break
Break
Nature of
Pastoral Care
Soul Health
Soul Care in
The Church
(continued)
Parenting and
Family
Death and
Dying
Case Study 1
Soul Unhealth
Introduction to
Family Systems
Parenting and
Family
(continued)
Course
Evaluation
2
3
4
5
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Pastoral Care & Counseling: Student Guide
Vanguard University
Appendix One
Case Studies
Guidelines for Case Studies
The case studies which follow represent actual situations with which pastors have had to deal.
Some disguising has taken place to protect confidentiality. The object is for you to think
pastorally about the cases, the issues they raise, and the range of responses possible. When you
write up the case, therefore, here are the things which need to be considered:
1. What are the facts of the case?
Don't skip over this part of the assignment. The goal is to get you to notice what might
not be obvious, but which is important.
2. What are the issues raised by the case?
Categories of concern are: Pastoral, theological, practical, personal
Not every case will raise issues in all of these categories.
3. What is the basis of response?
Upon what foundation - biblically, theologically, pastorally - do you stand in considering
how to respond in this case?
4. How this case got to place it is and what should be done now?
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Pastoral Care & Counseling: Student Guide
Vanguard University
Case One
ANTHONY AND SANDRA
Anthony had recently retired as a senior field director of a public power station. He was
well known as a detail man who followed procedures and ran a tight ship. He had a reputation as
a straight arrow, likeable but sometimes inflexible. He and his wife Sandra decided to join First
Family Church after carefully investigating the church, it's doctrine and practices. The pastor
quickly saw in Anthony prime leadership material. After all, Anthony was a proven leader in
industry and a confessing Christian.
Anthony was chosen to lead the home Bible study program. He also acquired leadership
in other areas of the church and gained the reputation as a hard worker and good leader. Soon he
was invited to join the church board, and in that position he strongly stated his views on a wide
variety of issues. He became frustrated that procedures were not followed by the board, though
most other board members tried to calm' his concerns, he remained adamant and soon resigned
from the board saying, "I just don't like the way that this outfit works."
It came to the attention of the pastor that Anthony was in conflict with a neighbor over
dogs barking in the neighbor's yard. Anthony would call his neighbor when the dogs barked, and
soon they were in sharp conflict with each other. Anthony threatened a lawsuit, called the police
on a number of occasions and set up a radio to counter the dogs' noise that was aimed at the
neighbor's yard. The pastor was contacted by the neighbor to intervene in the matter. The pastor
tried to help, but the neighbor and Anthony could not agree on a solution. Even the Christian
Arbitration Service was presented as an option, but the neighbor, who happened to be local
minister, refused to pay the required fee.
In the mean time, Anthony grew frustrated with his own home study group and abruptly
resigned. He came and talked to the pastor at which time he also resigned as home study group
director. His home study group members were hurt and upset that he who had been so diligent in
urging others to commit themselves to the program should himself resign. They demanded that
the pastor intervene and resolve the problem.
Case Writer: Dr. Donald E. Baldwin Rough Draft, 10/91
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Pastoral Care & Counseling: Student Guide
Vanguard University
Case Two
TOUGH LOVE IN FRIENDSHIPS
Fred is a man in his mid-thirties with a wife and two daughters. He is an architect who is
gifted not only in his chosen profession but he teaches at a local college and is active in his
church. He and his wife Jessica have a nice home and a comfortable life. They are particularly
close to another couple, Tom and Sally, with whom they share a great many things in common.
Fred confides one day to Tom that he has homosexual tendencies, particularly toward
several of his students at the college where he teaches. Tom is shocked by this revelation, but
urges Fred to seek Christian counseling and a solution to this problem in the church. At first Fred
seems to be making progress in counseling, but at times is very depressed and word gets around
that he has started drinking.
Tom feels that a Christian friend should try to help a friend in trouble and so continues to
befriend Fred and to strengthen him in his resolve to live the Christian life. Then it is revealed in
the student newspaper that a professor has been charged with a homosexual encounter with a
student at the college. Fred resigns his part time teaching assignment at the college to avoid a
scandal, and confides to Tom that indeed he has had several homosexual encounters.
Finally, Fred tells Tom that he is going to divorce his wife and is going to come out of the
closet and live a homosexual lifestyle. He asks Tom to understand and continue to be his
Christian friend, because he said, "Christians should unconditionally love other Christians - no
matter what".
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Pastoral Care & Counseling: Student Guide
Vanguard University
Case Three
WHAT NEXT?
Pastor Muller wondered what he should do next. The high school counselor had just
called and given him the news that his 15 year old daughter, Leslie, had ditched her classes again,
the third day this week.
The Mullers, Fred and Peggy, had four children, two daughters, Leslie, 15, and Karrie, 8,
and two sons, Barry, 12,and Andrew, 5. They had been at the Petersville Assembly for five years.
Fred had pioneered the church from a front room Bible study to a congregation of 150 in those
five years. He had supported himself by working, often long hours, in an insurance brokerage
office, where he still worked part-time.
Fred was the only member of the pastoral staff of the Petersville Assembly. The church
could not afford more-staff because income was mediocre. Fred spent at least six nights per week
out handling church problems, and he also worked some night sat the brokerage.
Peggy had said the week before that she was exhausted and frustrated. "You are never
home, the phone rings at all hours, we never get a vacation or even a day off!" She told him she
felt the church expected things of her she was not prepared to do, such as to be the organist, sing,
and lead the women's ministries. She went on to relate that the children were showing signs of
stress. She told him Leslie needed her father's attention, as did Andrew, who was being
disruptive in his pre-school. Peggy had also related to Fred that she was lonely and longed for
some close friends. Fred was especially distressed that Peggy was jealous of Nancy, a young lady
in the church who often counseled with him about her troubled marriage. "I think that Nancy has
eyes for you," she had observed.
Fred realized that he had to make some decisions about his family and his ministry. He
felt that the church was on the verge of dramatic growth and yet he was torn by the problems his
family. What should he do?
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Pastoral Care & Counseling: Student Guide
Vanguard University
Case Four
THE ROCKY MARRIAGE
Ron and Pam were married when they were young Christians. They were both very,
passionate people passionate about the things of the Lord and passionate about each other. Their
passionate temperaments proved to be both a blessing and curse in their lives. When they loved,
they were very high-spirited; when they fought, they fought in a hot-blooded fiery manner with
complete abandonment as to their locale. Whether it be at home or at the church banquet, when
they got into a brawl, they went for each other with a vengeance.
In his youth, Ron had had difficulty with alcohol. At first, when he and Pam would fight,
he would take off and come back a few hours 1ater. Later, he got into the pattern of leaving,
finding a few friends (sometimes female), and tying one on. He would always come back guilty,
repentant and ashamed that he had failed God and his family. This pattern was repeated for years
until finally the pressure could not be dealt with any longer and Ron left to live on his own.
Actually, his leaving was mutually decided upon. Pam was tired of him always going out and
"partying", and he was tired of living with her accusations.
Years passed and both Pam and Ron separately struggled in their walk with God. Pam
continued to attend Community Church, while Ron had an on and off relationship with the Lord.
He was a very guilt-oriented person and would periodically attempt to come back to church and
get things right with the Lord.
Over the years, occasionally you would see Pam and Ron walk in the church, togetherwith their kids, and people in the congregation would assume that they were getting back
together. But after a period of time Ron and Pam would be back at each others throats and soon
they would split up again. Ron tried several times to clean up and even joined Alcoholics
Anonymous. He would do great for several months (even a year at one point), and then
something would happen and he'd fall. Each time he fell, of course, was more fuel for the fire for
Pam who was constantly keeping other people in the church informed of his progress and
failures. Of course, what no one in the church knew was that Pam herself would get drunk once
in a while and go out all night. However, people in the church basically perceived her as the
innocent victim while Ron was the blatant apostate.
After a few more years, Pam, in one of her weaker moments, met a man named Dan (a
backslidden Christian) in a bar, and after two days married him. Needless to say, this deed even
shocked many of her friends, but as it turned out, Dan was raised in an Assembly of God home,
and was active in his youth as a leader and teacher. His parents were active in the church and, at
one point, his father had even been a board member. This background on him helped the church
people accept him into their fold and even though he was not serving the Lord, everyone was
pretty sure that he could be won back into the fold. Their intuitions were justified as Dan began
to attend church with Pam. Soon he recommitted his 1ife to the Lord and started to get involved
in the affairs of the church. Pam seemed happy, and for a while everyone was content that Pam
had found someone to love and to help her get over her anger toward Ron.
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Pastoral Care & Counseling: Student Guide
Vanguard University
In an interesting turn of events, Ron (who had heard that Pam had married) found himself
with a new freedom. No longer was he plagued by guilt and sense of responsibility towards Pam.
He started once again to clean up his life. He opened up a new level of dialogue with Pam and
with her consent, began to attend Community Church with his girlfriend Debby who soon
became a Christian. This was a new one for the pastor and congregation of the church. Pam and
Dan with the kids along with Ron and Debby. Often all of them would be seen sitting in one pew
as a sort of "combined family". People in the church didn't know exactly what to think of this
situation. Pam gave out the cue that everything was all right and that their lives were being
conducted in a more happy and productive manner.
Everything went well until Ron and Debby decided get married. They had been living
together for some time and they wanted to make everything right. They planned their wedding
and even had Ron's children participate.
For whatever reason, Pam, who initially gave every indication that she approved of Ron
and Debby's wedding, started to change her attitude towards him. Earlier on, she had let everyone
know that she felt that the Lord was healing her of past hurts and that everything was okay
between her and Ron. Now she found herself in a dilemma. She began to act out this conflict by
going to the pastor and letting him know that Ron was not consistent with his child support and
asking if the pastor would deal with it. She also started to let other people know that Ron was
failing in his responsibilities as a parent and was not consistent in sharing time with the kids. As
time went on, the accusations began to increase and Pam felt the need to tell other people in the
church about Ron's past. These rumors began to get around and soon there was active antagonism
between Ron and Pam again.
What steps would you take to resolve this situation?
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