PASTORAL CARE

Pastoral Care for African American

ABSTRACT

It has been observed from the past there has been very little research and evaluation on direct Pastoral Care for African American grief-care and loss coping strategies. In this study, 6 volunteers will engage in 2 weeks of teaching and one weekend retreat which includes: Covenant agreement, didactic teaching, coping skills and strategies, journaling, writing and storytelling, focused prayer, lamentation, praise and pre and post survey. This proposal studies the healing process through gaining knowledge of practicing constructive strategies daily. The purpose of this study is to become self-aware of new and old grief.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACTii

CHAPTER NO1: INTRODUCTION1

Background of the study1

Context for Research4

Research Question4

CHAPTER NO 2: LITERATURE REVIEW5

Theoretical Perspectives5

Summary5

CHAPTER NO 3: METHODOLOGY7

REFERENCES8

CHAPTER NO1: INTRODUCTION

Background of the study

This proposal focuses on providing care strategies for those who experience loss presently and historically among African American congregants. The researcher focuses on is the African American church and its community. The study examines the skilled and trained ministers/chaplains who can be physicians and have the ability to become heal wounds. Henri Nouwen believes that while we are wounded we can come to a place of healing where we can minister to others. Therefore, we can have strategies of healing so that while we bleed we are not bleeding on others. Chaplains and ministers are first responders who grieve at different stages of the grief process.

The proposal describes the events which were experienced by the writer. She realized at age of thirteen that death of her two month old nephew had a huge impact on her spiritual life. While she accepted God into her life very early, evidently, her relationship with God became focused, deliberate and intentional. She grew up with parents in the ministry she knew God and her life changed. Eternal life and death was suddenly a reality. She was curious, and there were many questions and fears surrounding her which were disturbing her mortality. She thought that if a two month baby could die, no one else is exempt of death, not even her as the baby died although she was there to take care of him. She was in a sudden shock as the joy of the baby was so exciting and suddenly it turned to grief and mourning after his death.

After this incident, she said no one had a discussion about it anymore. The family never got to see his first tooth, first steps or even hears his first word. It appeared as he was taken away and never heard again. These were her after thoughts after the incident. However, her sister, the child's mother would have an annual emotional relapse on the birth date and death date of the baby. There was no formal grieving process. She wanted to scream and or cry. She would shake with fear while falling asleep, wondering if she would be next or who else? She appeared to find a new normal and move on with living ...