Identifying pastoral care in contemporary Methodism
This study is concerned with the nature of pastoral care and its practice in contemporary British Methodism. Both aspects are explored by means of postal surveys of Methodist ministers, local preachers and other lay members, as well as case study interviews with circuit ministers. These explorations take place in the context of a brief historical overview of the roots of Methodism and a characterisation of the theological viewpoints and spirituality of respondents, which are correlated with the findings of an earlier Anglican study. At the same time a detailed portrait is painted of the biography and ministry of both ministers and local preachers as an aid to understanding their contribution to pastoral care. The nature of pastoral care is discussed and a working definition proposed which emphasises the importance of nurture rather than crisis-oriented care. The perceptions of ministers and local preachers regarding their understanding of the nature of pastoral care are examined, and the influence of theological viewpoint, gender and age is explored. Pastoral practice within Methodism is evaluated and some difficulties and areas of weakness are pin-pointed. Comparison of the perceptions and practice of pastoral
Burfield, David R.
BV Practical theology ; BX Christian denominations
Identifying pastoral care in contemporary Methodism. This study is concerned with the nature of pastoral care and its practice in contemporary British Methodism. Both aspects are explored by means of postal surveys of Methodist ministers, local preachers and other lay members, as well as case study interviews with circuit ministers. These explorations take place in the context of a brief historical overview of the roots of Methodism and a characterisation of the theological viewpoints and spirituality of respondents, which are correlated with the findings of an earlier Anglican study. At the same time a detailed portrait is painted of the biography and ministry of both ministers and local preachers as an aid to understanding their contribution to pastoral care. The nature of pastoral care is discussed and a working definition proposed which emphasises the importance of nurture rather than crisis-oriented care. The perceptions of ministers and local preachers regarding their understanding of the nature of pastoral care are examined, and the influence of theological viewpoint, gender and age is explored. Pastoral practice within Methodism is evaluated and some difficulties and areas of weakness are pin-pointed. Comparison of the perceptions and practice of pastoral
identifying pastoral_care contemporary methodism study concerned_nature pastoral_care practice contemporary british methodism aspect explore mean postal survey methodist minister local preacher lay member well case_study interview circuit minister exploration take_place context brief_historical overview root methodism characterisation theological viewpoint spirituality respondent correlate finding earlier anglican study time detailed portrait paint biography ministry minister local preacher aid pastoral_care nature pastoral_care discuss work_definition propose emphasis importance nurture rather crisis oriented care perception minister local preacher regard_nature pastoral_care examine influence theological viewpoint gender_age explore pastoral practice within methodism evaluate difficulty area weakness pin comparison perception practice pastoral