Following decades of political struggle in South Africa, the 27 April elections in 1994 offered many people a long-awaited chapter in their lives as democracy was ushered in. The researcher has observed that the result of this political change has had a profound impact on the people of South Africa, especially for the Black constituency, in many ways. The political changes caused thousands to move from the rural areas to live in the peri-urban or township areas for economic reasons. The uprooting of families from their original rural homes has had a negative effect on the new generation with respect to principles and values about marriage and family. The researcher has further observed that in the area of research at KwaNdengezi, as well as surrounding areas, the social, political and economic changes have contributed to an increase in separation and divorces and a general weakening of the moral fibre of families. The marriage and family system is under a lot of strain. There is a critical need for enrichment, growth and healing. As an ordained Methodist minister, the researcher has been fortunate to witness the development of various milestones of the Methodist Church, which has been an instrument of change in the Southern African context in the past decades. In the context of transition into “a New Land” (Olivier 1996: 1), the mission statement of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa has created a relevant message. The vision in the mission statement as declared in the MCSA Year Conference book is “A Christ-healed Africa for the Healing of Nations” (2010: 2). This is achieved by fervently “proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ for healing and transformation” by both ministers and laity (L & D 2010: 3). This study seeks to align and broaden the above MCSA vision through pastoral care and counselling. The intention is to precipitate the work done by clergy training laity in basic Christian care giving and counselling skills. This will hopefully address the apparent brokenness in marriages and families in the various contexts in the communities and precipitate healing and transformation. ii The approach of this thesis, whilst predominantly pastoral, is ecclesiological as well as missiological. Elements of contextual theology bring forth the cultural perspective of the community in the area of research as hermeneutical tools of reading scriptures are applied. A cross-cultural dialogue between existing Western pastoral care and counselling models and African care giving and counselling practices plays an important role in this study. Through fieldwork, data was collected via questionnaires, interviews, recording, transcribing, participant observation and empathetic listening to the responses of the participants in the communities of KwaNdengezi. Valuable themes emerged from the process of assessment and analysis through theological reflection on the data. The various themes emerged through engagement with married couples, single parents and families. These include communication skills, scriptural values in marriage, Zulu cultural values and customs in a Christian household, the parent-child relationship, family health matters, family finance matters, teenager problems, resolving conflict, forgiveness and healing. Emanating from the themes, the study seeks to publish a contextual booklet or manual on “marriage and family wholeness”. In an effort to bring about enrichment, growth and healing to marriages and families, the new programme intends to use the lay team trained in basic Christian counselling as resource people when marriage and family retreats are offered by the local church. The programme also emphasizes partnership and interdisciplinary engagement with other disciplines through engaging with, for instance, social workers, clinical psychologists, medical doctors, local congregations, ethical theologians and financial accountants. This study presents the programme as a new tool or model relevant for a specific cultural context. The context encompasses the Methodist people of KwaNdengezi near Pinetown in KwaZulu-Natal. However, because of its cross-cultural dialogue, the model can be adapted for use in any cultural context as an enrichment, growth and iii healing tool for all people of God as they struggle with the complexities of marriage and family life in a changing world. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.

The study is a critical analysis from a feminist pastoral care perspective in rehabilitating female ex-prisoners in Zimbabwe. The central research question that the study focused on is: “In what ways can the understanding of the praxis of feminist pastoral care facilitate the rehabilitation of female ex-prisoners for their integration into the Zimbabwean society?” This empirical qualitative study was facilitated through feminist methods to excavate the lived experiences and perceptions of female ex-prisoners and prisoners, which were analysed through three theories. These theories were: feminist theological anthropology which provided the view male and female as equals before God; feminist cultural hermeneutics which assisted in recognising that culture and religion have a significant influence in shaping women’s identity and experiences, especially in the African context and in particular Zimbabwe; and feminist pastoral care which highlighted that all human beings are entitled to care and dignity and that in view of the pervasive gender injustice, it is essential for women to receive nurturing or support, liberation and empowerment during the pastoral care-giving process. Field research was undertaken to collect the narratives of female ex-prisoners and prisoners so as to get a fuller picture of their perceptions and experiences. In-depth interviews were conducted with twenty-eight female ex-prisoners and prisoners. The research findings highlighted central themes that emerged about how the participants perceived themselves, society and God. This data thus represented the subjective reality of the women. Their objective reality was ascertained by examining the gendered identity of women in Zimbabwe, and how this identity has been shaped by patriarchal aspects of religion and culture. The impact of these constructed identities on the lives of women in Zimbabwe is most evident in the areas of education, employment, health, access to resources and family life. The purpose of this study was to identify the rehabilitation needs of female ex-prisoners in Zimbabwe. To achieve this, an examination of the current theories of rehabilitation was conducted, followed by a critical gendered analysis thereof, employing the three theories vii | P a g e underpinning this study. The theories of rehabilitation revealed wide gender disparities and to address this, an African feminist pastoral care theory of rehabilitation was proposed. Using this proposed theory, current rehabilitation programmes, with special focus on those working with African women prisoners and ex-prisoners in Zimbabwe, while also making reference to those in South Africa, were then interrogated. Following on from this, a gender-sensitive programme of rehabilitation was put forward, which took into account first, the subjective experiences of the female ex- prisoners and prisoners of this study; second, the objective reality of Zimbabwean women’s daily lives; and third, the main features of current faith-based programmes and where these fall short in terms of the proposed African feminist pastoral care theory of rehabilitation. The rehabilitation programme that emerged from this process is of potential use to faith- based organisations and chaplains working with African women inmates and released prisoners. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, 2007. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 270-274).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Covenant Theological Seminary, 2005. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-97).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, 2007. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 270-274).

Thesis (M.A.)--Lancaster Bible College, 2007. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 53-54).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Covenant Theological Seminary, 2005. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-97).

Thesis (M.A.)--Lancaster Bible College, 2007. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 53-54).

O presente trabalho tem por objetivo analisar a temática do Cuidado Pastoral seu desenvolvimento histórico, teórico e prático a partir do discurso da Fé e da Graça e a Psicanálise como ciência do Inconsciente e da Clínica, suas estruturas e manifestações a partir de aportes teóricos e práticos da teoria freudiana e lacaniana, apontando os aspectos fundamentais de divergências e convergências existentes no cuidado pastoral e na clínica psicanalítica, pontuando a eficácia de ambos na acolhida de demanda de quem sofre. Veremos que o Cuidado Pastoral e a Psicanálise são duas formas distintas, diferentes e complexas na vida de quem decidiu ocupar o lugar de escutar a demanda em forma de discurso de quem sofre no corpo e na alma a falta de um saber sobre a sua dor de existir, manifestada por aquilo que a própria psicanálise denomina de sintoma. O Cuidado Pastoral e a Psicanálise sinalizam duas vertentes que se aproximam, mas que também se divergem. A primeira trata da teologia espiritual e pastoral, de seu longo caminho, desde os primórdios da revelação bíblica até os nossos dias. A segunda, de ordem científica, abarca a ciência do inconsciente, suas estruturas e manifestações ou como queria Freud, uma Weltanschauung, uma visão, cosmovisão ou concepção do mundo. Neste sentido, diremos que, se a psicanálise existe para quem deseja e quer se interrogar, sua prática está relacionada a outro termo, tal como enfretamento‟ de crises e problemas, questionamentos sobre o seu ser e o seu viver, processo de tomada de decisão, o confronto com crise pessoal, o caráter psicanalítico de intervenção centrada em sentimentos, pensamentos, percepções e conflitos como manifestação de sintoma. Nesta reflexão buscar-se-á compreender o Cuidado Pastoral como uma atividade que se fundamenta no agir do próprio, integrando duas vertentes da teologia: a espiritualidade e a prática pastoral, procurando atender a uma identificada demanda na vida de quem sofre ou padece psicológica ou espiritualmente. Por Cuidado Pastoral entenderemos uma atividade que o pastor ou a pastora, o cuidador ou a cuidadora desenvolve entre os fiéis a nível individual ou grupal, no sentido de lhes responder ao pedido de ajuda que estes fazem, no sentido de virem a resolver ou dar conta dos aspectos de suas vidas, ou mesmo questões de caráter existencial que os condicionam, incomodam ou faz sofrer. / This paper has as its goal to analyze the theme of Pastoral Care, its historical, theoretical and practical development based on the discourse of Faith and Grace and Psychoanalysis as a science of the subconscious and of clinical care, its structures and manifestations based on theoretical and practical resources of the Freudian and Lacanian theory. It points out the fundamental aspects of existing divergences and convergences in pastoral care and in psychoanalytical clinical treatment, underscoring the efficacy of both in tending to the need of those who suffer. Pastoral Care and Psychoanalysis are two distinct, different and complex paths in the life of those who decide to occupy the space of listening to the need in the form of discourse of those who suffer in the body and soul the lack of knowledge about their pain of existing, manifest by that which psychoanalysis calls symptom. Pastoral Care and Psychoanalysis signal two strands which are close to each other but also diverge. The first deals with spiritual and pastoral theology from the beginnings of Biblical revelation to our days. The second, of a scientific nature, deals with the science of the subconscious, its structures and manifestations. In this sense, we would say that psychoanalysis exists for those who wish to interrogate themselves. Its practice is related to questionings about one‟s being and one‟s living, to working with feelings, thoughts, perceptions and conflicts as manifestation of symptoms. In this reflection one seeks to understand Pastoral Care as an activity which is based on the integration of two strands of theology: spirituality and pastoral practice, seeking to tend to an identified need in the life of the one who is suffering psychologically or spiritually. We understand Pastoral Care to be an activity developed among the faithful on an individual or group basis, in the sense of responding to a request for help by these to help resolve or deal with aspects of their lives, or even issues of existential character which condition, bother them or make them suffer. Pastoral Care is sustained by the faith and the grace of the GREATER LOVE, in psychoanalytical treatment, that is, at the beginning of the analysis, is the transference, which, if well managed by knowing how to listen and by speaking well will make it possible for the subject in need to have a knowledge that can lead to a relief or maybe even a cure.

The currenly growing preference for "active aging" aims to promote the longest possible physical and mental vitality. Caring for the spiritual development and spiritual needs of older people is usually thought to be a private matter, or an area within the competence of churches, and related to traditionally religious older people. With regard to the bio-psycho-socio-spiritual unity of the person, it is evident that spirituality ? and spiritual needs as its expression ? belong in the life of every individual, though it is primarily an individual experience linked to a particular personality and life history. Through spirituality they seek to answer questions relating to the purpose and pursuit of life, to higher values, to the processing of suffering and evil, and to some questions having eschatological character. This dissertation defines spirituality's everyday place on the path to a good life in old age. The empirical part of the dissertation is a qualitative study called Spiritual Needs in the Daily Life of the Elderly in Southern Bohemia. The first part shows the development of religiosity or spirituality of two dozen South Bohemians over seventy-five years, focusing on the period of early religious socialization, stages of working life under the rule of Communism, and the present form of religiosity or spirituality. The second part presents a possible typology of their fundamental spiritual needs: dignity, sense of continuity in ones life story, hope, faith and love. On the basis of these findings, recommendations are then put forward for pastoral, social, and geragogical practices.