Clinical pastoral supervision and the theology of Charles Gerkin
Book Description
This scholarly exploration examines the evolving field of clinical pastoral supervision through a comprehensive analysis of nearly 300 texts that have shaped contemporary practice. Thomas St. James O'Connor addresses three essential questions that define effective pastoral supervision: what makes this practice unique, how theological methods can best support it, and what constitutes truly adequate supervision.
O'Connor identifies three distinct approaches within the field: social science-based methods, hermeneutic perspectives, and specialized interest frameworks. Each approach offers different insights into how spiritual care providers can be effectively guided and developed in their ministry.
The work centers on the theological contributions of Charles Gerkin, a respected pastoral theologian and family therapist, whose integrated approach to theory and practice provides a foundation for understanding supervision as both spiritual formation and professional development. O'Connor engages Gerkin's methodology in dialogue with current supervision literature, offering critical evaluation of existing theological frameworks while advocating for Gerkin's praxis-theory-praxis model.
Throughout the text, real case examples illuminate theoretical concepts and demonstrate practical applications, making complex ideas accessible to readers seeking to understand or improve pastoral supervision practices. This resource serves those involved in training spiritual caregivers, whether as supervisors, students, or administrators of pastoral education programs, offering both analytical depth and practical guidance for nurturing effective ministry formation.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Short (< 200 pages) (~4 hours)
📄 Length: 150 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Theology, Practical
- ✓ Explore Pastoral counseling
- ✓ Explore Supervision
- ✓ Explore Pastoralpsychologie
- ✓ Explore Étude et enseignement
- ✓ Explore Study and teaching
- ✓ Explore Pastoral theology
- ✓ Explore Practical Theology
