Church growth in metropolitan communities motivated a short study concerning the pastoral care and counseling of immigrants, specifically Black Caribbean congregants in large/mega congregations. Culture, denomination history, and interpretations of scripture enter into the dynamics of defining not only the pastoral office of leaders but their perception of "care." The phenomenological "cycle" of care is said to exist as an exchange happens between caregivers and care receivers. Such an exploration of three congregations opened up rare concepts of the psycho-social, and spiritual nature that guide interpersonal relationships of family systems across cultures. Large/mega congregations desire women's as well as men's style of nurturing and of fellowship that form the characteristics of a sharing, caring congregation. The study implicated a need for more comprehensive interdisciplinary teaching methods to train church leaders and clergy. It signals for an approach in practical theology to develop curricula for spiritual health of cultural plurality in congregations and community.
Part One: Defining Pastoral-Care Needs in Large/Mega Congregations Chapter 1: Mandated Care of Congregations Chapter 2: Traditional Pastoral Care and Counseling Chapter 3: Pastoral-Care Response to Caribbean History and Culture Chapter 4: Pastoral Needs in Large/Mega Churches Chapter 5: The Learning Circle of the Study Chapter 6: The Congregations as Source for Dialogue Part Two: The Cultural Aspects of Black Caribbeans in Three Congregations Chapter 1: Parables of Back Home Chapter 2: Defining Pastoral Care in Large/Mega Congregations Chapter 3: Pastoral-Care Theology of Black Caribbeans Chapter 4: Evaluations and Recommendations for Change Chapter 5: Towards Effective Pastoral Care Part Three: Pastoral Care and Counseling in Cross-Cultural Needs of Congregations Chapter 1: Church as Pastoral-Care Unit and Mission Field Chapter 2: Towards Purposeful Pastoral Care and Counseling Chapter 3: Possibilities, and Applications Chapter 4: The Future of Pastoral Care in Congregations Chapter 5: Hermeneutics of Pastoral Care Chapter 6: Framing a Theological Perspective Chapter 7: A Psychosocial Lens of Community Chapter 8: Cross-Cultural Impact on Pastoral Counseling Chapter 9: Racial and Cultural Identity Development Model Chapter 10: ACA Code of Ethics in Pastoral Care and Counseling Chapter 11: Cultural Ethics as Applied to Pastoral Care Chapter 12: Cross-Cultural Competency and Ethics Chapter 13: Values Clarification in Pastoral Care and Counseling Chapter 14: Pastoral-Care Aspects of Cultural Sensitivity Bibliography
