Community
A Theology of Pastoral Care
Study Leave report This report describes three theological models for pastoral care; that which is centered on God’s love and grace, pastoral care as gardening, and a model focused on the living human web. Key strengths are identified in each, and will answer the question, “what is pastoral care, and how can it be practised?”…
Read MoreProtected: #ministryinisolation Good Friday Reflective Walk
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Read MoreSuffering With: A Tender Journey of Mutuality in Suffering, Comfort, and Joy
Write “tenderly.” That was the prompting I felt from God as I prayed for the umpteenth time for guidance on how to write this article. I heard it in my heart: “Tenderly.” Friends, this is a challenging journey. The call to “suffer with” in the role of pastor, therapist, counselor, or chaplain is one that…
Read MoreRecords, Records, Records…what should you keep?
What kinds of records should your parish be keeping? Find out the types of records that your parish should be preserving.
Read MorePacific Identities and Well-Being
This book came out a while ago but is an excellent collation of wisdom from mostly Maori and Pasifika writers for supporting whanau through the difficult stressors life can bring, often as the result of colonisation, intermarriage, migration and socioeconomic insecurity. An excellent resource for family, friends and practitioners. https://www.otago.ac.nz/press/books/otago068826.html
Read MoreMahi tahi : Book 5
This is a scan of book five of Mahi Tahi published by PCANZ in 1992, which illustrates the Presbyterian Church’s efforts to move towards bi-culturalism. The full document can be found here. Contact the Presbyterian Research Centre Archives (pcanzarchives@prcknox.org.nz) for more information or borrow the print version from the Library.
Read MoreChurch Refugees
This book by Josh Packard and Ashleigh Hope detail research done in the USA in 2013-2014 interviewing nearly 100 people who, reluctantly, have left the church but not their Christian faith. The results are not what you’d expect, and the book ends by usefully offering a number of constructive insights and ideas to church leaders…
Read MoreWhy WOULD anyone sing in Church these days?
This blog post by Jonathan Aigner provides very helpful insights into the ways contemporary worship music has eroded congregational singing.
Read MoreUnderstanding Sexual Abuse
This book by Tim Hein, a minister in the Uniting Church in Australia draws on his own and his wife’s experiences of sexual abuse to offer empathy, and practical guidance, to survivors of sexual abuse and those seeking to minister to survivors.
Read MoreNurturing Hope
This is Lynne Baab’s latest (2018!), very readable, book offering key principles and practices to help pastoral carers navigate through the challenges people encounter today.
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