Pastoral care is the connection between the academic disciplines and the people that the pastor actually meets at worship and on the streets.  This course is designed to help the student of Beyond the River Academy come to terms with the call into pastoral ministry, the struggle with what that call means, and the development of resources that will give the student some practical skills for executing the office of ministry. 

The student should come to this class well read in the Bible, having a solid Trinitarian theological perspective.  The pastor is called to draw people into the heart and hands of God so the student should know the grace of God won in the death and resurrection of Jesus – Savior and Lord.  The resources of this class are not extensive.  The student should be able to cross reference and seek out other resources as necessary. 

Book List:

Occasional Services: A companion to Lutheran Book of Worship, Augsburg Publishing House, Mpls. MN Copyright 1982  Library of Congress Car Catalog #82-71104

Pastor Karl’s Rookie Year by Karl Beck, InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL

Copyright 1993  ISBN - 0-8308-1835-9  Available new & used at www.amazon.com

The Art of Pastoring: Ministry Without All the Answers, by David Hansen, InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL  Copyright 1994   ISBN – 0-8308-1669-0  Available from any book outlet.

In addition to the above reading a marriage counseling service should be enlisted.  I recommend PREPARE/ENRICH because of its research base, facilitator training and ease of use.  Find out how to get involved at

www.prepare-enrich.com

Please follow the order of the assignments at least as regards each reference.  Enjoy the journey.  Jesus is the source of your call and his is the voice to which you must listen if you would follow him in faith. As you go on this part of the journey I would learn with you.  So if you know references to which I should be directed – direct me.  I am striving as much as anything to give you the tools that have been most helpful to me though I have many more resources in my own library. 

If you have other resources at your disposal, you may feel free to use them as secondary sources in your research and writing.  Be sure to reference them appropriately so I can refer to them as well.  Peace be with you!