Pastoral Care and Ceremonies
MC406 - Sacred Ceremonies
24 Hours
The nature of ritual is essential to the evolving spirit in all people. Students of this class explore the many types of ritual that have naturally developed in their personal lives and in society, and then begin to design ceremonies for deliberate purposes. These include rites of passage from birth through death, daily blessing, cleansing and releasing ceremonies, and specialized activities to support individuals in any life transition or crisis.
Textbooks: None
MC412 - Pastoral Counseling
15 Hours
This course is designed to assist ministers, lay-ministers, caregivers, and spiritual team members to develop skills in the basic care and counseling methods required for an effective ministry of healing and growth. Topics to be covered may include end-of-life issues, such as health care decision making, as well as conflict resolution, self-reflection, pre-marital or couples counseling, and listening skills.
Textbooks:
Strategic Pastoral Counseling, David G. Benner
MC413 - Pastoral Care Programs
18 Hours
This course allows students to become familiar with and understand Pastoral Care and the variety of programs it encompasses in different settings. Students also develop a specific program for their individual spiritual community.
Textbooks:
Strategic Pastoral Counseling, David G. Benner
More Than a Parting Prayer – Lessons in Care Giving for the Dying, William H. Griffith
LM104 - Journey from Fear to Faith: Mastering Life's Final Transition
24 Hours
This class enables students to deepen their understanding of the dying process by exploring feelings of grief, loss and separation, and supplanting fear with calm, simple, compassionate understanding.
Textbooks: Sacred Dying: Creating Rituals for Embracing the End of Life, Megory Anderson