Greetings!

The Foundation for Reformed Theology works to provide for better preaching, better teaching, and better pastoral care, all to the glory of God and for building up the church of Jesus Christ. A fuller statement of this is found at the link following my signature below.

Today I am writing about one aspect of this: Better Pastoral Care. It is our duty and our joy, as officers of the church, to provide for, and to promote, better pastoral care of the members of the church of Jesus Christ.

To that end, I am providing some resources in the following article which I hope and pray you can use in your own life and in the shared life of the congregation you serve. Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing back from you as appropriate.

Pastoral care, especially the care of the members of the church of Jesus Christ, comprises a major part of the nature and practice of the Christian pastoral ministry. This has been the case since the beginning of the Christian church, and it continues to be the case today.

Pastoral care is the application of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lives of the members of the church of Jesus Christ. For this reason, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, which we have discussed in a previous email, is a major occasion for pastoral care. Similarly, teaching the Bible as the word of God, which we have discussed in a previous email, is a major occasion for pastoral care. Preachers, teachers, and pastors need to be aware of these overlapping realities.

In addition to preaching and teaching, individual conversation becomes an important and often intense occasion for pastoral care.

Let me suggest two resources to guide us in this understanding.

First, see John H. Leith, An Introduction to the Reformed Tradition: A Way of Being the Christian Community, revised edition. Atlanta: John Knox, 1981, pp. 84-85. Here is an excerpt:

Pastoral care is not only comfort for the bereaved, forgiveness of the guilty, and help for the sick and needy; it is pre-eminently the renewal of life in the image of Christ. Pastoral care has as its purpose not only the giving of comfort but also the redirection of life. (p. 85)

Second, see John H. Leith, From Generation to Generation: The Renewal of the Church According to Its Own Faith and Practice. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox, 1990, chapter 5, "Pastoral Care," pp. 141-161. Here are two excerpts:

Martin Bucer gave as adequate a definition of pastoral care as can be found anywhere: "To draw to Christ those who are alienated; to lead back those who have been drawn away; to secure amendment of life in those who fall into sin; to strengthen weak and sickly Christians; to preserve Christians who are whole and strong, and urge them forward in all good." (p. 153)

The really great task of pastoral care is to encourage people to gather with the people of God, to worship, to hear the sermon, to receive the sacrament. It is bringing people into the fellowship, the communion of saints, into the context of the fellowship meal or church supper, into the context of Christian conversation. (p. 153)

It occurs to me that a widespread study of these texts by the ministers of our churches could provide the basis for a tremendous improvement in the pastoral in our churches. It also occurs to me that a widespread study of this text by the elders, deacons, and other members of our churches could provide the basis for a tremendous improvement in our understanding of what it means to be the church of Jesus Christ and therefore in our ability to help each other grow into the church of Jesus Christ.

So, I am writing to invite, ask, and urge every one who receives this email to read and study these books. In fact, I am writing also to invite, ask, and urge everyone who receives this email to organize an adult class at the church you serve to read and study these books together.

Please understand that I am not at all pretending to be an expert on pastoral care! But John Leith has theological insights to share which can be of help to all of us. This is not about me. It is about how best to practice pastoral care, applying the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lives of the members of the church of Jesus Christ. The suggested readings are intended to be of help if you might be so kind as to join with me in this endeavor. You may find better guides. The main thing is that we all learn how better to provide and practice pastoral care.

Thank you for your consideration. The Foundation engages in many things: translations, publications, seminars, lectures, scholarships, and so forth. This is an attempt to move beyond those in a way that can help undergird better pastoral care, in particular, in many local churches at once. This is an attempt to expand our work and so increase our service to the church. This is an attempt to be of help to you. Please let me know whether this makes sense to you, whether it is workable, whether it is attractive, and whether you may be able to engage in this study. I look forward to hearing from you as appropriate.

The Foundation is exempt from Federal income tax under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) and is not a private foundation as defined by Section 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.