The role God intends for humanity in developing community and society as part of His created order will be explored. It will examine the theological doctrines of Creation, Fall, and Redemption, and the cultural mandate as the basis for humanity’s involvement in community. Students will engage in analytical discussions, research, and presentations on the theology of Christian social engagement.

What does it mean to be a spiritual caregiver? How does one provide spiritual care in a world increasingly resistant to organized religion and institutional structures? This course engages what it means to be an instrument of Christ in a world with increasing meaninglessness and hopelessness. In this course, students will examine the biblical foundations of spiritual caregiving, the interpersonal development of spiritual caregivers, and the capacity of spiritual caregiving to generate personal and societal transformation. This foundational course prepares spiritual caregivers to go on towards a caregiving specialty.

This course develops the student’s ability to engage in chaplaincy in various situations and among different kinds of people. At the end of the course, the student will be able to assess a patient’s faith development in a pluralistic setting and contextualize a pastoral care approach. The student will effectively compose pastoral care questions. The student will understand how to identify the unspoken needs of another person and guide them through difficult emotional situations. Finally, the student will choose and defend a pastoral care approach.

An in-depth analytical framework of the Biblical foundations, Theological background and current theories to equip Christians for the work of ministry to people in the passages and crises of life.

Professional ethics sets forth the values and standards of pastoral care, assists in making decisions and guiding behavior, provides a means for accountability, and helps inform expectations regarding pastoral care providers. Students will analyse case studies, apply ethical reasoning, and develop a personal code for the practice of pastoral care supported by ethical reasoning.

An in-depth equipping to counsel individuals. There will be an emphasis on counseling individuals in the transitional periods of life, as well as through the crises of life. This course will equip the student with an understanding the current theories of counseling, the broad categories of the DSM V and particular focus on Axis II Personality Disorders. This course is built upon the student having a basic knowledge of listing and epithetical support.

Students will assess foundations of pastoral care with an emphasis upon cultural context, ethnic diversity, gender, sexual orientation, age, education, religious orientation, and socioeconomic status. From these perspectives, students will develop a comprehensive pastoral care communication model for relating to individuals in their own contexts.

In order to effectively care for others, the caregiver must also care for self. This course uses the concept of an ongoing development and maturation of a strong faith in God to explore multiple aspects of self-care for spiritual and healthcare providers. Ample opportunities for developing and implementing a customized plan of self-care are included.