2024 Pastoral Counsellors Network

Paul speaks of the body as a living sacrifice that is “holy” (Romans 12:1). Yet, the Imago Dei has often been conceptualized in terms that marginalize the body, potentially limiting our earthly experience of union with Christ.   In this session, we will discuss some historical and philosophical issues that may prevent us from taking Paul’s logic to heart. How does understanding this shape how we love and counsel others? 

As He moved among the broken in His time on our planet, the Creator quoted from an unexpected source. Christ referred to the Psalms more than any part of our sacred text. But when we need help in our living, we rarely knock on a poet’s door; our bookshelves favour method over musing, movement over reflection, yet in the Psalms, we find beauty that brings our souls from weary valleys to hilltop praise. In this session, we consider a unique engagement with the artistry and genius of Christ’s favoured writings.

God personally formed each one of us. With intricate details, He “breathed” us into existence. We are His one-of-a-kind masterpiece. As we live in the world at the pace we set for ourselves, we not only don’t see our bodies as temples, we ignore them altogether sometimes. Very often this powerful picture is lost by our self-centred desires, by unmet needs, compelled by illusions about who we are and what makes us acceptable or important. In this session, we will be reminded of what is the path to healing and restoration that we desperately need. How can we help others to be “searched and known” by a gracious God, and moved toward holiness that gives God honor and fills their hearts with worship?

Our relationship with Christ involves our bodies, as well as our souls. One way this happens is the mutual abiding of Christ in the believer and the belief in Christ (Jn 14:23; 15:4). After considering this theme, we’ll finish with an activity.

Christ’s Incarnation justifies reviewing the ways church life involves our bodies – for example, in prayer, singing, confession, and eating and drinking – assessing why they benefit us, and practicing a little to explore their benefits.

Clinical Counselors have their hands full these days providing care for the situationally discouraged and depressed - the world seems to be full of them. Pastoral Counselors are sometimes called upon to provide solutions to specific or situational needs, but many times the sadness is longer-term and defies even our best "solutions." As we work with chronically discouraged and depressed people, Pastoral Counselors certainly need to be helpful counsellors, but also faithful friends to those with longer-term grief, pain, or other suffering. This session will provide a helpful paradigm on how to understand, seek to help, and be a faithful witness to truth while waiting for God to provide the help that only comes from Him.

Ministry roles are often viewed as "silos" -- areas that are loosely related but rarely connected. This is especially unfortunate when it comes to Pastoral Counseling and our Discipleship ministries. Biblically understood, these two ministry categories have far more in common than they have differences. How would "Counseling" be different if we viewed it through a "Discipleship lens" and how would "Discipleship" benefit if we included a "Counseling" framework? This session will help us think biblically about how these two often-separated ministries should become friends!

If the body of a Christian is a temple of Christ, then churches that build temples are those that help believers hear and follow the One who indwells them.  I suggest a model for cooperation between pastors, pastoral counselors, professional counselors, and gifted lay ministers—all with the goal of creating a culture of Christ-centered healing.