James R. Kok. End of life issues including human suffering, death and dying, the place of God in suffering and death. A major emphasis will be the dynamics of grief and loss and the challenges of pastoral ministry in these critical situations. The personal growth needed for effective pastoral presence and counseling will be a prime focus. The major opportunities for pastoral care emerge from loss, pain, grief, death, and the encounter with dying.
Nothing is more relevant to pastoral ministry than presence and support in crisis and loss.
The theology of suffering and the problem of theodicy are central issues in pastoral theology. Lecture and experiential process will be parts of the whole experience of correlating theology and therapy. The class will meet once a week for a four-hour session. Gold Leaf Press, 1992. CRC Publications, 1997.