Baptism by fire in clinical pastoral education: the theory and practice of learning the art of pastoral care through verbatims

Abstract

This paper explores the use of the verbatim as a reflective teaching method for learning the art of pastoral care in a clinical pastoral education (CPE) setting. As a written record of a pastoral conversation, the verbatim provides theological students with the opportunity for learning and developing pastoral skills as well as increasing their self‐awareness and self‐understanding. Learning the art of pastoral care through verbatims sets the stage for the affective dimension of transformative learning to take place. The historical background of CPE and the use of verbatims is briefly noted. The primary focus of the paper is on the theory and practice of learning through this teaching method.