한국 교회 안에서 행해지는 목회상담의 한계와 지향점

Abstract

This research explores the identity of pastoral counseling. The main concern of pastoral counseling has been related with counselors who have psychological backgrounds and have trained as specialists although many of them are pastors. This study asks a question of how pastoral counseling goes along in church. It points out that pastoral counseling seriously has to concern church and pastors.<BR> This article divides into four sections. Firstly, it deals with the identity of pastoral counseling. Scholars discern pastoral counseling from pastoral care. It is said that pastoral counseling is a more professional area while pastoral care is regarded as the ordinary caring of pastors. Whatever the classification is, pastoral counseling should differ from ordinary counseling and recover its identity. Furthermore, it argues that pastoral counseling should develop theories and skills for ordinary pastors.<BR> In the second section, it points out the limitation of theological education and pastoral counseling in contemporary Korean church. Contemporary pastoral counseling and ordinary counseling are alike. The counseling of pastors in church has not developed theoretical backgrounds and skills. Pastoral counseling includes religious elements and spiritual areas.<BR> In the next part, it claims that pastoral counseling includes Christian spirituality. Pastoral counseling should include the recovery of spiritual aspects, which is different from the purpose of the ordinary counseling. It also compares pastoral counseling with spiritual direction. In a sense, pastoral counseling must partly be the spiritual direction in that pastors should take care of the spiritual life of lay christians.<BR> Lastly, it will delineate the religious resources of church and the necessity of manual, which can be used for pastoral counseling. Pastoral counseling can use religious resources such as the Bible, prayer, church community, pastoral visiting and so on. It argues that pastoral counseling needs to make manuals for pastors in church. This research contributes to showing the developmental possibility of pastoral counseling that can be used in church.