Pastoral Counseling and Spiritual Direction

7/23/2019 Pastoral Counseling and Spiritual Direction

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/pastoral-counseling-and-spiritual-direction 1/19

P a s t o r a l P s ycho lo g y V o l . 4 1 N o . 4 1 9 9 3

P a s t o r a l C o u n s e l i n g a n d S p i r i t u a l D i r e c t i o n

E n r i c h m e n t W h e r e t h e T w a i n M e e t

J o s e p h D D r i s k i lP

I N T R O D U C T I O N

I n r e c e n t d e c a d e s t h e P r o t e s t a n t c o m m u n i t y h a s b e e n i n c r e a s i n g l y i n -

t e r e s t e d i n w h a t t h e R o m a n C a t h o l ic C h u r c h r e f e rs t o a s s p ir it u a l d ir e c -

t i o n , P r o t e s t a n t p a s t o r a l c a re , w h i c h t u r n e d i n c r e a s in g l y a w a y f r o m i ts o w n

h is to r i ca l and theo log ica l t r ad i t ions to embrace f ind ings in the soc ia l s c i -

e n c e s , h a s a g a i n b e c o m e i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e u n i q u e g i f t s t h a t r e l i g i o u s c o u n -

s e l o r s m a y b r i n g t o t h e c o u n s e l i n g c o n t e x t . S p i r i t u a l d i r e c t i o n p r o v i d e s

s o m e i n s ig h ts i n t o t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f th e o l o g ic a l r e s o u r c e s f o r p r o m o t i n g

g r o w t h a n d h e a l i n g - - a n a i m i t s h a r e s w i t h P r o t e s t a n t p a s t o r a l c a r e .

F a i rc h i ld ( 1 98 2 ) p r o v id e s a g e n e r a l o v e r v ie w o f t h e c o n t r a s t b e t w e e n

s p i r i t u a l d i r e c t i o n , p s y c h o t h e r a p y a n d p a s t o r a l c o u n s e l i n g . T h i s p a p e r , h o w -

e v e r , w i l l c o m p a r e a n d c o n t r a s t t w o a p p r o a c h e s t o p a s t o r a l c a r e a n d t w o

a p p r o a c h e s t o s p ir i tu a l d i r e c t io n b y f o c u s i n g o n t h r e e t h e m e s : t h e s ig n if i-

c a n c e o f e x p e r ie n t i a l k n o w l e d g e o f G o d ; t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f r e li g io u s / sp i ri -

t u a l a n d p s y c h o l o g i c a l i n s i g h t s f o r t h e o r y a n d p r a c t i c e ; a n d t h e r o l e o f

e th ics an d soc ia l ju s t i ce co ncern s . W hi le th i s d i s cus s ion w i ll p rov ide in s igh t s

w h i c h a r e m u t u a l l y b e n e f i c i a l t o b o t h p a s t o r a l c a r e a n d s p i r i t u a l d i r e c t i o n ,

the spo t l igh t he re w il l focu s on w ays sp i r itua l d i r ec t ion m ay e f f ec t ive ly in-

f o r m p a s t o r a l c a r e .

T h e f o u r a p p r o a c h e s h a v e b e e n s e l e c t e d b o t h b e c a u s e t h e y a r e d i s -

t in c t iv e a n d b e c a u s e o f t h e i m p a c t t h e s e w o r k s h a v e h a d i n t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e

f i e l d s . S e w a r d H i l t n e r ' s Pastoral Counseling, pub l i shed in 1949 , s e rved fo r

a l m o s t t w e n t y y e a r s a s a s t a n d a r d t e x t i n P r o t e s t a n t p a s t o r a l c a r e ( C o n n ,

1987 , p . 37 ) . Howard C l inebe l l ' s

Basic Typ es o f Pastoral Ca re an d Counsel-

ing. Resources fo r the Ministry o f Hea ling a nd Grow th (1984) i s a s t andard

1 J o s e p h D . D ri sk iI 1 G r a d u a t e T h e o l o g i c a l U n i o n 8 1 7 P o m o n a A v e n u e E1 C e r r i to C A 9 4 5 30 .

2 1 7

© 1993 Hum an Sciences Press Inc.



2 8 D r i s k i l l

p a s t o r a l c a r e t e x t . K e n n e t h L e e c h ' s

Soul Friend

( 1 9 7 7 ) a n d W i l l i a m A .

B a r r y a n d W i l l i a m J . C o n n o l l y ' s The Practice o f Spiritual irection (1982)

r e p r e s e n t t w o a p p r o a c h e s t o s p i r i t u a l d i r e c t i o n w h i c h a r e i n f l u e n t i a l i n t h e

A n g l i c a n a n d R o m a n C a t h o l i c c o m m u n i t i e s .

E X P E R I E N T I L P P R O C H T O G O D

Spi r i tua l d i r ec t ion a f f i rms the cen t r a l i ty o f pe r son a l r e l ig ious exper i -

e n c e . P a s t o r a l s p ir i tu a l g u i d a n c e fi rs t h e i g h t e n s a w a r e n e s s o f G o d , a n d

t h e n r a is e s a p p r o p r i a t e r e s p o n s e to G o d ' s p r e s e n c e a n d a c ti o n ( L i e b e r t ,

1 9 8 9, p . 2 9 8 ). A c c o r d i n g t o B a r r y a n d C o n n o l l y ( 1 9 8 2 ) t h e

focus

of sp i r i tua l

d i r e c t i o n i s n o t t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n t h e d i r e c t o r a n d t h e d i r e c t e e , b u t

t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n t h e d i r e c t e e a n d G o d ( C o n n o l l y , 1 97 5, p. 9 9;

N e u f e l d e r a n d C o e l h o , 1 98 2, p. 1 7). T h i s , o f c o u r s e , a s s u m e s t h a t s u c h a

r e l a t io n s h i p is n o t o n l y p o s s i b l e b u t t h a t i t is a ls o a f f i r m e d b y b o t h d i r e c t o r

and d i r e c tee (Bar ry , 1987, p. 76) . Ba r ry and Co nno l ly (1982) v iew th i s ex -

p e r i e n t i a l r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n G o d a n d t h e d i r e c t e e a s i n t e g ra l f o r d e f i n -

ing sp ir i tual d i rec t ion:

W e d e f i n e C h r i s t ia n s p i r it u a l d i re c t io n , t h e n , a s h e l p g i v e n b y o n e C h r i s t ia n t o

a n o t h e r w h i c h e n a b l e s t h a t p e r s o n t o p a y a t t e n t i o n to G o d s p e r s o n a l c o m m u n i c a -

t io n t o h i m o r h e r , t o r e s p o n d t o t h is p e r s o n a l ly c o m m u n i c a t i n g G o d , t o g ro w i n

i n t im a c y w i th t h i s G o d , a n d t o l iv e o u t t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f t h e r e l a ti o n s h i p . T h e

f o c u s o f t h i s t y p e o f s p i r i t u a l d i r e c t i o n i s o n e x p e r i e n c e , n o t i d e a s , a n d s p e c i f i c a l l y

o n r e l i g i o u s e x p e r i e n c e , i . e . , a n y e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e m y s t e r i o u s O t h e r w h o m w e c a l l

G o d . ( p . 8 )

B a r r y a n d C o n n o l l y ( 1 9 8 2 ) i d e n t i f y t w o r e a c t i o n s t o r e l i g i o u s e x p e r i -

e n c e s w h i c h h a v e v e r y d i f f e r e n t c o n s e q u e n c e s . I n t h e f i r s t i n s t a n c e a p e r s o n

h a s a s p o n t a n e o u s r e a c t i o n t o G o d , b u t o n l y a m o m e n t a r y d e s i r e t o r e -

s p o n d . P e r s o n s , fo r ex a m p l e , m a y e n c o u n t e r s o m e t h i n g i n n a t u r e w h i c h

e l ic i ts a p r o f o u n d s e n s e o f t h a n k f u l n e s s ; t h e y h a v e a d e s i r e t o th a n k G o d

f o r t h e b e a u t y , b u t t h e e v e n t i ts e l f s e e m s li ke a n i s o l a t e d e x p e r i e n c e . I t

m a y b e r e m e m b e r e d , b u t i t r e m a i n s a r e la t iv e l y i s o la t e d e x p e r i e n c e o f

G od (Ba r ry and Con no l ly , 1982 , p . 34 ) .

T h e o t h e r t y p e o f re a c t i o n n o t e d b y B a r r y a n d C o n n o l l y ( 1 98 2 ) m a y

a l s o b e b a s e d o n a m e a n i n g f u l e n c o u n t e r w i t h n a t u r e , b u t r a t h e r t h a n b e i n g

i s o l a t e d f r o m t h e f a b r i c o f t h e p e r s o n ' s l if e i t is i n t e g r a t e d i n to a n o n g o i n g

c o n s c i o u s r e l at i o n sh i p w i th G o d . H e r e t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f a s u n s e t m a y s e r v e

a s a n o t h e r i n s ta n c e o f h o w m u c h G o d p r o v id e s ; o r it m a y s e r ve a s a r e-

m i n d e r t h a t o n e h a s b e e n t a k in g G o d f o r g r a n t e d l a te l y a n d s h o u l d r e c o n -

n e c t . B a r r y a n d C o n n o l l y ( 1 98 2 ) c o n t e n d t h e i n t e g r a t io n o f a r e li g io u s

e x p e r i e n c e i n to o n e ' s p e r s o n a l e x p e r i e n c e o f G o d ' s a c t iv i ty p ro v i d e s f o r t h e



P a s t o r a l C o u n s e l i n g a n d S p i r i t u a l D i r e c t i o n 2 9

t y p e o f d i v i n e - h u m a n r e l a ti o n s h i p w h i c h m a k e s s p i ri tu a l d i r e c t i o n m o s t

va luab le (Bar ry and Conno l ly , 1982 , p . 35 ) .

L e e c h ( 1 97 7 ) c o n t e n d s t h a t t h is e x p e ri e n ti a l a w a r e n e s s o f G o d ' s p r e s -

e n c e i n h u m a n l if e s h o u l d b e a p r i m a r y f o c u s o f a n y m i n i st e r. H e i n s is ts

t h a t a n y p a s to r a l w o r k w h ic h d o e s n o t n u r t u r e t hi s a w a r e n e s s o f t a k in g

p r a y e r , s t u d y , a n d a s c et ic a l t h e o l o g y se r io u s ly is b o u n d t o w a n e o r b e c o m e

super f i c ia l . In Leech ' s (1977) h i s to r ica l ly in fo rmed approach to sp i r i tua l d i -

r e c t i o n i t is t h e e c c l e si a s ti c a l c o m m u n i t y w h i c h f o s t e r s a n d n u r t u r e s o n e ' s

r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d :

T h e o l o g y is a n e n c o u n t e r w i t h t h e l iv in g G o d , n o t a n u n c o m m i t t e d a c a d e m i c e x -

e r ci s e. T h i s e n c o u n t e r c a n n o t s u r v i v e i f i ts o n l y lo us i s t h e l e c t u r e t h e a t e r o r t h e

l ib r ar y . I t n e e d s t h e n o u r i s h m e n t o f s a c r a m e n t a l w o r s h i p , o f s o l i tu d e , o f p a s t o r a l

c a r e a n d t h e c u r e o f s o u ls . T h e o l o g y m u s t ar i s e o u t o f a n d b e c o n s t a n t l y r e la t e d

t o a l i v i n g s i t u a t i o n . p . 3 6 )

H i l t n e r ( 1 9 4 9 ) a n d C l i n e b e l l ( 1 9 8 4 ) , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , d o n o t d i -

r e c t l y a d d r e s s t h e p o s s i b il it y o f p a r ti c i p a t in g i n a n a u t h e n t i c m e a n i n g f u l

p e r s o n a l r e l a t io n s h i p w i th G o d . H i l t n e r ( 1 9 4 9 ) sp e a k s o f C h r i s t 's m a n d a t e

t o p r e a c h t h e g o s p e l a n d h e a l t h e s i c k a s t h e p r i m a r y w o r k o f t h e p a s t o r .

W h i l e t h i s m a n d a t e m a y g u i d e t h e p a s t o r ' s a c t i v i t y , i t d o e s n o t n e c e s s a r i l y

e m p o w e r i t i n a s p i ri tu a l ly e n ri c h i n g e x p e r ie n t i a l m a n n e r . B r o a d l y s p e a k -

in g, t h e s p e c i a l a im o f p a s t o r a l c o u n s e l i n g m a y b e s t a t e d a s t h e a t t e m p t

b y a p a s t o r t o h e l p p e o p l e h e l p t h e m s e l v e s t h r o u g h t h e p r o c e s s o f g a in i ng

u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e i r i n n e r c o n f l i c ts ( H i l t n e r , 1 9 49 , p . 1 9 ). T h e f o c u s

h e r e i s t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n t h e p a s t o r a n d t h e p e r s o n s e e k i n g a i d .

H i l t n e r ' s ( 1 9 4 9 ) in t e r e s t i n th e w a y p s y c h o l o g i c a l p r i n ci p le s , m e t h o d s ,

a n d t e c h n i q u e s i m p a c t o n h e a l i n g r e s u l t s i n a p a s t o r a l c o u n s e l i n g a p p r o a c h

w h i c h d o e s n o t f o c u s o n t h e r e l a t io n s h ip b e t w e e n t h e p e r s o n n e e d i n g h e l p

a n d G o d . T h i s b e c o m e s v e r y e v i d e n t i n a s e c ti o n o f hi s b o o k w h i c h d e a l s

wi th r e l ig ious r esources ( e .g . , sp i r i tua l d i r ec t ion and p rayer ) u se fu l to the

p a s t o r a l c o u n s e l o r . I n t h e b r i e f se c t i o n o n s p i r it u a l d i r e c t io n , H f l t n e r ( 1 9 4 9 )

s e e s m e r i t i n p e r i o d i c c o n s u l t a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e c t e r g y p e r s o n a n d t h e p a -

r i sh ioner . He i s , however , p r imar i ly f ea r fu l tha t sp i r i tua l d i r ec t ion may lo -

c a t e t o o m u c h a u t h o r i t y in t h e d i r e c t o r. H e s p e a k s o f t h e n e e d f o r s p i ri tu a l

d i r e c t o r s t o a d o p t p s y c h o l o g i c a l ly i n f o r m e d m e t h o d s o f c o u n s e l in g . H i s f ai l-

u r e t o m e n t i o n a n y r e f e r e n c e t o G o d i n t h i s s e c t i o n b e l i e s h i s i m p l i e d a s -

s u m p t i o n t h a t s p i ri tu a l d i r e c t i o n c a n b e r e d u c e d t o a f o r m o f s u p p o r t i v e

c o u n s e l i n g . H e r e f e r s t o t h e s p i ri tu a l d i r e c t o r a s a p u b l i c - h e a l t h m a n w h o

ass is t s the pe r so n in a r ev iew o f h is sp i r i tua l I if e and he lps in the app l i -

c a t i o n o f t h e r a p y w h e r e t h a t s e e m s i n d i c a t e d ( H i l t n e r , 1 9 49 , p . 9 2 ).

O n e s e c t i o n o f

Pastoral ounseling

( H i l t n e r , 1 9 4 9) d i s c u s s e s p r a y e r

as an ac t iv i ty wh ich is p r imar i ly psyc ho log ica l ly the ra peu t ic . H i l tne r (1949)

c a u t i o n s t h e p a s t o r t o p r a y i n a m a n n e r t h a t i t i s t h e r a p e u t i c a l l y h e l p f u l



2 2 D r i s k i l l

t o t h e c l ie n t , e .g . , t h e p a r i s h i o n e r ' s e m o t i o n a l n e e d s s h o u l d b e a f f i r m e d

b e f o r e G o d , a n d h e a l t h y C h r i s t i a n a t t i t u d e s t o w a r d s u f f e r in g s h o u l d b e a f -

f i rm e d . T h e r e i s n o m e n t i o n o f a p e r s o n a l e n c o u n t e r w h e r e G o d ' s h e a l i n g

p o w e r c o u l d b e m a n i f e s t e d .

I t i s o n l y i n H i l t n e r ' s ( 1 9 4 9 ) u s e o f a n e x t e n d e d q u o t a t i o n f r o m

R u s s e l l D i c k s ( 1 9 4 7 ) t h a t o n e g a i n s a s e n s e o f th e r o l e t h a t t h e d i v i n e - h u -

m a n r e l a t i o n s h i p m i g h t c o n t r i b u t e in t h e p a s t o r a l c o u n s e l i n g c o n te x t :

The problem of health and of regaining health . . . is bas ically the problem of es-

tab lish ing and main ta in ing a p ro per re la t ionsh ip wi th G o d . . . I f we do know God 's

healing power, if we do pay a ttention to i t, a mea surab le change occurs . Let a

person be deeply anxious , or lonely, or despairing, or bit ter in his i l lness . Then le t

him re ally exp erien ce in his inmost aw areness the consciousness that, all the tim e

he has b een anxious o r lone ly o r despa i r ing o r b i t te r , the hea l ing power o f G od

has been trying to break through and bring him health and new life . He re laxes ,

not jus t on the surface, but deep ins ide . A power greater than himself , greater than

his physician, is fighting, has been fighting, and will go on fighting on his side.

Som ethin g happ en s in his bod y as well as in his soul . . . Th e consciousness of

God 's hea l ing power i s thus i t se l f an agen t o r ins t rument o f tha t hea l ing power ,

hand in hand with medicine, psychiatry , and a ll the other arts of healing based on

scientific observation. (p. 195)

H i l t n e r ' s ( 1 9 4 9 ) q u o t a t i o n f r o m D i c k s ( 1 9 4 7 ) i s s u g g e s t i v e , b u t h e d o e s n o t

e l a b o r a t e a t a n y p o i n t o n t h e t h e o l o g i c a l o r p s y c h o l o g i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e t o

p a s t o r a l c o u n s e l i n g o f a d i v i n e - h u m a n e x p e r i e n t i a l e n c o u n t e r .

H o w a r d C l i n e b e l l (1 9 8 4) , o n th e o t h e r h a n d , d o e s s u g g e s t th a t s p i r i -

t u a l n u r t u r e a n d a n e n c o u n t e r w i t h t h e d i v in e c a n b e b a s i c t o h e a l t h a n d

g r o w t h . C l i n e b e l l (1 9 8 4) a r g u e s t h a t p a s t o r a l c a r e a n d c o u n s e l i n g s e e k t o

e m p o w e r g r o w t h t o w a r d w h o l e n e s s i n s ix i n t e r d e p e n d e n t a s p e c t s o f a p e r -

s o n ' s l if e : 1 ) e n l i v e n i n g o n e ' s m i n d ( t h i n k i n g , f e e l i n g , e x p e r i e n c i n g , e n v i -

s i o n i n g , c r e a t in g ) ; 2 ) r e v i t a l i z i n g o n e ' s b o d y ; 3) r e n e w i n g a n d e n r i c h i n g

o n e ' s i n t i m a t e r e l a t io n s h i p s ; 4) d e e p e n i n g o n e ' s r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h n a t u r e

t h r o u g h e c o l o g i c a l a w a r e n e s s , c o m m u n i o n a n d c a r i n g ; 5 ) r e l a t i n g t o i n s t i -

t u t i o n s b y t r a n s f o r m i n g u n j u s t s o c ia l , p o l i t i c a l , a n d e c o n o m i c s t r u c t u r e s

w h e r e v i o l e n c e , e x p l o i t a t i o n a n d o p p r e s s i o n o c c u r ; a n d 6 ) d e e p e n i n g a n d

v i t a l i z in g o n e ' s r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d ( C l i n e b e l l , 1 9 84 , p p . 3 1 - 33 ) . S p i r i t u a l

g r o w t h is i d e n t i f i e d a s t h e u n i f y in g b o n d w h i c h l i n k s t h e o t h e r a s p e c t s

o f g r o w t h . C l i n e b e l l ( 1 9 8 4 ) s a y s:

Th e key to hum an flowering is an ope n, trustful, nourishing, joy-f ull relati onsh ip

with th e loving Spirit who is the so urce o f all life, all healing, all growth. M eth od s

of spiri tual healing and growth a im at enhancing our meanings , o ur guiding values ,

our fa i th , our moments o f t ranscendence ( peak exper iences ~Mas low), and our

empowering re la tionship with the creative Spiri t of the universe . . . . Theo logical

education should equip us with resources and skil ls for helping people come alive

a t the i r cen te r- - the i r h igher Se l f , which is the i r inner po in t o f con tac t wi th God .

(pp. 33-34)



P a s t o r a l C o u n s e l i n g a n d S p i r i t u a l D i r e c t i o n 2 2

C l i nebe l l ( 1984 ) o f f e r s s ome s ugges t i ons abou t couns e l i ng me t hods

w h i c h e m e r g e f r o m h is t h e o r e t i c a l f ra m e w o r k f o r p a s to r a l c a r e . I n h is c h a p -

t e r o n F a c i li ta t in g S p ir it u al W h o l e n e s s : T h e H e a r t o f P a s t o r a l C a r e a n d

C ou ns e l i ng , t he exp e r i en t i a l na t u r e o f s p i ri tua l i ty is exp r e s s ed i n t he l an -

guag e o f p sycho l og is t s w h o h ave b een i n t e r e s t ed i n s p i ri tua l it y , e .g ., M as l ow

(1954) an d Assagio l i (1965). H e says, Pa s tor s should he lp the i r co un se lee s

d i s cove r w ays o f f u lf il li ng t he i r n ee d f o r a s ens e o f w on de r an d t r ans cen -

d e n c e , f o r ' p e a k e x p e r i e n c e ' i n w h i c h t h e y b e c o m e a w a r e o f t h e i r o n e n e s s

w i t h hum ank i nd , w i th t he b i o s phe r e , and w i t h Sp i ri t ( C l inebe l l, 1984 , p .

112).

In a lis t o f ques t ions wh ich Cl inebe l l (1984) provides for d iagno s t i c

and t r ea t men t pu r pos es o f exp l i c i t l y s p i r i t ua l i s s ues , w e s ee s ome t h i ng o f

t he n a t u r e o f hi s expe r i en t i a l app r oach . H e be l ieves t he pas t o r a l cou ns e l o r

mus t d i scern i f the r e l ig ious be l i e f s , a t t i tudes , and prac t i ces of the c l i en t

provide an in tegra t ing , energ iz ing , g rowing re la t ionsh ip wi th tha t lov ing

Spi r it tha t r e lig ions ca ll G od (Cl inebe l I , 1984 , p . 118). D o th ey nu r tu re

t he t r a ns c en den t d i mens i ons o f pe r s ons ' lives , t he i r h i ghe r Se lf ? D o t hey

b r in g t h e i n n e r e n r i c h m e n t a n d g r o w t h t h a t c o m e f r o m p e a k e x p e r i e n c e s

(Cl ineb el l , 198 4, 118)?

As Cl inebe l l (1984) speaks about sp i r i tua l d i rec t ion , however , there

i s no t a s ens e t ha t an expe r i en t i a l r e l a t i ons h i p be t w een G od and human-

k ind power fu l ly in f luences a l l g rowth and hea l ing . C lear ly sp i r i tua l i ty p ro-

v i d e s t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l f r a m e w o r k f o r h i s f o c u s o n g r o w t h . Y e t t h i s

p r opos i t i on does no t f o s t e r an expe r i en t i a l a f f i r ma t i on abou t t he G od- hu -

man r e l a t i ons h i p s uch a s one w ou l d f i nd i n B a r r y and C onno l l y ( 1982) o r

Leech (1977; 1989) .

I n s t ead , C l inebe l l' s (1984) pos i ti on a ppea r s t o r e f lec t a co m m on P r o t -

e s t an t pos i t i on w h i ch acknow l edges a g r ow i ng app r ec i a t i on f o r , bu t i nade -

q u a t e u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f , t h e m i n i st r y o f sp i ri tu a l d i r e c t io n . W i t h o u t a n

app r ec i a t i on f o r t he cen t r a l i t y i n s p i r i t ua l d i r ec t i on o f a mean i ng f u l expe -

r ie n t ia l r e l a ti o n s h ip b e t w e e n G o d a n d t h e d i r e c t e e , th e i n t e g r a t in g c o r e o f

sp i r i tua l d i rec t ion i s missed . Sp i r i tua l exerc i ses and techniques a re r ecog-

n i zed by C l inebe l l (1984) a s u s e f u l; they a r e r e co m m en de d , bu t t h e p r o -

f o u n d e x p e r i e n ti a l n a t u r e o f t h e r e la t io n s h ip b e t w e e n G o d a n d h u m a n k i n d

upon w h i ch t hey a r e bas ed i s no t add r e s s ed .

I n t h e c o n t e x t o f t h e d i a l o g u e b e t w e e n p a s t o ra l c o u n s e l i n g a n d s p ir i-

t ua l d i r ec t i on , t he t heo l og i ca l a s s um pt i ons o f s p i ri tua l d i r ec t i on m ak e i t

i n c u m b e n t u p o n p a s t o r a l c a r e t o r e e x a m i n e its o w n t h e o l o g i c a l f o u n d a t i o n .

S p i ri tu a l d i r e c t i o n r e q u i r e s a c o m m i t m e n t b y b o t h t h e d i r e c t o r a n d d i r e c-

t e e t o G o d ' s p e r s o n a l s e l f -c o m m u n i c a t io n . T h e i m p l ic a t io n o f th is e x p e -

r i e n t i a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s u g g e s t s t h e o l o g i c a l l a n g u a g e c a n n o t b e r e d u c e d t o

t h e l a n g u a g e o f t h e s o c ia l s c ie n c e s w i t h o u t r e m a i n d e r ( S c h n e i d e r s , 1 98 4).



Dr i s k i l l

I s t h e r e a p o s si b il it y t h a t c o m m i t m e n t t o t h e e x p e r i e n t ia l n a t u r e o f G o d ' s

s e l f - c o m m u n i c a t i o n m i g h t f a c i l i t a t e t h e h e a l i n g o r g r o w i n g p r o c e s s e s o f

r e li g io u s p e r s o n s p a r t i c i p a t in g in p a s t o r a l c o u n s e l in g ? B a r r y a n d C o n n o t l y

( 1 9 8 2 ) a n d L e e c h ( 1 9 7 7 ) w o u l d sa y y e s . P a s t o r a l c o u n s e l i n g w i ll m i s s

m u c h o f th e i m p a c t o f G o d ' s h e a l in g p r e s e n c e i f G o d t a lk r e m a i n s t a n -

g e n t i a l t o t h e p r o c e s s o r i s v i e w e d a s e x h a u s t e d b y s o c ia l s c ie n t if ic e x p l a -

n a t i o n s .

I M P O R T A N C E O F R E L I G I O U S / S P I R I T U A L A N D P S Y C H O L O G I C A L

I N S I G H T S F O R T H E O R Y A N D P R A C T I C E

S e w a r d H i l t n e r ' s ( 19 4 9 ) c o u n s e l i n g p r a c t i c e s a r e u n d e r g i r d e d b y t h e

b e l i e f t h a t t h e r e a r e c e r t a i n essential h u m a n n e e d s o f t h e p e r s o n a l i t y , d is -

t i n g u i s h a b l e f r o m b i o l o g i c a l n e e d s , w h i c h i f n o t g i v e n e x p r e s s i o n , r e s u l t in

a v i o la t io n o f h u m a n n a t u r e . F r o m t h e C h r i s t ia n - t h e o l o g i c a l p o i n t o f v i ew

t h e i m p l i c a t i o n is t h a t G o d c r e a t e d t h e h u m a n b e i n g w i th c e r t a i n b a si c

n e e d s w h i c h a r e d e n i e d a t o n e ' s p e r il . T h e C h r i s t i a n p a s t o r a l c o u n s e l o r

m a k e s a n a d d i t io n a l t h e o l o g i c a l a f f ir m a t i o n : t h e H o l y S p i ri t o r d i v in e g r a c e

i s o p e r a t i v e w h e n p o s i t i v e p o t e n t i a l i t i e s e m e r g e , o s t e n s i b l y s p o n t a n e o u s l y ,

f r o m t h e m i d s t o f a t r o u b l e d , c o n f u s e d p e r s o n . T h e i m p l i c a ti o n s o f t h is

a f f i r m a t i o n , h o w e v e r , a r e n o t d e v e l o p e d b y H i l t n e r ( 19 4 9 ).

H i l t n e r ' s ( 19 4 9) a p p r o a c h , b o t h t o t h e n a t u r e o f t h e h u m a n p e r s o n -

a li ty a n d t o a p p r o p r i a t e m e t h o d s f o r p a s t o r a l c o u n s e l i n g , is g u i d e d m o r e

b y p s y c h o l o g i c a l t h a n t h e o l o g i c a l i n s ig h t s. E v e n i n h is l a t e r w o r k , Theologi

cal Dynamics ( 1 97 2 ) t h e f o c u s is o n t h e w a y in w h i c h t h e o l o g i c a l c o n c e p t s

a r e e n r i c h e d w h e n t h e i r p s y c h o l o g i c al d y n a m i c is u n d e r s t o o d . H i s t h e o r y

o f p e r s o n a l i t y is g r o u n d e d i n d y n a m i c p s y c h o l o g y . H i s f o c u s o n t h e a c c e p -

t a n c e o f t h e c l i e n t' s u n f o l d i n g f e e li n g s as a c o u n s e l i n g m e t h o d r e f le c t s H i l t-

n e t ' s ( 1 94 9 ) r e li a n c e o n t h e in f l u e n ti a l m e t h o d s o f C a r l R o g e r s ( R o g e r s ,

1 94 2; R o g e r s a n d W a l l e n , 1 9 4 6; H o l if i el d , 1 9 8 3) . H i l t n e r ( 1 9 4 9 ) s u m m a r i z e s

h is m e t h o d i n f i v e p o i n t s :

1) The counseling process focuses attention on the parishioner's situation and his

feelings about it. 2) The counseling proceeds through real understanding on the

pastor's p art o f how the parishioner fee ls about the situation, and through com-

mun ication o f the reality of that u nderstanding. 3) W hen co nflicting feelings of the

parishioner em erge in co unseling, the p astor first aid s the parishion er in clarifying

the elements of the co nflict and their relative pu ll upon him . 4) The counseling

relationship contains a special kin d of freedom on the p art o f the parishioner, as

well as a special kin d of limitation. The ba sic limitation upon the parishioner is

that h e a ccept the pasto r's task as helping him to help him self, and not as telling

him what to do or precisely how to do it . . . The parishioner should be free to

express or withhold any statements about his feelings. 5) The counseling process



Pastora | Co unse l ing and Spir itu al Direct ion 3

should include, on one or m ore ap propriate occasions, that which will aid in con-

solidation of the insights ach ieved or the clarifications gained. (pp . 47-48, 51, 54)

T h r o u g h o u t t h e b o o k H i l t n e r ( 1 94 9 ) u s e s a s a p e d a g o g i c a l t e c h n i q u e in -

s i g h t s g a i n e d f r o m c r i t i c a l l y e v a l u a t i n g p a s t o r - p a r i s h i o n e r e n c o u n t e r s . E m -

p a t h i c a n d c l a r i f y i n g r e s p o n s e s a r e n o r m a t i v e .

S i g n i f i c a n t l y o n e d o e s n o t f i n d i n t h i s m e t h o d

per se

a n y t h i n g w h i c h

d i s ti n g u i s h e s p a s t o r a l c o u n s e l i n g f r o m o t h e r t y p e s o f c o u n s e l in g . I n f a c t ,

H i l t n e r ( 1 9 5 2 ) w a s c o n c e r n e d t h a t p a s t o r a l c o u n s e l o r s m i g h t f e e l i t n e c e s -

s a r y t o s p e a k o n l y o f r e li g io u s m a t t e r s . A s t o c o u n s e l in g m e t h o d s . . . . t h e

b a s i c m e t h o d s o f th e p a s t o r a n d o f o t h e r c o u n s e l o r s i s s o n e a r ly s i m i la r a s

to be a lm os t ide n t i ca l - - i f coun se l ing is go od (H i l tne r , 1949 , p . 121) . H i l t -

n e r ( 1 9 4 9 ) n o t e s , h o w e v e r , t h a t p a s t o r a l c o u n s e l o r s h a v e a d i f f e r e n t r o l e

a n d l o c i o f f u n c t i o n t h a n o t h e r c o u n s e l o rs , b u t h e e m p h a s i z e s t h e b a s i c

m e t h o d s a n d a p p r o a c h a r e t h e s a m e o n c e c o u n s e li n g it s el f h a s b e g u n

(Hiltner , 1949, p. 121).

H i l t n e r ( 1 9 4 9 ) d e v o t e s a t t e n t i o n t o t h e r e l i g i o u s r e s o u r c e s u p o n w h i c h

t h e p a s t o r m a y d r a w . T h e s e i n c l u d e p r a y e r , t h e B i b l e , s p i r i t u a l d i r e c t i o n ,

C h r i s t ia n d o c t r i n e s , s a c r a m e n t s a n d r it e s. H e is c l e a rl y v e r y c o n c e r n e d t h a t

t h e s e r e s o u r c e s n o t b e u s e d i n a m o r a l i s t i c f a s h i o n o r a m a n n e r w h i c h i s

n o t p s y c h o lo g i c a l ly t h e r a p e u t i c . I n t h e s e d i s c u s s io n s o n e g l i m p s e s e l e m e n t s

o f hi s p e r s o n a l f a it h c o m m i t m e n t . H e s p e a k s , f o r e x a m p l e , o f s a c r a m e n t s

a n d r i t e s a s e x p r e s s in g s y m b o l i c a l ly t h e r e l a t io n b e t w e e n f u n d a m e n t a l r e -

l ig i o us t ru t h a n d t h e m o s t c o m m o n a c t s o f l i fe ( H i l t n e r , 1 94 9, p . 2 2 3 ) .

H i s r e f e r e n c e s t o t h e u s e o f re l ig i o u s r e s o u r c e s i n th e c o u n s e l i n g c o n t e x t

n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g , h is m e t h o d is i n f o r m e d p r in c i p a ll y b y p s y c h o l o g i c a l in -

s ights .

H o w a r d C l i n e b e l l ' s 1 9 6 6 e d i t i o n o f

asic Ty pes o f Pastoral C ounseling

r e f l e c t e d a m o v e a w a y f r o m t h e R o g e r i a n - p s y c h o a n a l y t i c a p p r o a c h t o a r e -

l a t i o n s h i p - c e n t e r e d a p p r o a c h . C l in e b e l l ( 1 9 66 ) s o u g h t t o i n c o r p o r a t e i n to

p a s t o r a l c o u n s e l i n g a w i d e r a n g e o f a p p r o a c h e s u n i t e d b y t h e r e l a ti o n s h i p -

c e n t e r e d c o n t e x t. T h e s e i n c lu d e d : fa m i l y g r o u p t h e r a p y , r o l e -r e l a ti o n s h i p

marr iage counsel ing , t ransact ional analys is , c r is is in tervent ion theory , rea l i ty

t h e r a p y , e x i st e n ti a l p s y c h o t h e r a p y , a n d e g o p s y c h o l o g y ( C o n n , 1 98 7). N o w

t h e c l i e n t - c e n t e r e d a p p r o a c h w a s n o l o n g e r n o rm a t i v e ; t r a d i ti o n a l p a s t o r a l

fun ct io ns such as sus ta in ing , guid ing , inspir ing , con fron t ing , an d teac hing

w e r e e m p h a s i z e d . I t m u s t b e n o t e d , h o w e v e r , t h a t s e l f - r e a l i z a t i o n r e m a i n e d

the o pera t ive goa l in h is appro ach . Th e de f in i t ion o f such s e l f -r ea l i za t ion

h a s, h o w e v e r , b e e n b r o a d e n e d t o in c lu d e t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f m o r e m e a n -

ing fu l r e la t ionsh ips w i th ne ighbor and God (Conn , 1987) .

I n t h e s e c o n d e d i t i o n o f

asic Types of Pastoral Care and Counseling

( 1 9 8 4 ) th e t h e m e o f g r o w t h , s o c u s t o m a r y to s e l f- r e a li z a t io n a p p r o a c h e s ,

is e v e n m o r e p r e d o m i n a n t . O b v i o u s l y i n f lu e n c e d b y c r i ti q u e s o f p a s t o r a l



4 D r i s k i l l

c a r e l e v e l e d b y f e m i n i s t a n d l i b e r a t i o n t h e o l o g i a n s a s w e l l a s s o c i al e t h ic i s ts ,

C l i n e b e l l ( 1 9 8 4 ) i n c o r p o r a t e s i n t o h i s t h e o r e t i c a l f r a m e w o r k a s p e c t s o f

t h e s e p e r s p e c t i v e s .

C l i n e b el l ( 1 9 8 4 ) p r e s e n t s a d r a w i n g o f t h e f lo w e r o f w h o l e n e s s t o

i l lu s t ra t e h i s t h e o r e t i c a l f r a m e w o r k . T h e c o r e o f t h e f l o w e r ' s b l o s s o m , w h i c h

r e s e m b l e s a d a is y , is t h e s p ir i tu a l c e n t e r a n d t h e p l a c e w h e r e t h e s e e d s

o f n e w l i f e g r o w ( C l i n e b e l l, 1 9 8 8 , p . 2 1 ) . E a c h o f t h e f iv e p e t a l s a r o u n d

t h e c o r e r e p r e s e n t s o n e o f his i n t e r d e p e n d e n t s y s t e m s , v iz ., b o d y , m i n d ,

i n t i m a t e r e l a t i o n s h i p s , n a t u r e a n d i n s t i t u t i o n s ( C l i n e b e l l , 1 9 8 4 , 3 1 - 3 3 ) . T h i s

f l o w e r il lu s t ra t io n , h o w e v e r , d e m o n s t r a t e s t h e w a y in w h i ch t h e i n t e r r e l a -

t i o n o f t h e v a r i o u s p a r ts is m o r e o n e o f s i m p l e r e l a ti o n s h i p t h a n o f in t e -

g r a t i o n . A u n i f i e d t h e o l o g i c a l p o s i t i o n w h i c h i n t e g r a t e s a n d i n t e r r e l a t e s t h e

s p i r it u a l c e n t e r w i t h t h e s e v a r i o u s a s p e c t s o f g r o w t h i s m i s s in g .

C l i n e b e l l ' s ( 1 9 8 4 ) p r a c t i c a l a p p r o a c h t o s p i r i t u a l i s s u e s a l s o r e v e a l s a

s e p a r a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e s p i r i t u a l / v a l u e i s s u e s a n d t h e p r o b l e m s o r t r o u b l e s

b e i n g e x p e r i e n c e d b y t h e p a r i s h i o n e r :

Th ere are two levels in the process of m uch counseling--helping persons deal with

their immediate problems or crises, and then encouraging them to examine the

underlying value-spiritual issues of w hich their current problems are painful symp-

toms. (pp. 116-117)

C l i n e b e l l ( 1 9 8 4 ) a r g u e s t h a t m i n i s t e r s w h o h e l p p e r s o n s e x c l u s i v e l y

w i t h t h e i r i m m e d i a t e p r o b l e m s d o o n l y h a l f t h e j o b . H e c o n t e n d s t h e c l ie n t

m u s t a l s o b e h e l p e d t o f a c e th e w a y i n w h i c h d i s t o r t e d o r d e s t r u c t i v e v a l u e s

a n d l i fe - s ty l e s c a n b e t h e h i d d e n s o u r c e s o f p r o b l e m s i n v o l v i n g l if e 's m e a n -

ing .

C l i n e b e ll ( 1 98 4 ) s u g g e st s s o m e o p e n i n g q u e s t i o n s a c o u n s e l o r c a n

u s e t o i n v i t e p e o p l e t o e x p l o r e s p i r i t u a l i s s u e s :

How do y ou understand this decision in light of what's m ost important in your life?

How does th is problem with which you're struggling relate to your personal faith,

to your relationship with G od? W ha t have you learn ed from this miserable crisis?

Has it changed your faith? (p. 117)

H e c o n t e n d s t h a t q u e s t i o n s o f t hi s t y p e s h o u l d b e a s k e d o n l y a f t e r tw o

c r i t e r i a a r e m e t : 1 ) a t r u s t f u l r e l a t i o n s h i p i s e s t a b l i s h e d a n d 2 ) t h e s t r e s s

o f s t r u g g l in g w i t h t h e a c u t e p h a s e o f t h e c r is is is d i m i n i s h e d .

B o t h C l i n e b e l l ' s ( 1 9 8 4 ) t h e o r e t i c a l m o d e l a n d h i s p r a c t i c a l m e t h o d

g i v e e x p l i c i t e v i d e n c e o f a c o n c e r n f o r r e l i g i o u s / s p i r i t u a l m a t t e r s w h i c h o n l y

w a s p r e s e n t b y i n f e r e n c e i n H i l t n e r ' s ( 1 9 4 9 ; 1 9 7 2 ) w o r k s . C l i n e b e l l ' s (1 9 8 4 ;

1 9 8 8 ) d i r e c t t r e a t m e n t o f r e li g i o u s / s p ir i tu a l i ss u e s, h o w e v e r , s ti ll s e e m s t o

l a c k a n i n t e g r a t i n g t h e o l o g i c a l f r a m e w o r k .

B a r r y a n d C o n n o l l y ' s (1 9 8 2 ) a ss e r ti o n s a b o u t t h e s e l f - c o m m u n i c a t i n g

c h a r a c t e r o f G o d p r o v i d e t h e t h e o l o g i c a l f o u n d a t i o n i n t o w h i c h p s y c h o l o g i -

c a l i n s i g h t s a r e i n t e g r a t e d . I n c o n t r a s t t o p a s t o r a l c o u n s e l i n g a p p r o a c h e s



Pastoral Cou nsel ing and Sp ir itual Direct ion 5

w h e r e h e a l i n g a n d g r o w t h a r e a s s o c i a t e d w i th t h e r e s o l u t io n o f e m o t i o n a l

c o n f li c ts , B a r r y a n d C o n n o l l y ( 1 9 8 2 ) re l a t e s u c h c o n f l ic t s t o t h e d i r e c t e e s

r e l a t i o n s h i p w i th G o d . T h e r e s o l u t i o n o f s u c h e m o t i o n a l c o n f l ic t s is o n l y

the f i rs t o f two m ajo r pha ses in sp i ri tua l d i r ec t ion .

I n t h e f i r s t s t a g e , th e d i r e c t e e m a y e x p e r i e n c e h i s / h e r o w n e m o t i o n s ,

e .g ., a n g e r , f e a r , gu il t, w i t h o u t a n y a w a r e n e s s o f G o d s p r e s e n c e . H e r e , t h e

d i r e c t e e o f t e n c a n n o t f a t h o m a d e e p l y p e r s o n a l r e l a ti o n s h ip w i th G o d .

O n c e , h o w e v e r , o n e h a s b e e n s u f f ic i e n tl y f r e e d f r o m a n x i e ti e s, a n g e r s a n d

o t h e r f i x a t i o n s , a r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d c a n b e g i n t o f l o w e r . T h u s , e v e n i n

t h is e a r l y s t a g e o f d ir e c t io n , B a r r y a n d C o n n o l l y ( 1 9 8 2 ) d o n o t w a n t t h e

d i r e c t o r t o u s e a n y t e c h n i q u e o r m e t h o d w h i c h w o u l d h a m p e r t h e d e v e l -

o p m e n t o f c o n t e m p l a t i o n b y o v e r tl y f o c u si n g o n t h e d i r e c t o r - d ir e c t e e r e la -

t i o n s h ip . T h i s s t a n d s i n c o n t r a s t t o b o t h H i l t n e r ( 1 9 4 9 ) a n d C l i n e b e l l s

( 1 98 4 ) a p p r o a c h t o p a s to r a l c a r e , w h e r e t h e r e l a t io n s h ip b e t w e e n t h e c o u n -

s e l o r a n d c l i e n t is t h e f o c u s o f t h e h e a l i n g a n d g r o w t h .

In th is f ir s t s t age o f sp i r i tua l d i r ec t ion , Ba r ry and Co nno l ly (1982)

c o n t e n d m e d i t a t in g o n s c r i p tu r e i s u s e d b y t h e d i r e c t e e t o n u r t u r e a n d f o c u s

h e r e x p e r i e n t ia l a w a r e n e s s o f G o d :

T h e y l i s t e n t o t h e g o s p e l t e x t a n d t r e a t i t f o r w h a t i t i s: l i t e r a t u r e i n t e n d e d t o t e a c h

p e o p l e h o w t o l e t it in s p i r e t h e i r i m a g i n a t i o n s a n d e n k i n d l e t h e i r f a i th a s it w a s

w r i t t e n t o d o . B u t t h e d e s i r e is n o t t o k n o w t h e S c r i p t u r e t e x t b e t t e r . R a t h e r i t i s

t o k n o w J e s u s b e t t e r . p . 5 7 )

T h e d i r e c t o r , f o l l o w i n g t h i s m e t h o d , m u s t f i r s t h e l p t h e d i r e c t e e k e e p

f o c u s e d o n h i s /h e r i m p r e s s i o n s o f t h e t e xt . T h i s r e q u i r e s a l lo w i n g t h e d i-

r e c t e e t o f u ll y e x p l o r e t h e p e r s o n a l i m p a c t o f t h e t e x t p r io r t o s e a r c h i n g

o u t o r u n c o v e r i n g i t s p e r s o n a l i m p l i c a t i o n s . A c c o r d i n g t o B a r r y a n d C o n -

n o l l y ( 1 9 8 2 ) t h i s a p p r o a c h f r e q u e n t l y a l l o w s t h e d i r e c t e e t o s e e m o r e i n

t h e t e x t th a n f ir s t r e a li z e d ; t h e s i g n if ic a n c e o f t h e p a s s a g e d e e p e n s a s th e

d i r e c t o r h e l p s t h e d i r e c t e e r e f l e c t m o r e d e e p l y o n i t .

I f d i r e c t o rs d o h e l p d i r e c t e e s t o p a y a t t e n t i o n t o t h e L o r d , t h e y f i n d t h a t t h e s i m p l e

a c t o f l o o k i n g a t t h e L o r d i n a s c r i p t u ra l e v e n t , o r in s o m e o t h e r e v e n t o r s i t u a t i o n ,

i s i n i t s el f p r o d u c t i v e p r a y e r . T h i s c o n t e m p l a t i o n p r o d u c e s , a ll b y it se lf , s p r o u t s o f

l o ve , a ff e c ti o n , a n d d e s i r e ; a n d t h e s e i n t u r n l e a d t h e p e r s o n t o l o o k m o r e c l o s e l y

a t t h e L o r d . T h e l o o k i n g m o r e c l o s e l y c a n g r a d u a l l y b r i n g a b o u t a n e w t r u s t in

h i m o r c o m p a n i o n s h i p w i t h h i m . T h e s e a r c h f o r m e a n i n g , w h i l e v a li d in i ts e lf , c a n

i n t h e c o n t e x t o f c o n t e m p l a t i o n b e a d i s t r ac t i o n f r o m t h i s p r o c e s s B a r r y a n d C o n -

no l ly , 1982 , p . 59 ) .

B y u s in g t h is m e t h o d B a r r y a n d C o n n o l l y ( 1 9 8 2) b e l i e v e t h e o b j e c t

o f t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p ( e.g ., G o d o r J e s u s ) b e g i n s t o a c q u i r e a l if e i n d e p e n d e n t

o f t h e d i r e c te e . A t t hi s j u n c t u r e , t h e d i r e c t e e s e x p e r i e n c e o f G o d s r e a li ty

i s b e c o m i n g m o r e d e f i n e d a n d a s e c o n d s t a g e i n d i r e c t i o n i s r e a l i z e d . N o w

t h e d i r e c t e e i s a b l e t o f u r t h e r d e e p e n h e r a f f e c t i v e r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d

b y s h a r in g h e r f e e li n g s. T h e p u r p o s e o f th i s a f f e c ti v e s h a ri n g , h o w e v e r , is



6 D r i s k i l l

n o t , a s i n p a s t o r a l c o u n s e l i n g , a n i n t r o s p e c t i o n a i m e d a t s e l f - u n d e r s t a n d i n g .

I n s t e a d p e r s o n a l s h a r i n g i s u s e d t o d e e p e n o n e ' s r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h G o d i n

m u c h t h e s a m e w a y o n e w o u l d d e e p e n a re l a ti o n s h ip w i t h a c lo s e fr ie n d .

D i r e c t e e s c a n t e ll t h e d i f f e r e n c e , i f t h e y r e f l e c t, b e t w e e n e x a m i n i n g t h e i r f e e l i n g s

i n o r d e r t o k n o w w h a t t h e y a r e a n d e x p r e s s i n g t h e m s o t h a t t h e o t h e r p e r s o n c a n

k n o w t h e m b e t t e r a n d s h a r e t h e i r li v es m o r e e x p l ic i tl y B a r r y a n d C o n n o l l y , 1 9 82 ,

p. 75).

A c c o r d i n g t o B a r r y a n d C o n n o l l y ( 1 9 8 2 ) i t i s t h i s s h a r i n g p r o c e s s

w h i c h g r a d u a ll y b u t c o n t in u a l ly m o v e s p e o p l e m o r e d e e p l y i n to t h e r e l a-

t ionsh ip . Bas ic des i r es , hopes , loves , f ea r s , anger , and gu i l t f r equen t ly su r -

f a c e ; a s t h e s e e m e r g e i n t o c o n s c i o u s n e s s , t h e d i r e c t o r w i l l h e l p t h e d i r e c t e e

n o t i c e w h a t h a s u n f o l d e d . T h e d i r e c t o r , h o w e v e r , d o e s n o t f o r c e t h e d i r e c -

t e e t o n o t i c e n e w l y c o n s c i o u s m a t e r i a l ; s h e m a y a s k q u e s t i o n s w h i c h e l i c i t

i t i f such i s the w i ll o f the d i r ec tee . Sp i r i tua l d i r ec t ion , in th i s con tex t , i s

b a s e d o n a p r o c e s s o f p r o g r e s s i v e l y g r e a t e r o p e n n e s s t o r ea l i ty t h a t is

f r e e ly u n d e r t a k e n a n d f r e e ly p u r s u e d t h r o u g h a s e ri e s o f u s u a l ly q u ie t ,

s o m e t i m e s d r a m a t i c , d e c is io n s t o s e e a n d n o t b e b li n d ( B a r r y a n d C o n -

nolly, 1982, p. 79) .

A s G o d ' s p r e s e n c e a n d i d e n t i t y a s s u m e a m o r e d e f i n i t e r o l e i n t h e

d i r e c t e e ' s p r a y e r , t h e d i r e c t o r n o t o n l y a v o i d s i n t e r f e r i n g w i t h t h e d i a l o g u e ,

b u t s e e s h e r s e l f a s a f a c i l it a t o r o f t h e e n c o u n t e r . A s t h e c o n t e m p l a t i v e e x -

p e r i e n c e d e e p e n s i t w ill a c q u i r e d i s ti n c ti v e f o r m s in d i f f e r e n t p e r s o n s . G o d

m a y a p p e a r , f o r i n s t a n c e , a s a w e s o m e , d a u n t i n g , l o v i n g , e n i g m a t i c , h e a l i n g ,

a n d d i s c o n c e r t i n g .

T h r o u g h a ll t h e s e w a y s in w h i c h th e L o r d s h o w s h i m s e lf , t h e c o m m o n e l e m e n t i s

h i s r e a li ty . H e i s n o t a n i d e a t o b e t h o u g h t a b o u t , a s e t o f v a lu e s t o b e c o n s i d e r e d ,

a n i m a g e t o b e h a n d l e d b y th e i m a g i n a t i o n . T h e p e r s o n p r a y in g h a s t h e s e n s e th a t

h e i s n o t c o n t r o l l i n g t h e w a y th e L o r d s e e m s to h i m . S o m e o n e e l s e i s s e t t i n g t h e

d i r e c t i o n o f t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p , d e c i d i n g i ts e v e n t s . T h e p r a y i n g p e r s o n d o e s n o t l o o k

f o r h e l p f u l t h o u g h t s , w o r k u p f e e li n g s , o r c o n c o c t i m a g e s . H e s i m p l y l o o k s a t t h e

L o r d a s h e a p p e a r s i n S c r i p t u r e o r i n e x p e r i e n c e , p u t s h i m s e l f b e f o r e h i m a s h e i s,

a n d l e t s h a p p e n w h a t w il l h a p p e n B a r r y a n d C o n n o l l y , 19 82 , p . 6 2 ).

H e r e , B a r r y a n d C o n n o l l y (1 9 8 2) d e m o n s t r a t e t h e i r o w n f a it h in

G o d ' s p o w e r t o t r a n s f o r m h u m a n a f f a i r s . T h i s f a i t h , h o w e v e r , d o e s n o t

b l i n d t h e m t o p s y c h o l o g i c a l r e a l i t i e s e i t h e r a t t h e t h e o r e t i c a l o r p r a c t i c a l

l e v e l . T h e y a c k n o w l e d g e , f o r e x a m p l e , t h e r o l e t h a t p s y c h o l o g i c a l p r o c e s s e s ,

s u c h a s p r o j e c t io n , m a y p la y in t h e d i r e c t e e 's u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f G o d ( G r a n t

a n d H a y e s , 1 99 0). C l e a r l y t h e in it ia l p e r c e p t i o n s o f G o d ' s a u t o n o m y w i ll

u s u a l l y still b e l im i t e d b y t h e d i r e c t e e ' s s u b c o n s c i o u s c o n c e p t i o n s ( B a r r y

and Connol ly , 1982, p . 61) .

T h e i n te r v ie w i n g p r a c t i c e s u s e d b y B a r r y a n d C o n n o l l y ( 19 8 2 ) s h a r e

w i th H i l t n e r ( 1 94 9 ) a d e p e n d e n c e o n t h e r e s e a r c h o f R o g e r s ( 1 9 42 , 1 9 61 )



Pastoral ou nse ling and Spiritual Direction

7

e .g ., m o v i n g a t t h e c l i e n t s p a c e i n a n a f f i rm a t i v e e n v i r o n m e n t . T h e a g e n d a

o f t h e d i r e c t e e - i n - r e l a t i o n s h i p s e t s t h e d i r e c t i o n a n d p a c e o f t h e g r o w t h

p r o c e s s . S e l f - r e a l i z a t i o n t h r o u g h a g r a d u a l u n f o l d i n g , h o w e v e r , i s i n t h e

s p i r i t u a l d i r e c t i o n p r o c e s s t r a n s f o r m e d t o a s e l f - t r a n s c e n d i n g p e r s p e c t i v e

w h e r e o n e a t t e n d s t o G o d s a g e n d a f o r t h e r e l a ti o n sh i p . T h e r e is a g e n -

t l e n e s s t o t h e p r o c e s s th a t s e e s a s t r a n s f o r m a t i v e t h e d e e p e n i n g o f t h e r e -

l a t io n s h i p w i t h G o d t h r o u g h t h e e x p r e s s i o n o f o n e s d e e p e s t f e e l in g s .

In sp i t e o f the i r s ens i t iv i ty to psycho log ica l in s igh t s , Bar ry an d C on -

h o l l y ( 1 9 82 ) d o n o t d e f i n e t h e p r o c e s s e x c l u si v e ly b y it s p s y c h o l o g i c a l c o m -

p o n e n t s . R e l i g i o u s a n d s p i ri tu a l c o n c e r n s a r e n o t o n ly v a l u e d , t h e y s h a p e

t h e p r o c e s s . T h e o l o g i c a l a f f i r m a t i o n s a b o u t t h e G o d - h u m a n k i n d r e l a t i o n -

s h i p a r e d e t e r m i n a t i v e in b o t h t h e t h e o r y a n d p r a c t i c e o f B a r r y a n d C o n -

ho l ly (1982) .

K e n n e t h L e e c h ( 1 9 7 7 ) r o o t s h i s a p p r o a c h t o s p i r i t u a l d i r e c t i o n s o l i d l y

in the Chr i s t i an t r ad i t ion . In

Soul F 4end

( 1 9 7 7 ) h e d e l i n e a t e s t h e h i s t o r y

o f s p i ri t u a l d i re c t i o n i n t h e C h r i st ia n W e s t a n d d e m o n s t r a t e s t h e r e l e v a n c e

o f t h a t t r a d it io n f o r t h e c o n t e m p o r a r y s e tt in g . H e c o n t e n d s t h e m i n i s te r s

t a s k i s t o b r i n g i l lu m i n a t i o n ; t h e m i n i s t e r p o i n t s b e y o n d t h e s e l f t o G o d s

glory .

W i t h t h is v i e w o f m i n is tr y , s p i ri tu a l d i r e c t io n b e c o m e s a c r u c i a l p a s -

t o r a l a c t iv i ty f o r a n u m b e r o f re a s o n s . S p i r it u a l d i r e c t i o n c e n t e r s o n G o d ;

i t h a s a v i si o n o f G o d , a n d a s si st s h u m a n b e i n g s i n re l a ti n g t o G o d . I t h a s

a l o n g , i n f l u e n t i a l h i s t o r y b e g i n n i n g w i t h t h e m e n a n d w o m e n w h o i n t h e

f o u r t h c e n t u r y w e n t t o t h e d e s e r t t o p ra y . O v e r ti m e s p i r it u a l d i r e c t i o n h a s

p r o v e n f le x i b le e n o u g h t o e n d u r e . I t is s o li d ly b a s e d i n t h e c h u r c h c o m -

m u n i t y a n d o f f e r s g u i d a n c e f o r t h e s p i r i t u a l j o u r n e y ( L e e c h , 1 9 7 7 , p . 3 1 ) .

L e e c h ( 1 9 8 9 ) c o n t e n d s r e c e n t i n t e r e s t i n p a s t o r a l c o u n s e l i n g r e f l e c t s

t h e e x t e n t t o w h ic h t h e c h u r c h h a s b e c o m e t r a p p e d b y a m o d e l w h i c h a d -

v o c a t e s d i s t r ib u t i n g s e r v ic e s in s t e a d o f e n h a n c i n g t h e o l o g i c a l v i si o n s. P a s -

t o r a l c o u n s e l i n g , h e c o n t e n d s , i s n o t e s s e n t i a l l y c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e o l o g y o r

b e l i e f, b u t in s t e a d f o c u s e s o n e m o t i o n a l d i s tr e s s a n d p r o b l e m s o lv in g . L e e c h

(1989) v iews pas to ra l counse l ing as a r e l a t ive ly new d i s c ip l ine wh ich i s no t

d e e p l y r o o t e d i n th e c l a s si c al C h r i s ti a n t r a d it i o n . H e c o n t e n d s i t is p r i m a r i ly

o f f i c e o r c l in ic b a s e d ; i ts r e la t i o n s h i p t o t h e s a c r a m e n t a l l if e o f t h e C h r i s ti a n

c o m m u n i t y i s m o r e t e n u o u s .

L e e c h ( 1 9 8 9 ) n o t e s t h a t a c c e p t i n g h i s c r i t i q u e w i l l h a v e p r o f o u n d c o n -

s e q u e n c e s , n o t o n l y f o r t h e p r a c t i c e o f m i n i s t r y , b u t a l s o f o r m i n i s t e r i a l

f o r m a t i o n . P a s t o r s w i l l n e e d t o d e v o t e s i g n i f i c a n t l y m o r e t i m e t o t h e p r a c -

t ic e o f s p ir i tu a l d i r e c ti o n . I n h i s m o d e l a s c e t i c a l a n d s p i r i tu a l t h e o l o g y a n d

p r a y e r w ill a g a in b e p l a c e d a t t h e c e n t e r o f h u m a n l if e a n d a c ti v it y .



2 2 8 r i sk i l l

M i n i st e r ia l f o r ma t i on , acc o r d i ng t o L eec h (1989), w o u l d i nvo lve p r o -

g r ams i n w h i ch t he l i f e o f p r aye r and s p i r i t ua l t heo l ogy a r e p i vo t a l :

I f w e a r e t o p r o v i d e t h e f u t u r e c h u r c h w i t h p a s t o r s w h o a r e c a p a b l e o f g u i d in g

o t h e r s , w e n e e d t o p l a c e a v e r y h i g h p r i o r i t y i n d e e d o n t r a i n i n g i n p r a y e r , o n t h e

p r a c t i c e o f s i l e n c e a n d r e f l e c t i o n , o n d e e p e n i n g t h e a w a r e n e s s o f t h e p r e s e n c e o f

G o d , o n h e l p i n g p e o p l e t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f s p i r i t u a l g r o w t h , a n d o n

p l a c i n g a ll t h e o l o g i c a l w o r k w i t h i n a f r a m e w o r k o f w o r s h i p a n d p r a y e r . p . 7 9 )

To be sp i r itua l d i r ec tor s c le rgy m us t be f ami l i a r , no t on ly wi th sp i r i-

t ua l t heo l ogy , bu t a l s o w i t h va r i ous h i s t o r i ca l f o r ms o f p r aye r . T hey mus t

h a v e a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e p r a y e r p r a c t i c e s o f s i g n i f i c a n t g r o u p s i n t h e

h i s tor i ca l t r ad i t ion , e .g . , J esu i t s , Carmel i t es . Being ab le to t each people how

to pray i s a l so an imp or ta n t how to m in i s te ri a l skill . Th e sp i ri tua l d i r ec tor ,

o f cou r s e , c an a l s o u s e t he s ac r ame n t s , t he B i b le , and any o t h e r r e l ig i ous

i n si gh t o r t r ad i t ion w h i ch a ss ists t h e d i r ec t e e in comi ng t o t he kn ow l ed ge

o f G o d .

Whi le i t i s c l ear tha t Leech ( t977; 1989) i s cen tered in the c las s ica l

r e l i g i ous t r ad i t i on o f s p i r i t ua l d i r ec t i on , he neve r t he l e s s r ecogn i zes a r ea s

w h e r e p s y c ho l o gi c al p ro c e s s e s w h i c h p r o m o t e g r o w t h a l so p r o m o t e s p ir it u al

w ho l enes s . H e obs e r ves , f o r exam pl e , t ha t s e l f - aw ar enes s is nece s s a r y f o r

e m o t i o n a l m a t u r i t y a n d is a n e c e s s a r y p r e l u d e t o k n o w l e d g e o f G o d . H e

r ecogn i zes t ha t p s ycho l og i ca l p r ac t i ce s w h i ch p l ace an emphas i s on t he r e -

l a t ionsh ip be tw ee n the b od y and the spir it, e .g . , r e l axa t ion exerc i ses , r e f l ec t

an anc i en t r ea l i za t i on w h i ch i n t he s p i r i t ua l t r ad i t i on o f a s ce t i c i s m us ed

bod i l y t echn i ques , e . g . , b r ea t h i ng exe r c i s e s , t o f u r t he r s p i r i t ua l g r ow t h .

L eech ( 1977) a l s o acknow l edges t ha t t he j ou r ney t o t he uncons c i ous , e s -

pec i a l l y a s i t i s de s c r i bed by J ung i an p s ycho l ogy , may be a w ay t o r ecove r

a s e n s e o f G o d ' s p r e s e n c e .

T h e w ay in w h i ch t he s p i r i tua l d i r ec t i on o f L eec h ( 1977; 1989) and

B ar r y and C onno l l y ( 1982 ) app r op r i a t e p s ycho l og i ca l and t heo l og i ca l i n -

s igh t s p r ov i des f e r t i l e s o il f o r r eco ve r y and d i s cove r y i n pas t o r a l couns e l -

i ng . L ee ch ( 1977 ; 1989 ) i s i n t e r e s t e d i n r ecov e r i ng t he l a r ge l y i gno r ed

h i s t o r y o f s p i r i t ua l and con t empl a t i ve d i s c i p l i nes . A l t hough he i s f a r l e s s

i n t e r e s t ed t han H i l t ne r ( 1949 ) , C l i nebe l l ( 1984 ) , o r B a r r y and C onno l l y

( 1982) i n p s ycho l og i ca l t heo r i e s and me t hods , h i s app r oach t o s p i r i t ua l

d i r ec t i on i nv i t e s pas t o r a l ca r e t o l ook mor e s e r i ous l y a t i t s ow n h i s t o r y .

N e w w a y s o f u si n g r e li g io u s r e s o u r c e s m i g h t a l so e m e r g e i f p a s t o r a l c o u n -

s e l i ng s ees i t s e l f a s an i n t eg r a l a s pec t o f t he mi n i s t r y o f t he ecc l e s i a s t i ca l

c o m m u n i t y . B a r r y a n d C o n n o l l y 's ( 1 9 82 ) p s y c h o l o g ic a ll y i n f l u e n c e d m e t h -

odo l ogy f o r p r ac t i c i ng s p i r i t ua l d i r ec t i on p r ov i des i n s i gh t s i n t o t he w ay a

t heo l og i ca l t r ad i t i on can i n t eg r a t e p s ycho l og i ca l i n s i gh t s w i t hou t l o s i ng i t s

d i s t inc t ive iden t i ty .



P a s t o r a l o u n s e l i n g a n d S p i r i t u a l D i r e c t i o n 2 2 9

T H E R O L E O F E T H I C S /S O C I A L J U S T I C E C O N C E R N S

H i l t n e r ( 1 9 4 9 ) o f f e r s a w a r n i n g t o c l e rg y b y f o c u s i n g c o n s i d e r a b l e a t -

t e n t i o n o n m o r a li z in g , a n i n a p p r o p r i a t e m e a n s o f a d d r e s s i n g e t h i c a l c o n -

c e r n s . U n i n t e n t i o n a l m o r a l i z i n g i s o u r m o s t s e r i o u s d a n g e r . . . i n

c o u n s e l i n g ( H i l t n e r , 1 94 9, p . 4 9 ) . H i l t n e r ' s ( 1 9 4 9 ) c o m m i t m e n t t o p s y c h o -

l o g ic a ll y s o u n d c o u n s e l i n g m e t h o d s l e a d s h i m t o r e j e c t all f o r m s o f p a s t o r a l

m o r a l i z in g . H i l t n e r ( 1 9 4 9 ) c o n t e n d s th e o f f e r in g o f i n a p p r o p r i a t e m o r a l

j u d g m e n t s is a p a rt i c u la r p r o b l e m f o r cl e rg y w h o a r e c o n f r o n t e d b y p e o p l e

s e e k i n g t h e i r a d v i c e o r a s s is t a n ce :

I t is t e m p t i n g t o s p e c u l a t e o n w h y w e p a s t o r s h a v e s u c h a p r e d i l e c t i o n f o r m o r a l

j u d g m e n t e v e n w h e n i ts e x e r c is e c le a r ly d e f e a t s o u r l a rg e r p u r p o s e s . T o s o m e e x t e n t

i t i s t h e e x p r e s s i o n o f a g e n e r a l h a b i t p a t t e r n b u i l t u p p a r t ly o u t o f o u r r e a l c o n c e r n

t o v i e w w h a t i s r i g h t a n d w r o n g a b o u t t h e w o r l d i n w h i c h w e li ve a n d p a r t l y o u t

o f t h e f ac t t h a t p e o p l e u n c o n s c i o u s l y e x p e c t u s t o a p p r o a c h t h i n g s t h r o u g h t h e

a v e n u e o f m o r a l j u d g m e n t . p . 4 9 )

I n r e f l e c ti n g o n h o w p a s t o r a l c o u n s e l i n g i n f o r m s t h e p a s t o r ' s v a r i o u s

t a s k s , e . g . , p r e a c h i n g a n d a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , H i l t n e r ( 1 9 4 9 ) a d d r e s s e s t h e r e -

l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n p a s t o r a l c o u n s e l i n g a n d s o c i a l j u s t i c e a d v o c a c y . A n e d u -

c a t i v e p o i n t o f d e p a r t u r e i n f o r m s h is c o u n s e l i n g m e t h o d s ; t h a t is , h e e v o k e s

o r e l i c i t s f r o m t h e p a r i s h i o n e r h i s / h e r g e n u i n e c o n c e r n s . H e d e s c r i b e s t h i s

a s l o o k i n g w i t h p e o p l e a t a n e vil s i t u a t io n r a t h e r t h a n b a t t in g t h e m o v e r

the head w i th i t .

H i s d i s c u s s i o n a d d r e s s e s m e t h o d s w h i c h h e l p i n d i v i d u a l s i m p l e m e n t

d e e d s a n d a c t i o n s c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e i r s t a t e d e t h i c a l s t a n d a r d s . F o r e x a m -

p l e , h e d i s c u s s e s t h e w a y a c l e r g y p e r s o n m i g h t g o a b o u t h i r in g a b l a c k p e r -

s o n t o w o r k i n a n a l l - w h i t e o f f i c e . H i l t n e r ( 1 9 4 9 ) a r g u e s t h e p a s t o r m u s t

f i rs t ra i s e t h e i d e a w i t h t h e s t a f f a n d t h e n l is te n t o t h e i r g e n u i n e c o n c e r n s .

T he pa s to ra l go a l he r e is to a s s i s t the s t a f f in c la r i fy ing the con f l i c t s the y

e x p e r i e n c e w h e n c o n f r o n t i n g t h e d i s p a r i t y b e t w e e n t h e i r m o r a l c o m m i t -

m e n t s t o i n t e g r a t i o n a n d t h e r e a l it y o f t h e i r a l l- w h i te w o r k p la c e . H i l t n e r

( 1 9 4 9 ) a p p e a r s t o a s s u m e t h a t w o r k i n g t h r o u g h c o n f li c t in g f e e l in g s will n e c -

es sa r i ly b r ing an e th ica l r e so lu t ion to the i s sue . H i l tne r (1949) a l so does

n o t a d d r e s s s i t u a t i o n s w h e n p e o p l e f e e l n o d i s s o n a n c e b e t w e e n t h e i r i d e a l s

a n d t h e i r a c t u a l s i t u a t i o n s . T h u s , n e i t h e r c r i t e r ia n o r a g e n e r a l i z a b l e

m e t h o d f o r r a is in g e t h i c a l o r s o c ia l j u s t i c e i s su e s in t h e c o u n s e l i n g c o n t e x t

i s addres sed .

C l i n e b e l l ( 1 9 8 4 ) , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , a c k n o w l e d g e s t h a t p a s t o r a l c a r e

h a s s u f f e r e d fr o m i t s h y p e r i n d i v i d u a l i s m :

P r i v a t i z e d p a s t o r a l c a r e a n d c o u n s e l i n g a l o n g w i th p r i v a t iz e d r e l i g io n in g e n e r a l )

i g n o r e t h e p e r v a s i v e w a y s i n w h i c h r a c is m , s e x i s m , a g e i s m , c l a s si s m , s p e c i e s is m , n a -

t i o n a l i s m , m i l i t a r i s m , e c o n o m i c e x p l o i t a t i o n , a n d p o l i t i c a l o p p r e s s i o n c r i p p l e h u m a n

w h o l e n e s s o n a m a s s i v e s c a l e i n a l l s o c i e t i e s . p . 3 3 )



2 3 D r i s k i l l

T o c o r r e c t t h i s s i t u a t i o n C l i n e b e l l ( 1 9 8 4 ) a d v o c a t e s t h e p a s t o r a l c a r e

o f g r o u p s a n d i n s ti tu t i o n s. T h r o u g h t h e u s e o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s ra is in g , p e o p l e

a r e e n a b l e d t o s e e t h e s o c ie t a l o r ig i ns o f s o m e o f t h e i r p e r s o n a l p a i n a n d

b r o k e n n e s s . S u c h c o u n s e l i n g a i m s a t

freeing, mo tivating, and empo wering

p e o p l e t o w o r k w i t h o t h e r s t o m a k e o u r i n s ti tu t io n s p l a c e s w h e r e w h o l e n e s s

w i ll b e b e t t e r n u r t u r e d i n e v e r y o n e ( C l i n e b e ll , 1 9 84 , p . 3 3 ) . H e i n t r o d u c e s

w h a t h e h a s t e r m e d t h e G a n d h i - D a y - K i n g - L e e p ri n c ip l e t o r e m e d y t h e

o v e r - e m p h a s i s o n p r i v a t i z e d p a s t o r a l c o u n s e l i n g . C l i n e b e l l ( 1 9 8 4 ) n o t e s t h a t

M a h a t m a G a n d h i , D o r o t h y D a y , M a r t in L u t h e r K in g, J r. a n d T a i - Y o u n g

L e e p e r s o n a l l y e m b o d y a c o n c e r n f o r p e r s o n a l- s p ir i tu a l g r o w t h a n d a p a s-

s i o n f o r s o c i a l t r a n s f o r m a t i o n . C l i n e b e l l ( 1 9 8 4 ) a s s e r t s t h a t o n c e a p e r s o n ' s

c o n s c i o u s n e s s h a s b e e n r a i s e d b y

conscientization,

i t i s then c ruc ia l to em-

p o w e r h im / h e r. P e o p l e m u s t b e e n a b l e d t o d is c o v e r t h e i r p o t e n ti a l s t r e n g t h

a n d e n c o u r a g e d t o c o l l a b o r a t e w i th o t h e r s f o r th e p u r p o s e o f c h a ll e ng i n g

a n d t r a n s f o r m i n g i n j u s t i c e s .

C l i n e b e l l ( 1 9 8 4 ) a d d r e s s e s i n j u s t i c e s f r o m a p s y c h o - s o c i a l u n d e r -

s t a n d i n g o f i n s ti t u ti o n s a s w e l l a s f r o m l i b e r a t io n p e r s p e c t i v e s a n d b i b li c a l

w i s d o m . H e n o t e s t h e b i b l ic a l m e a n i n g o f li b e r at i o n r e f e r s to b o t h p e r s o n a l

a n d s o c i e t a l f a c t o r s . S i n a n d s a l v a t i o n a r e c o m m u n a l a n d i n d i v i d u a l . H e

c i te s b i b l ic a l q u o t a t i o n s w h i c h a d d r e s s b o t h t h e i n n e r l i b e ra t i o n o f t h e

mind , e .g ., Jo hn 8 :32 , and the p rop he t i c a spec t s o f J esu s ' s min i s try , e .g . ,

L u k e 4 :1 8 -1 9 . C l i n e b e l l (1 9 8 4 ) m a i n t a i n s w e c a n n o t u n d e r s t a n d G o d ' s lo v e

s e p a r a t e d f r o m h is j u s t ic e .

C l i n e b e l l ( 1 9 8 4 ) i d e n t i fi e s t h is f o r m o f c o u n s e l i n g a s e d u c a t i v e . F o l -

l o w i n g t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f a f e m i n i s t c o n s c i o u s n e s s r a i s i n g m o d e l h e p r o p o s e s

a six s t e p c o u n s e l i n g p r o c e s s : 1 ) R e c r u i t a n d t r a i n a g r o w t h - a c t i o n t a s k

f o r c e ; 2 ) D e e p e n u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e p r o b l e m ; 3 ) D e c i d e o n a c t io n g o a ls ;

4 ) D e v e l o p a p l a n o f a c t io n ; 5 ) T a k e a c t i o n ; a n d 6 ) E v a l u a t e a n d

res t r a teg ize .

C l i n e b e l l ' s ( 1 9 8 4 ) m e t h o d s f o r i n t r o d u c i n g s o c i a l / e t h i c a l i s s u e s i n t o

t h e c o u n s e l i n g f r a m e w o r k i s a c h i e v e d , in p a rt , b y b r o a d e n i n g t h e d e f i n i t i o n

o f p a s t o r a l c o u n s e l i n g . W h i l e i ts a i m o f f o s t e r in g g r o w t h a n d h e a l i n g r e -

m a i n s , t h e p r o c e s s i s w i d e n e d t o i n c l u d e w o r k w i t h i s s u e - f o c u s e d g r o u p s .

P a s t o r a l m i n i s t r a t i o n s , i n w h a t f o r m e r l y m i g h t h a v e b e e n i d e n t i f i e d a s t h e

p r o p h e t i c d i m e n s i o n o f m i n is tr y, a r e i n c o r p o r a t e d i n to t h e p a s t o r a l c a r e

a n d c o u n s e l i n g d o m a i n t h r o u g h t h i s g r o u p f o c u s .

B a r r y a n d C o n n o l l y ( 1 9 8 2 ) a d d r e s s s o c i a l a n d e t h i c a l c o n c e r n s i n t h e

c o n t e x t o f t h e w a y G o d l e a d s i n d iv i d ua l s. T h e y c i t e a t r a d i ti o n a l s t a n d a r d

o f s p i ri tu a l g r o w t h a n d d i s c e r n m e n t b y t u r n i n g t o P a u l ' s s t a t e m e n t i n G a l a -

t ians:

B y

con t r as t , t h e f ru i t o f the Sp i r i t i s love , joy , pea ce , p a t i en ce , k ind -

n e s s, g e n e r o s i t y , f a i t h fu l n e s s , g e n t l e n e s s , a n d s e l f- c o n t r o l ( G a l a t i a n s



P a s t o r a l o u n s e l i n g a n d S p i r i t u a l D i r e c t io n 2 3 t

5 : 2 2 - 2 3 ) . T h e s e f r u i t s a r e p o s i t i v e a n d a c c o r d i n g t o B a r r y a n d C o n n o l l y

( 1 98 2 ) le a d t o a n e n d u r i n g s e n s e o f b a s i c w e l l- b e in g . F u n d a m e n t a l j o y ,

p e a c e , c o n s o l a ti o n a r e t h e b e s t c r it e ri a fo r e v a l u a ti n g o n e ' s p r a y e r ( B a r r y

a n d C o n n o l l y , 1 9 82 , 1 1 0) . A d e e p s e n s e o f w e l l - b e i n g is i n d i s p e n s a b l e f o r

f a i th fu l ly s e rv ing God .

B a r r y a n d C o n n o l l y ( 1 9 8 2 ) a r e a w a r e t h a t s o m e i n t h e c h u r c h f e a r a

tu rn to in te r io r i ty m ay l ead to a lo ss o f ene rgy fo r r igh t ing soc ia l wron gs .

N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e i r t h e o r y o f s p i ri tu a l d i r e c t io n d o e s n o t s i n g le o u t e t h ic a l

o r s o c i a l j u s t i c e i s s u e s f o r s p e c i f i c f a i t h d e v e l o p m e n t . I n s t e a d , t h e a u t h o r s

c o n t e n d s u c h i s s u e s w ill e m e r g e n a t u r a l l y a s p a r t o f s p ir i tu a l g r o w t h i f s u c h

i s G o d ' s w i l l . F o l l o w i n g G o d ' s l e a d i n g a n d C h r i s t ' s e x a m p l e m a y m o v e a

p e r s o n t o w a r d p r o p h e t i c m i n is tr ie s , e.g ., H o w a r d T h u r m a n a n d D o r o t h y

D a y . I n t h e c o u r s e o f s p i ri tu a l g r o w t h p e o p l e a r e l e d t o i n c r ea s i n g ly i d e n t i f y

w i t h J e s u s a n d h is m i s si o n . T h e a i m o f s u c h i d e n t i fi c a t i o n is n o t t o i m i t a t e

t h e d e t a i l s o f J e s u s ' s li fe , b u t t o s e e i n it a d e p e n d e n c e o n G o d w h i c h

f o s t e r s p e r s o n a l a u t o n o m y . I t i s t h i s a u t o n o m y w h i c h B a r r y a n d C o n n o l l y

( 1 9 8 2 ) s u g g e s t m a y l e a d o n e t o c h a m p i o n o t h e r w i s e u n p o p u l a r b e l i e f s , a c -

t ions , and is sues :

T h i s e x p e r i e n c e o f J e s u s s h o w s i ts e l f i n a n a b il it y t o l iv e b y o n e s o w n c o n v i c t i o n s

d e s p i t e o t h e r p e o p l e s o p p o s i t i o n t o t h o s e c o n v i c ti o n s; in a b r e a d t h o f e m p a t h y t h a t

t r a n s c e n d s s o c ia l a n d e c o n o m i c c la s s; in a d e e p e n i n g t r u s t o f t h e F a t h e r o f re a li ty ;

i n a w i l l in g n e s s t o e n g a g e i n t h e w a r a g a i n s t e v il a n d t o s t a n d f o r j u s t i c e a n d m e r c y

e v e n w h e n o n e m u s t d i e s m a l l d e a t h s i n d e f e n s e o f t h e m ; a n d a w i l l in g n e s s t o d i e

t h o s e d e a t h s a n d l e a v e r e s u r r e c t i o n t o t h e F a t h e r . ( p . 1 1 2)

T u r n i n g t o th e p r a c t i c e o f s p i ri t u a l d i r e c ti o n , B a r r y a n d C o n n o l l y

( 1 9 8 2 ) i n s i s t t h e s p i r i t u a l d i r e c t o r m u s t n o t t e l l a d i r e c t e e w h e r e t o p u t

h i s / h e r e n e r g i e s . I f t h e L o r d o f r e a l it y h a s s o m e t h i n g i n m i n d , h e w ill c o m -

m u n i c a t e i t i n t h e d i r e c t e e ' s r e l a t io n s h i p w i t h h i m ( B a r r y a n d C o n n o l l y ,

1982 , p . 196) . T he co ns ta n t t a sk o f the d i r ec to r i s to f ac i l it a t e op en com -

m u n i c a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e d i r e c t e e a n d G o d . T h e y n o t e t h a t i n t h e c o n t e m -

p o r a r y c o n t e x t , w h e n m a n y C h u r c h l e a d e r s a r e u r g in g C h r i st ia n s t o j o i n

t h e s t r u g g le f o r j u s t ic e , a d i r e c t o r m a y b e c o n c e r n e d i f a d i r e c t e e ' s p r a y e r

n e v e r in c l u d e s c o n c e r n f o r o t h e r s . T h e p r e c i s e n a t u r e o f t h is c o n c e r n , h o w -

e v e r , sh o u l d n o t b e i m p o s e d b y t h e d i r e c to r . S p i r i tu a l d i r e c t o r s m a y r a is e

a n d e x p l o r e w i t h th e d i r e c t e e j u s t i c e i ss u e s , b u t th e y ra i s e t h e m a s s p i ri t u a l

d i r e c t o r s , n o t a s t e a c h e r s , p r e a c h e r s , o r e x h o r t e r s ( B a r r y a n d C o n n o l l y ,

1982, p. 196).

B a r r y a n d C o n n o l l y ( 1 9 8 2 ) ~ : on te n d s p i ri tu a l g r o w t h f r e q u e n t l y c o n -

v e r t s t h e h e a r t i n a m a n n e r w h i c h p r o f o u n d l y i n f l u e n c e s n o t o n l y t h e a t -

t i t u d e t o w a r d s o c ia l j u s t i c e i s su e s , b u t a l s o t h e i s su e s t h e m s e l v e s :

I n o u r e x p e r i e n c e , a c ti v e , i n v o l v e d p e o p l e d o n o t l o s e t h e i r p a s s i o n f o r w o r k w i t h

a n d f o r G o d s p e o p l e w h e n t h e y e n t e r i n t o s p i ri tu a l d i r e c ti o n , b u t t h e y d o o f t e n



2 3 2

r i sk i l l

l o s e h a r s h n e s s a n d c o n t e m p t f o r t h o s e o f d i f f e r e n t p o i n t s o f v i e w a s t h e i r h e a r t s

a r e c h a n g e d . p . 1 9 7)

T h e a u t h o r s n o t e t h a t c o n t e m p l a t i v e e x p e r i e n c e s f r e q u e n t l y a l t e r t h e

l e n s t h ro u g h w h i c h p e o p l e v ie w t h ei r s o c ie ty . T h o s e w h o p r a c t i c e c o n t e m -

p l a t iv e d i s c ip l in e s o f t e n b e c o m e m o r e o p e n t o t h e k i n d s o f r e a d i n g , l e c -

t u r e s, a n d p re a c h i n g th a t c h a l le n g e p u b l i c s c h e m a t a . S p e a k in g f r o m a

s o c i o lo g y o f k n o w l e d g e p e r s p e c ti v e , B a r r y a n d C o n n o l l y ( 1 9 82 ) m a i n ta i n

d i r e c t e e s c o m e t o u n d e r s t a n d m o r e f ul ly h o w i d e a s, k n o w l e d g e , b el ie f s, a n d

t h e l ik e a r e u n d e r g i r d e d b y so c ia l c o n st ru c t io n s . T h r o u g h t h e c o n t e m p l a t i v e

p r a c t i c e s , d i r e c t e e s g a i n a s e l f - t r a n s c e n d e n c e w h i c h g i v e s a n e w o r a l t e r e d

p e r s p e c t i v e o n m a t t e r s f o r m e r l y t a k e n f o r g r a n t e d ( K u t z , B o r y s e n k o , B e n -

s o n , 1 98 5 ). F r e q u e n t l y t hi s le a d s t h e m t o a d e e p e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f w h a t

c o n s t i t u t e s j u s t ic e .

I n L e e c h ' s ( 1 9 7 7 ) a p p r o a c h t o s p i r i t u a l d i r e c t i o n t h e r e i s a m a j o r c o n -

s i d e r a t i o n o f th e r e l a t io n s h i p b e t w e e n s o c ia l j u s t i c e i s su e s a n d s p i r i t u a l d i -

r e c t io n . R e f l e c t i n g o n t h e n a t u r e o f d i r e c t i o n L e e c h ( 1 9 7 7 ) a sk s : I s t h e

m i n i s tr y o f s p i ri tu a l d i r e c t i o n c o n c e r n e d o n l y w i t h d e e p e n i n g a p e r s o n a l

r e l a t i o n s h i p o f in t i m a c y w i th C h r i st o r d o e s i t i n c l u d e c o n c e r n w i t h h o w

G o d m a y b e w o r k i n g i n t h e s t r u c t u r e s o f s o c i e t y ? L e e c h a n s w e r s c l a i m i n g

s p i r it u a l d i r e c t io n is c o n c e r n e d w i t h h e a l in g a n d r e c o n c i l ia t i o n , n o t w i th

a d a p t a t i o n t o c u r r e n t v a l u e s , b u t w i th t h e t r a n s fo r m a t i o n o f c o n s c i o u s n e ss .

(p. 187)

L e e c h ( 1 9 8 9 ) m a i n ta i n s t h e p o p u l a r d i v is io n b e t w e e n p r o p h e t i c a n d

p a s t o r a l m i n i s t r y d o e s n o t h a v e a b i b l i c a l f o u n d a t i o n . I n t h e O l d T e s t a m e n t ,

f o r e x a m p l e , b o t h t h e M o s a i c L a w a n d t h e p r o p h e t i c w r i t i n g s s e e a n i n t i -

m a t e c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n a r el i g io n o f j u s t i c e a n d a r e l ig i o n o f h o li n e ss .

H e a r g u e s t h e r e a r e s e v e r a l c h a r a ct e ri s ti c s o f th e p r o p h e t s w h i c h s h o u l d

i n f o r m s p i r i tu a l d i r e c t i o n . P r o p h e t s , f o r e x a m p l e , w e r e p e o p l e o f v i s io n w h o

h a d i n t e n se i ns ig h t a n d s o u g h t a c c u r a t e k n o w l e d g e b y k e e p i n g t h e i r e a r s

t o t h e g r o u n d . T h e y w e r e p e o p l e o f p ra y e r w h o k n e w h o w t o w a it o n G o d ;

t h e y w e r e p e o p l e w h o c o u l d f in d G o d in t h e p u r s u i t o f h o li n e ss a n d j u s t ic e .

D i s c e r n m e n t a n d d i s c r i m i n a t io n a l l o w e d t h e m t o i n t e r p r e t e v e r y d a y life .

L e e c h ( 1 9 7 7 ) m a i n t a i n s s p i r i t u a l d i r e c t i o n i s a n a c t i v i t y l o c a t e d w i t h i n

t h e s p h e r e o f th e K i n g d o m o f G o d . A s a r e su l t, t h e e t h i c s a s s o c ia t e d w i th

t h e K i n g d o m g u i d e s p i ri tu a l d i r e c t io n ; t h e y a r e t h e s t a n d a r d b y w h i c h t h e

C h r i s t ia n l iv e s a n d d i s c e r n s t h e s ig n s o f t h e t i m e s . T h i s n e w a g e o f t h e

K i n g d o m i s o n e o f r i g h t e o u s n e s s a n d j o y in t h e S p i r it . I t is, a c c o r d i n g t o

L e e c h ( 1 9 7 7 ) , t h e s p i r it u a l ly - b o r n w h o a r e c a p a b l e o f d i s c e r n in g G o d ' s a c -

t iv i ty a n d w h o r e c o g n i z e t h a t G o d i s s e e k i n g t o t r a n s f o r m a ll c r e a t i o n .

S p i r i t u a l i t y w h i c h i s c e n t e r e d i n t h i s h o p e c a n n o t t h e n b e e s c a p i s t o r i n -

d i v id u a l is ti c , f o r i t is a h o p e f o r h u m a n s o c i e t y a n d f o r th e c o m m o n l i fe

(Leech, 1977, p . 187) .



P a s t o r a l C o u n s e l i n g a n d S p i r i t u a l D i r e c t io n 3 3

Vision and clear insight are according to Leech (1977) the fruits of

engaging in contemplative practices. The person who is truly spiritual is,

according to Leech (1977), capable of seeing beneath the surface of events;

conventional and accepted values of the day are submit ted to the judgment

of the Kingdom.

Consequently the contemplative is more of a threat to injustice than the social ac-

tivist who merelysees the piecemeal need. For contemplativevision s revolutionary

vision, and it is the achievement of this vision which is the fruit of true spiritual

direction (Leech, 1977, p. 191).

Leech's (1977) approach to spiritual direction concerns itself with

both individual and social ethics. He insists spiritual direction is not ade-

quate unless it prepares people for the struggle of love against spiritual

wickedness in the structures of the fallen world and in the depths of the

hear t (Leech, 1977, p. 191). This love is not sentimental or na~ve; i t is

a love which undermines oppression and burns away illusion and falsehood,

a love which has been through fire, a love which has been purified through

struggle (Leech, 1977, p. 191).

The individualistic approach to ethical and social issues in the pastoral

care approach of Hiltner (1949) is augmented substantially by Clinebell's

(1984) interest in social justice and group pastoral care. Neither, however,

works from a theological position which integrates ethical/social issues into

a unifying framework. Leech (1977; 1989) provides a theology of Kingdom

which integrates personal and social ethics in a manner that might anchor

Clinebell's (1984) concerns in a more consciously theological manner.

While Hiltner's (1949) interviewing methods are closely related to

those of Barry and Connolly (1982) through their mutual dependence on

the research of Rogers (1942; 1961), the theological claims of Barry and

Connolly (1982) give their individualistic approach an entree into the realm

of social ethics. This approach offers a means to bridge the theological and

practical in a manner that might contribute to the ministry of pastoral coun-

seling.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

The focus here has been on three themes which highlight the way in

which spiritual direction uses its theological grounding to promote growth

and wholeness. This comparative exercise has raised questions and provided

suggestions which may enrich or transform pastoral counseling theories and

practices.

Questions worthy of sustained future reflection include: How does

the modern world view impact on pastoral care? Would a dialogue with



3 4 D r i s k i l l

c o n t e m p o r a r y t h e o l o g i e s o f f e r a n e w g r o u n d i n g f o r p a s to r a l c o u n s e l in g ?

W o u l d s u c h a d ia l o g u e s u g g e st n e w p r a c ti ce s ? W h a t r o l e m i g h t i n te r c e ss o r y

p r a y e r p l a y i n p a s t o r a l c o u n s e l i n g ? H o w m i g h t c l i e n t s u s e t h e i r t h e o l o g i c a l

b e l i e f s t o p r o m o t e h e a l i n g a n d g r o w t h ?

A s p a s t o r a l c o u n s e l o r s s e a r c h f o r t h e i r s p i r i t u a l m o o r i n g s i n t h i s a g e

o f c o m p e t i n g s p i ri tu a l it ie s a n d t h e r a p i e s t h e d i a l o g u e w i t h sp i ri tu a l d i r e c-

t i o n o f f e r s p r o m i s i n g p o s s i b i l i t i e s . W i t h o u t d i m i n i s h i n g t h e g a i n s t h a t p a s -

t o r a l c a r e h a s m a d e b y ta k i n g p s y c h o l o g ic a l p e r s p e c t i v e s s e r i o u sl y i t m a y

b e n e f i t f r o m a r e e x a m i n a t i o n o f i ts h i st o r y t h e o l o g i c a l a s s u m p t i o n s a n d

e c c l e s i o l o g i c a l c o n t e x t .

R E F E R E N C E S

As sagio l i , R. 1965). Psychosynthesis: A M an ua l of Principles and Techniques. N e w Y o r k :

H o b b s , D o r m a n .

Barry , W . A., S. J . 1987). God and You: Prayer as a Personal Relationship. Ne w Yo r k : P a u l i s t

Press .

Bar ry , W. A. and C onno l ly , W. J . 1982). The Pract ice of Sphi tual Dhect ion. San Franc isco :

Ha r p e r a n d Ro w, P u b l i s h e r s .

Cline bell , H. 1984). Basic Typ es o f Pastoral Care and Counseling: Resources for the Ministry

of Heal ing and Growth. Nashv i l le : Ab ingdon Press .

Cline bell , H. 1966).

Basic Typ es of Pastoral C ounseling: Ne w Resources for M inistering to the

Troubled.

Nashv i l le ; Ab ingdon Press .

Cl inebe l l , H. 1988). S ix Dim ens ion s o f W holeness C en te r ed in Sp i ri t . In Spirit Centered Whole-

ness: Beyond the Psychology of Self . L e wis to n /Qu e e n s to n : T h e E d win M e l l e n P r e s s .

Conn , W. E . 1987). Pas to ra l C ounse l ing fo r Se l f -Transcen dence : Th e In teg ra t ion o f Psycho l -

o g y a n d T h e o lo g y . Pastoral Psychology 36, 29-48.

Conno l ly , W. J . , S .J . 1975). Co n tem pora ry Sp i r i tua l Di rec t ion : Sco pe and Pr inc ip les . In Stud-

ies in the SpMtuality of the Jesuits. St . Lou is : Amer ican Ass is tancy Seminary on Jesu i t

Spirituality, 7, 95-124.

Dicks, Ru ssel l L . 1947). God and Heal th . Fed era l Coun c i l . Q uo ted in S . Hi l tne r . 1949).

Pastoral Counseling Nashv i l le : Ab ingdon-Cokesbury P ress .

Fa i rch i ld , R. 1982). G uar an te ed No t to Shr ink : Sp ir i tua l Di re c t ion in Pas to ra l Care . Pastoral

Psychology

31, 79-95.

Gra n t , M . and Hayes , P . 1990). Sp i r i tua l Di re c t ion and Counse l ing /Therapy . The Way Sup-

p lement 69, 61-71.

H il tner , S . 1949).

Pastoral Counseling.

Nashv i l le : Ab ingdon-Cokesbury P ress .

Hi l tne r , S . 1952). Pas to ra l Psycho logy and Pas to ra l Counse l ing . Pastoral Psychology 3, 21-22.

H il tner , S . 1972).

Theological Dynamics.

Nashv i l le : Ab ingdon Press .

Ho lif ie ld , E . B. 1983). A History of Pastoral Care in Amel@a: Fro m Salvation to Self-Realiza-

tion.

Nashv i l le : Ab ingdon Press .

Kutz , I. , Boryse nko , J . Z . , and Ben son , H. 1985). M edi ta t ion and psycho therapy : A ra t iona le

fo r the in teg ra t ion o f dynamic psycho therapy , the re laxa t ion response , and m indfu lness

m e d i t a t i o n . American Journal of Psychiatry 142, 1-8.

Le ech , K. 1977). Soul Friend: The Practice of Christian Spit~tuality. S a n F r a n c i s c o : Ha r p e r

and Row Pub l i she rs .

Le ech , K. 1989). Spirituality and Pastoral Care. Cam br idge , M ass : C owley Pub l ica t ions .

L ieber t , E . A. 1989). E yes to See and Ears to He ar : Iden t i fy ing Re l ig ious Exper ience in

Pas to ra l Sp i r i tua l Gu idance .

Pastoral Psychology

37, 297-310.

Maslow , A. 1954). Motivation and Personality. Ne w Yo r k : Ha r p e r a n d Br o th e r s .



P a s t o r a l o u n s e l i n g a n d S p i r i t u a l D i r e c t i o n

35

Ne ufe lde r , J . M. and Coe lho , M. C. Eds . ) . 1982). Writings on Spiritual Direction by Great

Christian Masters. New York : Seabury P ress .

Ro ger s , C. R. 1942). Counseling and Psychotherapy. Boston : Hough ton Mif f l in .

Ro gers , C. R. 1961).

On Be com ing A Person: A Therapist s View of Psychotherapy.

Bo s to n :

Ho u g h to n M i f f l i n .

Ro gers , C. R. and Wal len , J . L . 1946). Counseling with Returned Servicemen. N e w Y o r k :

M c Gr a w- Hi lL

Schne iders , S ., I .H.M . 1984). Ho r izons on Sp i r itua l Di rec t ion . Horizons, 11, 100-112.

Pastoral Counseling and Spiritual Direction

Documents

Transcript of Pastoral Counseling and Spiritual Direction