Pastoral and Spiritual Care in Suffering, Grief and Loss

Upon successful completion of this unit, it is expected that students will be able to:

Undergraduate

1. Describe the cultural, theological and clinical processes of grieving, mourning and bereavement associated with life transitions, loss, death and dying;
2. Identify the factors involved in safe ethical pastoral care for others;
3. Articulate theological insights and personal frameworks of meaning, that inform the practice of pastoral spiritual care for those who are suffering;
4. Develop strategies of care that adequately attend to the grieving processes of individuals and congregations, including the use of appropriate rituals and community supports.

Postgraduate

1. Describe the cultural, theological and clinical processes of grieving, mourning and bereavement associated with life transitions, loss, death and dying;
2. Identify the factors involved in safe ethical pastoral care for others;
3. Articulate theological insights and personal frameworks of meaning, that inform the practice of pastoral spiritual care for those who are suffering;
4. Develop strategies of care that adequately attend to the grieving processes of individuals and congregations, including the use of appropriate rituals and community supports;
5. Demonstrate the capacity to integrate theology and practice in pastoral and spiritual care.

Undergraduate

• Book review (1,250 words) (25%)
• Case study presentation (1,250 words) (25%)
• Critical essay (2,500 words) (50%)

Postgraduate

• Book review (2,000 words) (25%)
• Case study (2,000 words) (25%)
• Critical essay (4,000 words) (50%)

• Boss, P. Loss, trauma & resilience: therapeutic work with ambiguous loss. London: Norton, 2006.
• Doka, K. Living with grief: before and after the death. Washington: Hospice foundation, 2011.
• Evans, A. Is God still at the Bedside: the medical, ethical and pastoral issues of death and dying. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2011.
• Gott, M & Ingleton, C. Living with aging and dying. New York: Oxford Uni Press, 2011.
• Karaban, R. Complicated Losses, difficult Deaths: a practical guide for ministering to grievers. San Jose: Resource Publications, 2000.
• Kellehear, A. Death and Dying in Australia. Melbourne: Oxford Uni Press, 2000.
• Kelley, M. Grief: Contemporary theory and the practice of ministry. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2010.
• Musgrave, B & McGettigan, N (eds). Spiritual and Psychological aspects of Illness: dealing with sickness, loss, dying and death. New York: Paulist, 2010.
• Oates, W. Grief, Transition and Loss: a pastor’s practical guide. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1997.
• Swinton, J & Payne R. Living well and dying faithfully: Christian Practices for end of life care. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009.
• Wright, N. Recovering from Losses in life. Grand Rapids: Morgan & Scott, 2006.

Set texts recommended for purchase: Nil