Pastoral care of gays, lesbians, and their families.Pastoral pastoral, literary work in which the shepherd's life is presented in a conventionalized manner. In this convention the purity and simplicity of shepherd life is contrasted with the corruption and artificiality of the court or the city. Care of Gays, Lesbians, and their Families By David K. Switzer Fortress 156 pages, paper $25-50 ISBN ISBN abbr. International Standard Book Number ISBN International Standard Book Number ISBN n abbr (= International Standard Book Number) → ISBN m 0 8006 2954 X THE AUTHOR writes this book as if he were sitting at a table with each reader, providing pastoral care. He wants every reader to find themselves and their views respected. The first three chapters deal with research into the origins of homosexuality homosexuality, a term created by 19th cent. theorists to describe a sexual and emotional interest in members of one's own sex. Today a person is often said to have a homosexual or a heterosexual orientation, a description intended to defuse some of the long-standing and the references to homosexuality in scripture. There are no surprises here for those already familiar with such topics. However, the author gives attention to the need for pastoral strategies within whatever opinion the counsellor holds. He refers to scripture that supports a loving relationship even with those who have been regarded as outcasts The Outcasts are a fictional criminal organization from the Digital Anvil/Microsoft game Freelancer. Based on the planet Malta, the Outcasts are the descendants of colonists from the sleeper ship Hispania. . The book really shines in the chapters providing guidance in pastoral care. There is great clarity about what distinguishes pastoral care from psychotherapy psychotherapy, treatment of mental and emotional disorders using psychological methods. Psychotherapy, thus, does not include physiological interventions, such as drug therapy or electroconvulsive therapy, although it may be used in combination with such methods. and the need to respect both disciplines. Anyone, lay or clergy, involved in pastoral care with anyone, will find this book very helpful. I was hungering for him to share more examples from his own experiences. There is a final chapter by another author. It was all right as an example of a community opening itself up to gay and lesbian persons, but I am not certain how well it fit. I would have appreciated more from David Switzer, whom I found to be gentle, wise and compassionate com·pas·sion·ate adj. 1. Feeling or showing compassion; sympathetic. See Synonyms at humane. 2. Granted to an individual because of an emergency or other unusual circumstances: . Early on Switzer worries some readers will give up because of discussions about the origins of homosexuality and the use of scripture. Don't give up! There is invaluable advice for everyone interested in pastoral care. |
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