<p> In seminary education (other than perhaps in a Catholic seminary), the concept of the dark night is rarely examined, if ever. Therefore, a seminary-trained Protestant pastor may well enter into the dark night of the soul without any warning and without any understanding about what is happening. Unfortunately, the pastor who has never heard of this phenomenon may discern this gracious work of God in his or her life as a personal mental problem, such as a form of depression, or even a spiritual failure on their part. Thus the pastor may enter into a crisis of faith in their pastoral service and thereby miss the benefit of the experience. </p><p> The modern Christian psychologists researched in this study fail to answer the question, &ldquo;Why do bad things happen to good people?&rdquo; The biblical theology presented by Saint John of the Cross does answer that question, providing a sufficient and satisfying understanding of why troubles do indeed arise in everyone&rsquo;s life. This researcher&rsquo;s hypothesis is that many pastors are largely unaware of the teachings of Saint John of the Cross and are very unaware of the biblical theology of the purpose of sorrow and suffering. Thus when sorrow and suffering come into their lives and ministry, their leadership effectiveness in pastoral ministry is negatively affected. This study attempts to validate that hypothesis.</p><p>

<p> The changing relationship of Americans to their churches has been documented but has not been explained. This is a narrative qualitative research inquiry for the purpose of exploring the perspectives of members of Southern Baptist churches who experienced disaffection as a result of marginalization within the church as they practiced their religious faith. Using Social Identity Theory (SIT) and the microaggressions literature, this study described negative interactions and explained the group processes that marginalize church members and motivate their disaffection from the church. The narratives of this study extend the literature on negative interactions in the religious community, describing and examining antecedents and consequences. Two semistructured interviews with ten participants who were once members of Southern Baptist churches informed this study. Four Southern Baptist churches were represented by the ten participants. Data analysis was aided by NVivo 11. In spite of the inclusive mission of the church, the results of this study clearly place microaggressions, with their accompanying marginalization, within the church. Characteristic of microaggressions, this study found that microaggressions in the church: a) leave the responsibility of reparation with the target; b) deny the existence of microaggressions within their congregation; and c) breed a sense of rejection as a result of marginalization. This study affirms and extends Pargament&rsquo;s (2002) suggestion that short-term distress may lead to long-term spiritual growth. This study also emphasizes the need to address issues of faith as a dimension of diversity.</p><p>

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Text in Afrikaans / Suid-Afrikaners bevind hulle tans in 'n era van snelle sosio-politieke veranderinge. Hierdie veranderinge dra by tot 'n gevoel van ongemak en onsekerheid by die meeste Suid-Afrikaners, daarom ook by baie wit Afrikaners. In hierdie navorsing het ek gefokus op die reaksies van ses wit Afrikaanse egpare. Hoe reageer hulle op verandering? Hoe 'storie' hulle hul lewens om in te pas by die veranderende 'groter' Suid-Afrikaanse storie? Al die deelnemers was dit eens dat verandering in Suid-Afrika noodsaaklik was. Hulle is egter bekommerd oor die hoë voorkoms van geweld en die onsekerheid oor die toekoms. Hulle kinders se veiligheid en toekoms is veral 'n hoë prioriteit. In my navorsing bet ek ook aandag geskenk aan die rol van die pastor in hierdie proses. Ten slotte het ek aanbevelings gemaak wat waardevol kan wees vir die pastor en sy pastorale werk. / South Africans find themselves amidst an era of rapid socio-political change. These changes create a sense of impermanence and uneasiness amongst most South Africans, and therefore amongst white Afrikaners too. In this study I focused on the reactions of six white Afrikaans couples. How do they react to change? How do they 'story' their own lives to fit in with the changing 'bigger' South African story? All these couples felt that change was necessary. They are coping well with the changes but they are worried about the high levels of violence and the uncertainty about the future. Their children and their safety seem a priority. In my research I have also attended to the pastor' s role in this process. Lastly I made recommendations that can be helpful for the pastor and his pastoral work. / Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Praktiese Teologie (Pastorale Terapie))

Text in Afrikaans / Suid-Afrikaners bevind hulle tans in 'n era van snelle sosio-politieke veranderinge. Hierdie veranderinge dra by tot 'n gevoel van ongemak en onsekerheid by die meeste Suid-Afrikaners, daarom ook by baie wit Afrikaners. In hierdie navorsing het ek gefokus op die reaksies van ses wit Afrikaanse egpare. Hoe reageer hulle op verandering? Hoe 'storie' hulle hul lewens om in te pas by die veranderende 'groter' Suid-Afrikaanse storie? Al die deelnemers was dit eens dat verandering in Suid-Afrika noodsaaklik was. Hulle is egter bekommerd oor die hoë voorkoms van geweld en die onsekerheid oor die toekoms. Hulle kinders se veiligheid en toekoms is veral 'n hoë prioriteit. In my navorsing bet ek ook aandag geskenk aan die rol van die pastor in hierdie proses. Ten slotte het ek aanbevelings gemaak wat waardevol kan wees vir die pastor en sy pastorale werk. / South Africans find themselves amidst an era of rapid socio-political change. These changes create a sense of impermanence and uneasiness amongst most South Africans, and therefore amongst white Afrikaners too. In this study I focused on the reactions of six white Afrikaans couples. How do they react to change? How do they 'story' their own lives to fit in with the changing 'bigger' South African story? All these couples felt that change was necessary. They are coping well with the changes but they are worried about the high levels of violence and the uncertainty about the future. Their children and their safety seem a priority. In my research I have also attended to the pastor' s role in this process. Lastly I made recommendations that can be helpful for the pastor and his pastoral work. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Praktiese Teologie (Pastorale Terapie))

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie skripsie is 'n verkennende studie in siekepastoraat. Die fokus is op die siektebelewing van die Pedi. Die siek mens leef in 'n spesifieke wereld en verkeer in 'n wrieke situasie. Dit is boonop vir die pastor moeilik om in hierdie leefWereld die sieke se gevoelens te begryp. Meer uitsonderlik is dat dit vir enige pastor moeilik is om die tradisionele beskouing en belewenis van die sieke in sy eie kultuursituasie te verstaan. Daar is egter min materiaal oor die siekte-belewenis van die Pedi beskikbaar aangesien daar oor die algemeen min navorsing gedoen is. Pastorale sorg aan siekes vereis dat kennis geneem moet word van die kulturele agtergrond asook godsdiensbeskouing. Teen hierdie agtergrond is die doel van hierdie studie om 'n raamwerk van die denke van die Pedi-siekes te verkry waarby die siekepastoraat kan aansluit. Met die hu1p van die kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering is daar deur indiepte-onderhoude en deelnemende waameming probeer om 'n raamwerk te verkry van die siek Pedi se ervaring van siekte in 'n tradisionele situasie. Sodoende is gepoog om veertien subjekte se verhale van hul siekte en ongelukke deur middel van kwalitatiewe empiriese navorsing te beskryf Uit al hierdie data was dit moontlik om die respondente se interpretasies in vyfkategoriee in te deel: (a) Agtergrondkennis, (b) die oorsaak van hul siekte, ( c) die belewing van hul siekte, ( d) die bestryding van hul siekte en ( e) die tradisionele siening van siekte en in watter mate daar 'n verskuiwing na Westerse denke plaasgevind het. Daar is bevind dat betekenistoekenning van die meeste respondente grotendeels binne die kulturele raamwerk van die Pedi-tradisie plaasgevind het. Hierdie bevinding is belangrik vir die siekepastoraat aangesien daar by sekere begrippe aansluiting gevind kan word. Die navorser het ook probeer om vanuit die betekenis van die subjekte se belewing van siekte 'n beperkte aantal riglyne vir 'n sensitiewe kultureel georienteerde siekepastoraat te noem. / This study explores the field of pastoral care of the sick within the frame of the sick person's traditional environment. This research study was only directed at the Pedi. Little material exists on the Pedi's experience of sickness because of the general lack of research. Furthermore, pastoral care of the sick demands specific notice of the cultural background as well as their religious views. Bearing this in mind the purpose of this study is to find a frame work of the Pedi's thought to which the pastoral care could be linked. With the help of qualitative methodological research, in depth interviewing, participation and observation the researcher tried to obtain a frame work of the Pedi's experience of sickness within their traditional situation. Through the means of the qualitative emperical research strategy these stories were described. It is found that most respondents emphasise the meaning of their sickness largely within the cultural framework of the Pedi tradition. This is important for pastoral care because on these thoughts pastoral care could link up. / Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Praktiese Teologie)

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The research on pastoral counseling of persons struggling with complex trauma was undertaken with the aim of designing a practice-orientated model for pastoral counseling in order to guide such persons to emotional healing, stability and spiritual growth. An exegetical study throws light on the role of prayer and trust in God. One can entrust to God one's problems and one's supplication for help in the firm belief that He will provide a way out. An investigation into counseling perspectives in the Scriptures and in the literature on Christian counseling brought to light that pastoral counseling, which is a mandate given to believers, affords a unique opportunity for lovingly encouraging and consoling people with complex trauma. Contributions by psychiatry and psychology emphasise the phase approach. They stress security and stability, the processing of the traumatic memory and mourning, as well as a renewed commitment to new relationships. The core of the findings is that persons with complex trauma - which is an intricate syndrome relating to a spectrum of post-traumatic disturbances following intense, protracted and repeated trauma - can be guided by pastoral counseling to emotional healing, stability and spiritual growth. Specific reference is made to victims of prolonged family violence and/or physical and/or emotional and/or sexual abuse and/or protracted physical and/or emotional neglect in family context. The empirical research confirmed that the children of the Abraham Krielkinderhuis, Potchefstroom, who were subjected to these traumatic experiences in their parental homes exhibit the typical symptomatology of complex trauma. These entail emotional disturbances like anger and self-injury, disturbances of consciousness like dissociation, disturbances of self-image like stigma, guilt and shame, disturbances in the image of the perpetrator, like unrealistic expectations and finally disturbances in relationships like distrust and loss of faith. The principles and outcome of the empirical research are eventually applicable to all persons struggling with complex trauma. A practice-orientated counseling model was designed which focuses on stabilisation and security, the processing of the traumatic memory and mourning, as well as a renewed commitment to life in abundance and new relationships. In this therapeutic relationship of faith the distress narrative and the narrative of the past are central. God allows everything to turn out for the best for those who trust in Him. In Christ people are more than victors through God's will for their lives. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Pastoral))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

CIVINS / One of the central spiritual issues alcoholics deal with today is a sense of meaninglessness. This thesis will show how the use of three spiritual resources can bring about wholeness in the lives of alcoholics: First is the resource of healing of memories with a primary focus on forgiveness, second is the resource of prayer and meditation, and third is pastoral counseling utilizing narrative theory. These three resources can be transformative interventions for the pastoral care of alcoholics. Through these spiritual resources the alcoholic can rediscover a deeper sense of meaning. When a person has meaning in their life, this means they are connected with three relationships. These three relationships are: 1) the relationship with God; 2) the relationship with society and community; and 3) the relationship with herself or himself. When the spiritual resources in this thesis are implemented into pastoral counseling, these relationships can be reconnected. This then results in a rediscovery of personal meaning. By the time alcoholics determine that their lives are unmanageable they have perhaps ruined their lives and health, and quite possibly the lives of the persons dearest to them. Someone must intervene if lives are to be saved and if people are to become self- respecting, productive citizens again.