Pastoral Care: An Essential Guide

by John Patton

Book Overview

The essentials of pastoral care involve the pastor's distinctive task of caring for those who are estranged--the lost sheep. Taken from the biblical image of the shepherd, the pastor by virtue of his or her professional calling cultivates wise judgment in order to hear the hurting and offer guidance, reconciliation, healing, sustaining presence, and empowerment to those in need. This book will outline the quintessential elements pastors need to wisely...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0687053226
• ISBN13: 9780687053223
• Release Date: June 2005
• Publisher: Abingdon Press
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.8" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Pastoral Care: An Essential Guide

If note taking and underlining are an indication of a good book, then this one is great. It is highlighted, underlined, notes written in margins and on the front and back pages, and in other notebooks by me. It did start out a little dry for me, but then like a roller coaster cresting the top and the thrill began the book blossomed with a lot of great insight and practical application. The points made give insight into the mind of those need pastoral care. It is not an easy read in the context it forces the reader to read a few pages, then stop, ponder and digest the material. It gives very practical Do's and Don'ts that a pastoral care giver would be wise to follow - some are very salient, that if you are doing them - stop - you are caring for yourself and not your charge. I was quite surprised, delightfully so, upon the emphasis of generational concepts of the family and how ones historical family (grandparents and parents) concept interacts with the present and future situation and perceptions of the patient.

Patton

Great book on pastoral care. Patton presents concepts in ways that are easy to understand and apply to ministry. What Patton has to say is valuable to anybody who works with people during difficult transitional periods of life or who are facing challenges with interpersonal relationships.

Excellent for Church pastoral care as well as CPE students

This is a one of a kind pastoral care book which is focused on what someone needs to know beginning their practice as well as for those who need to review. I have used it with Clinical Pastoral Education students who give it high marks as well as with a Church lay pastoral group. Worth considering for a personal library and professional review.

Long on opinions and longer on pastoral counseling

John Patton, a noted pastoral care provider, wrote a clear, frank, and opinionated book, Pastoral Care: An Essential Guide. I found the first part of the book about chaplaincy to be very helpful; along the lines of a "how to do it" book. I began reading the second part about counseling but stopped, because the section was of no interest to me. Either way, the book is worth having in one's personal library.

You must read this one if you care!

This is a very practical book for pastors..no wasted words or "gush". We are using it in the 4th year of the United Church of Christ Lay Academy for our study in Pastoral Care.