Families and Marriage
The pastor has a unique place in marriage and family counseling. The pastor’s perspective regarding marriage and family is informed by the scriptural foundation for both as well as the wider biblical frame for love and relationships. The wider frame may actually be more helpful in today’s culture as the biblical understanding of marriage and family was relating the perspective of a different time and society. Regardless, the pastor’s role in this realm is essential for the families and marriages that are present in her or his congregation.
Couples or families may come to a pastor for counseling. This counseling will most likely be short term, depending on the capacity of the pastor. The limit for sessions and the extent to which the pastor counsels, in a more traditional sense, should be up to the pastor. The pastor needs to be aware of her or his skills and limitations. The pastor also needs to be aware of their own trigger points and what to do if someone or someone’s problems trigger the pastor. In these short term sessions the pastor typically addresses a specific need or issue that is brought by the participating couple or family. In the short term sessions the pastor decides whether the couple or family needs to be referred to a professional that could better serve them.
The pastor’s role in counseling is always under the umbrella of their spiritual expertise and authority. The pastor will not likely have extra training in mental health or counseling and should not try to practice methods they are unqualified to use. However, the pastor should provide spiritual support to the couple or family. This could involve counsel on biblical principles, spiritual practices, prayer, communication, reconciliation, and so forth. Another important emphasis that the pastor could incorporate where needed is counsel specifically on shame and grace. Shame is often at the root of people’s issues and this will inevitable affect their marriage and family relationships.
The pastor has a unique place in marriage and family counseling. The pastor’s perspective regarding marriage and family is informed by the scriptural foundation for both as well as the wider biblical frame for love and relationships. The wider frame may actually be more helpful in today’s culture as the biblical understanding of marriage and family was relating the perspective of a different time and society. Regardless, the pastor’s role in this realm is essential for the families and marriages that are present in her or his congregation.
Couples or families may come to a pastor for counseling. This counseling will most likely be short term, depending on the capacity of the pastor. The limit for sessions and the extent to which the pastor counsels, in a more traditional sense, should be up to the pastor. The pastor needs to be aware of her or his skills and limitations. The pastor also needs to be aware of their own trigger points and what to do if someone or someone’s problems trigger the pastor. In these short term sessions the pastor typically addresses a specific need or issue that is brought by the participating couple or family. In the short term sessions the pastor decides whether the couple or family needs to be referred to a professional that could better serve them.
The pastor’s role in counseling is always under the umbrella of their spiritual expertise and authority. The pastor will not likely have extra training in mental health or counseling and should not try to practice methods they are unqualified to use. However, the pastor should provide spiritual support to the couple or family. This could involve counsel on biblical principles, spiritual practices, prayer, communication, reconciliation, and so forth. Another important emphasis that the pastor could incorporate where needed is counsel specifically on shame and grace. Shame is often at the root of people’s issues and this will inevitable affect their marriage and family relationships.