Creating Space tells a professional and personal story of healthcare chaplaincy and models the way in which practice development emerges from reflecting on the human story. This book reveals to healthcare, the Church and the community, the unique role of the chaplain’s experiences as a resource to others. It is written for professional practitioners, prompting their own contextual learning and development, whether as chaplains, pastoral carers, parish clergy, lay ministers, volunt...

The first comprehensive resource for spiritual and pastoral caregivers—a vital resource for clergy, seminarians, chaplains, pastoral counselors and caregivers of all faith traditions.This essential resource integrates the classic foundations of pastoral care with the latest approaches to spiritual care. It is specifically intended for professionals who work or spend time with congregants in acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities, rehabilitation centers ...

There is a huge need for churches to be more inclusive – some might be more inclusive in some areas than others (both in attitude and resources), but on the whole this is a massive failing of churches. Most church leaders recognise this failing but lack the resources and understanding to effect meaningful change. The Inclusive Church Resources aim to educate, to reflect theologically and to provide practical advice and guidance. Each book contains first-hand personal experiences of people ...

Drawing on the author’s unusual background as a seminarian turned scientist and business executive, Boys of the Cloth presents a unique analysis of the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church. The book combines a first-hand account of seminary life during the 1960s—a period that turns out to be crucial for understanding the crisis—with explorations of the history of the seminary system, current scientific knowledge about abusive behavior, and the Church’s own investigations into the “ep...

Offers a theological-ethical framework for reflecting on the moral responsibilities of the pastoral minister as a professional person.

The greatest asset which people in pastoral care offer in a caring relationship is themselves, or to be more precise, the aspects of self which they have reflected upon. Offering oneself to other people in order to provide companionship along the road of life, especially when the particular stage on the journey is one of anticipated or actual loss, is an act which is both challenging and yet potentially life enhancing for a carer.The purpose of this book is to offer an aid to those...

Chaplaincy - a place for those who have sold out, can't hack church ministry and don't believe in mission?Against the negative stereotypes, this book argues that chaplains are a valuable resource to the Church. Embedded in places as diverse as prisons, hospitals, educational establishments and the armed forces, chaplains often encounter social trends well in advance of the institutional churches. Their experiences and expertise can be very helpful for thinking abou...

Hospital Preaching as Informed by Bedside Listening states the great need to sit down face to face and attentively listen to stories, experiences, and feelings of patients. These bedside encounters with patients can well inform the preacher (chaplain or pastoral minister) and can result in more effective liturgical preaching in hospitals, hospice, prison, and nursing home settings.This book aims to improve pastoral care ministry of the sick. This pastoral approach provides ...

Supervision provides a positive space for compassion, inquiry, reflection, and above all development. The chapters in this book are written from a wide range of perspectives, all of which take a practical approach to supervision and show how transformative it can be when approached in the right way.Contributions range from explorations of supervision as a journey of life-long learning and its place at the heart of practice to chapters on faith, transformation, dealing with feelings...

Wondering what spiritual direction is all about?Looking for a practical guide that covers everything from finding a spiritual guide to becoming one?If so, this is your "how-to" book on the history, practice and ethics of spiritual guidance.Teresa Blythe an ideal guide. She is Director of the Hesychia School of Spiritual Direction at the Redemptorist Renewal Center in Tucson, Arizona. She is an experienced spiritual director, trainer of spiritual directors, and author....

This book will be attractive to all ministers who are seeking to understand how leadership works and why it can be so difficult. It would be useful as a study book for lay ministers as well and for all o take up a leadership role in local churches. It could also be attractive to lay people who as disciples seek to lead in their places of work with Christian values and behaviours.

This book explores the difficulties clergy face when they attempt to say “no” by setting effective boundaries in order to say “yes” to the life-giving call of ministry. It illustrates the benefits of good boundaries, even as it traces the legacy of denominational boundary trainings in the wake of the public clergy sexual misconduct crisis. Devor and Olsen supplement anecdotes from their experience leading boundary trainings with an examination of clergy/congregation dynamics through the le...