The Facilitativeness of Parish Ministers: A Descriptive Study

Abstract

Counseling efficacy studies suggest that when certain conditions such as empathy, respect, genuineness, and concreteness are present in a counseling relationship, positive therapeutic change is likely to result, while in the absence of such conditions little change or even client deterioration may occur. Fifty-four randomly selected Protestant pastors participated in a tape-recorded, 10-minute counseling module. Their responses were subsequently rated on levels of empathy, respect, genuineness, and concreteness using the scales developed by Carkhuff and Truax. It was found that pastors were significantly below minimally facilitative levels on those conditions which convey empathy, acceptance, and warmth. While none of the 54 pastors reached minimally facilitative levels, conservative pastors were significantly less facilitative than their more liberal counterparts. Completion of the general seminary curriculum did not increase facilitativeness, and courses in pastoral counseling increased facilitativeness only minimally. Facilitativeness did not increase with maturation and experience. The need for specific training in facilitation skills within the seminary counseling curriculum is suggested.