This research aims to explore the inclusion of religion in the support system for employees experiencing workplace bullying through the activities of chaplains (both clergy and lay) and to create a contextualized model of chaplaincy for addressing workplace bullying. In this study, chaplains and spiritual assistants are seen as members of the 'spiritual mission' of healthcare institutions, responsible for providing pastoral and spiritual support to staff and patients. Workplace bullying causes not only emotional and psychological harm but can also result in deep spiritual problems that require targeted pastoral counselling, guidance,educationand support to overcome. However, the organization of such assistance has been little studied to date. Seeking to fill this gap, an exploratory qualitative study was conducted. Applying the methodological approach of informed grounded theory, nine Catholic chaplains and lay spiritual assistants (n = 9) working in six hospitals (n = 6) were interviewed. The in-depth interview method was used. Thematic analysis of the interviewed data indicated that a liminal identity of chaplains and spiritual assistants formed between different religious and secular fields. Utilizing the identified themes a compiled three-layer model (of micro-, meso-, and macro-systems) was developed involving five interacting factors: (1) inter-institutional vacuum (of the Church and healthcare institutions); (2) instrumentalized symbolic capital of the chaplain; (3) the integrity of the spiritual mission; (4) pastoral response to workplace bullying; and (5) support of the religious community. This study highlights structural and institutional conditions that determine whether members of the spiritual mission can appropriately respond to challenges posed by workplace bullying in healthcare settings. These findings expand theoretical understanding of the role of pastoral care in organizations, while also showing what specific indicators help management to recognize systematic gaps which may mitigate chaplains and spiritual assistants from caring for the emotional and religious spiritual well-being of employees.

The digital age has significantly disrupted traditional church service models, presenting unique challenges in reaching Generation Z, a cohort of digital natives with a high prevalence of mental health issues. This study aims to analyze the contextual and theoretical effectiveness, ethical challenges, and theological implications of using WhatsApp as a pastoral counseling medium. Employing a qualitative method grounded in a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach, this research synthesizes data from scientific journals, books, and conference proceedings published between 2021 and 2025. The analysis identifies three key thematic areas. First, regarding opportunities, WhatsApp offers increased accessibility, platform familiarity, and reduced psychological barriers for Gen Z seeking help. Second, regarding challenges, the study highlights data confidentiality risks, ambiguous professional boundaries, and limitations in building deep therapeutic alliances due to the loss of non-verbal cues. Third, the findings emphasize the urgent need for counselors to develop new competencies, specifically 'digital empathy' and cyber-ethical literacy. It is concluded that while WhatsApp cannot replace clinical intervention, it holds significant potential as an innovative support tool within a hybrid pastoral ministry model. However, its success relies heavily on the implementation of strict ethical guidelines and comprehensive counselor training.

This study explores the application of pastoral counseling within the dynamics of Growing Together Groups (Kelompok Tumbuh Bersama – KTB) as an effort to build a faith-nurturing community at the Anugerah Misi Theological Seminary (STTAM) West Nias. Using a qualitative descriptive approach, this research analyzes how pastoral counseling—particularly through the integration of the Psychodelsi model (Psycho, Deliverance, Spiritual)—can contribute to students’ spiritual growth and maturity. The study reveals that many theology students still carry unresolved emotional wounds, particularly anger toward their parents, which hinder their spiritual development. By employing pastoral counseling integrated with the Psychodelsi framework, students are guided through personal reflection (life story), psychological typology assessment, and spiritual deliverance to identify the roots of inner bitterness and to experience genuine forgiveness. The results indicate that the pastoral counseling process not only reduces emotional distress and anger but also leads to deeper spiritual renewal, reconciliation, and transformation of character. Furthermore, the integration of pastoral counseling principles within KTB strengthens community bonds, enhances accountability among members, and fosters an environment where faith can flourish through shared experiences of healing and discipleship. In conclusion, the study highlights that the Psychodelsi-based pastoral counseling approach provides a holistic and contextual framework for spiritual formation in theological education, making it an effective model for developing faith communities that embody Christlike maturity, compassion, and wholeness.

The development of the Christian Pastoral Care and Counselling (CPCC) approach aims to support the recovery process of schizophrenia patients, who have not been appropriately handled by the church. A lack of understanding of schizophrenia has led church ministers and congregations in Maluku to consistently identify schizophrenia patients as possessed by evil spirits or ancestral spirits, affected by witchcraft, experiencing original sin, or breaking traditional vows. Consequently, the recovery approach used by pastors is to perform exorcisms, which include prayer, covering schizophrenic patients with priestly robes, or striking them with the Bible. Through descriptive qualitative research using a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) approach and analysed using Clarke & Braun’s six stages, this study proposes a holistic pastoral counselling approach to support the recovery of schizophrenia patients. This pastoral counselling approach is expected to improve the spiritual well-being of schizophrenia patients, reduce anxiety, enable self-management and help them find meaning in life despite their symptoms. The development of this model not only focuses on pastoral-spiritual interventions but also collaborates with medical, psychological, social and cultural approaches to provide holistic support for schizophrenia patients. Contribution: This article contributes to the growing body of holistic pastoral theology studies, caring for and assisting with the recovery processes of patients with schizophrenia. The holistic pastoral theology approach is also interdisciplinary, encompassing the involvement of other disciplines, such as health and psychosocial-cultural studies.

Pregnancy outside marriage often produces deep psychological, moral, and spiritual crises accompanied by shame, fear, rejection, and identity confusion. Churches and Christian counselors frequently respond moralistically, failing to address the trauma and cognitive distortions experienced by young women in this situation. This study uses a descriptive qualitative approach through literature review, biblical-theological analysis (Psalm 34:18; John 8:1–11), and a synthesis of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), bibliotherapy, and therapeutic journaling within a pastoral counseling framework. The research proposes the Christian Supportive Counseling Model for Crisis Pregnancy (CSCM-CP), consisting of holistic assessment, emotional stabilization, cognitive restructuring, narrative reconstruction through bibliotherapy, journaling for self-integration, and spiritual healing. The study affirms that counselors must function as empathetic companions, not judges, by integrating psychological techniques with Christian values of grace, restoration, and accompaniment

Background: Syncretism in South African Neo-Pentecostal pastoral counselling has emerged through the blending of biblical theology with culturally embedded healing practices. While this fusion reflects contextual engagement, it also raises serious theological and ethical concerns that require critical evaluation. Objectives: This article explores the phenomenon of religious syncretism in Neo-Pentecostal care and counselling by critically examining how traditional African religious elements such as symbolic rituals, ancestral references and spiritual diagnostics are assimilated and integrated into Christian pastoral care. The article seeks to evaluate these practices in light of doctrinal fidelity and pastoral integrity. Method: Using a qualitative document analysis approach, the study engages theological literature, ecclesial practices and academic critiques. Theological–ethical reflection guides the evaluation of syncretistic tendencies within pastoral care and counselling. Results: The findings reveal that many Neo-Pentecostal care and counselling practices are shaped by a hybrid spiritual epistemology, which blends Christian theology with African traditional religious cosmologies. This syncretism often leads to ritualised, fear-based counselling sessions that compromise the sufficiency of Christ and the authority of Scripture. Conclusion: While cultural contextualisation is vital, the uncritical incorporation of indigenous elements risks distorting the gospel message. Theological formation, rooted in the Christocentric foundations of the gospel and ethical pastoral practice, is urgently required. Contribution: This article contributes to African practical theology by proposing a theologically grounded and ethically responsible model of pastoral care and counselling. It challenges faith communities to uphold doctrinal integrity while meaningfully engaging Africa’s spiritual heritage within Pentecostal contexts.

ABSTRACT Religious obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or scrupulosity, is a subtype of OCD involving religiously themed obsessions and compulsions. Individuals with scrupulosity often first disclose symptoms to religious leaders, whose responses may significantly shape how symptoms are interpreted and whether mental health care is pursued. However, little is known about how religious leaders understand or respond to scrupulosity, including common guidance they may offer. This study aimed to clarify religious leaders' perceptions and responses, with particular interest in how they address both intrusive and indulgent thoughts that conflict with religious values. The study also examined potential differences across religious affiliations. Seventeen leaders from diverse faiths, including Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism, participated in semi-structured interviews to explore their views on scrupulous symptomatology. Four themes emerged: (1) Conceptualisation of scrupulosity, (2) Spiritual implications of thought processes, (3) Pastoral guidance, and (4) Referral to mental health care. Implications and future research directions are discussed.

Grounded in the doctrine of Imago Dei and the Sixth Commandment, “Thou shalt not kill,” the sanctity of human life is a foundational Christian theological and ethical principle. In contemporary Nigerian society, this principle faces serious challenges as physical violence coexists with the emerging phenomenon of “digital murder,” characterised by online incitement, exposure to graphic content, and the devaluation of life through digital media. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study examined how digital technology reshapes perceptions and treatment of human life in Nigeria by engaging theological foundations and the lived realities of faith communities. Survey data and qualitative insights from 500 Christian participants in South-Western Nigeria revealed a significant ethical contradiction. While most respondents affirmed belief in Imago Dei, many admitted to sharing or consuming violent online content and reported desensitisation to violence through digital media. In addition, a substantial number reported limited exposure to religious teachings and pastoral guidance on digital ethics. This gap between Christian belief and digital practice highlights the urgent need for theological engagement and public ethics education. The study advocates contextualised digital discipleship grounded in virtue ethics and media ecology to affirm the sanctity of life in digital and physical spaces.

ABSTRACT In one of his 1295 writs of summons, Edward I reported the threat of an upcoming French invasion, further fuelling the sense of danger by adding that Philip IV had committed himself to the heinous task of erasing the English language from the earth. For Edward I’s propaganda to be effective, gens and lingua should by then have been perceived as one and the same: the destruction of the language corresponding to that of the nation. However, wars against neighbouring countries were certainly not the sole force at work in the promotion of the use of Middle English at the turn of the 14th century. The preoccupations concerning the education of the clergy emerging from the decrees of the Fourth Lateran Council of 1215 had already prompted the flourishing of Middle English treatises of pastoral guidance. This essay analyses the linguistic stance of early 14th-century secular and religious texts to assess the influence exerted on them by their relevant historical and cultural context. Particular attention is devoted to the Auchinleck Manuscript, a miscellaneum reputedly imbued with nationalistic feelings. Significantly, in this collection, English does not appear to be a mere means, but rather a relevant topic in its own right.

The formation of spiritual maturity within Christian families is often misunderstood as a result of chronological age or the length of one’s Christian experience. This literature study emphasizes that spiritual maturity is not determined by age, but by a continuous process of faith formation through biblical knowledge, spiritual practices, lifestyle modeling, and character transformation. Using library research methods, this study analyzes primary and secondary literature related to the role of families, stages of faith development, and the collaborative role of the church in spiritual formation. The findings reveal that the family serves as the central foundation of faith formation, requiring the active involvement of parents in Bible reading, prayer, ethical guidance, and moral example. Furthermore, spiritual maturity is influenced by developmental stages that do not necessarily correspond to biological age. The church functions as a collaborative partner that supports family spiritual growth through teaching, ministry involvement, and pastoral guidance. This study concludes that spiritual maturity is reflected in character and actions rather than ritual participation alone, and it recommends strengthening family-based faith education and cooperation with the church as a foundation for authentic spiritual growth.

Mental health problems, particularly anxiety disorders, are increasingly prevalent among adolescents and have become a significant concern for the church as a spiritual community. This study aims to analyze the role of God’s servants in preventing and addressing anxiety disorders among adolescents at GKSI Maranatha Anugrah Sewan, Tangerang. The research employs a qualitative method through direct observation of youth ministry activities and informal interviews with participants. The findings reveal that church ministers play a strategic role in enhancing adolescents’ mental well-being through practical biblical teaching, empathetic pastoral counseling, and the establishment of prayer and openness communities. The application of Scripture Therapy, devotional counseling, and Healing Prayer Circles has proven effective in reducing anxiety levels, strengthening spiritual security, and fostering healthy social relationships. A holistic and collaborative pastoral approach involving professional support is essential for the church to create a safe environment that promotes recovery and spiritual growth among youth.

Poverty remains a multidimensional crisis requiring holistic interventions that integrate spiritual and economic dimensions. This study aims to analyze forms of spiritual support in pastoral counseling for the poor and identify mechanisms through which such support contributes to the sustainability of economic empowerment programs. Using a qualitative approach with systematic literature review, data were collected from academic journals, theological texts, and previous research published between 2006-2025, analyzed through thematic content analysis. The findings reveal five integrated forms of spiritual support: spiritual-theological support for restoring meaning and hope, transformative psychosocial accompaniment integrating counseling techniques with faith values, communal empowerment based on Christian values creating sustainable support ecosystems, practical life skills guidance and economic capacity development, and advocacy facilitating access to structural resources. These forms contribute to sustainability through five mechanisms: mindset transformation from helplessness to self-agency, strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity, forming social networks and social capital, integrating Christian values in work ethics, and establishing continuous mentoring systems with participatory evaluation. This study confirms that spiritual support is an essential element determining the long-term success of economic empowerment programs for the poor.

The phenomenon of Indonesian migrant workers (TKI) in Malaysia involves not only economic issues but also complex social and spiritual challenges. In an era of globalisation, cultural openness, and rapid digital development, migrant workers face moral and faith struggles, particularly related to LGBT issues that increasingly influence public discourse and personal values. This situation highlights the urgent need for churches and pastoral ministries to provide contextual accompaniment for diaspora communities. This study integrates theological reflection and pastoral ministry to assist TKI in responding to LGBT issues based on the love and truth of Christ. Using a qualitative literature review approach, the research examines theological, pastoral, and Christian educational psychology sources. The findings show that the integration of theology and pastoral care effectively fosters critical faith understanding, empathetic attitudes, and ethical behaviour amid value pluralism. Pastoral counselling grounded in love and incarnational theology is especially relevant in the diaspora context. This study contributes to contemporary pastoral practice and Christian educational psychology in the global era.

This literature review examines the empirical evidence of the impact of pastoral care, focusing on the areas that have been studied in terms of measurable and verifiable outcomes. By analysing 34 international studies published between 1990 and 2020, we assessed the methodological diversity and empirical depth of research in this field. The review encompasses qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method studies alike, including small- and large-sample investigations. Our findings suggest that while the impact of pastoral counselling is empirically measurable and verifiable, significant methodological limitations persist, particularly regarding measurement precision and the identification of influencing factors. Compared to psychotherapies integrating religiosity and spirituality, pastoral care research is less extensive and often based on smaller, less differentiated samples, with limited attention to the professional competence levels of care providers. Most outcome studies have been conducted in hospital contexts involving patients with physical or mental health conditions and their relatives. Results highlight the need for further empirical work using more rigorous and diversified methodological approaches, broader research settings, and assessment tools adapted to the qualification level of pastoral care providers, in order to establish a more comprehensive and evidence-based understanding of pastoral care effectiveness.

Abstract: This study aims to analyze pastoral counseling services for occult attachment based on Acts 13:6–11 and identify its implementation in congregational ministry at GBI Hilihao Church. The story of Paul's confrontation with Elymas, a sorcerer, is a strong theological reference in dealing with the influence of the power of darkness in the midst of the church today. This study uses a qualitative method with a Biblical approach and a field case study of occult practices that occur in the GBI Hilihao congregation. The results found that the involvement of the congregation in occult practices is closely related to the influence of local culture, spiritual ignorance, and the search for instant solutions to life's problems. Pastoral counseling services are carried out through personal counseling, deliverance prayers, teaching the word of God, and further development in the discipleship community. This process has proven effective in freeing the congregation from spiritual bondage and helping them grow in faith in Christ. The implementation of Acts 13:6–11 in pastoral counseling services shows the importance of spiritual courage, the power of prayer, and sensitivity in recognizing and responding to spiritual problems in the congregation. This study provides practical and theological contributions in pastoral ministry, especially in dealing with occult issues wisely, lovingly, and based on the authority of God's Word.

This research examines the function of memory as a medium of healing for survivors of psychological domestic violence through a recall memory approach. Drawing on Binsar Pakpahan’s theology of remembering and Miroslav Volf’s concept of the wounded self, this research explores how the process of remembering operates within the traumatic experience of a woman subjected to psychological abuse by her spouse. A qualitative case-study approach is employed, with data gathered through in-depth interviews conducted over five online individual pastoral counseling sessions. The findings indicate that traumatic memories that are not processed reflectively and relationally do not function therapeutically, but instead reproduce resentment, mistrust, and resistance to forgiveness. The absence of sustained emotional accompaniment and supportive community relationships traps survivors in dangerous memory that perpetuates emotional suffering. These findings suggest that recall memory is neither neutral nor automatically healing, but requires an integrative theological–psychological framework and relational support. Forgiveness is thus understood not as a moral demand, but as an intrapsychic process of liberation from trauma.

The generational gap between parents and children in the digital era presents new challenges in the transmission of Christian values. This study was conducted in response to differences in worldview, communication styles, ways of thinking, and levels of digital competence that may weaken the family’s function as the primary context for faith formation. The aim of this research is to formulate strategies to bridge the parent-child generational gap so that the transmission of Christian values remains relevant and effective in the digital age. This study employs a qualitative method through a literature review of reputable academic sources. The findings propose an integrative strategy that includes strengthening relational communication within the family, optimizing and regulating the use of digital media, as well as providing digital literacy training for parents in order to reduce the knowledge and skill gap with their children. Discipleship, parenting training, and pastoral counseling also emerge as essential components that can be implemented complementarily to support the faith formation process within the family. Overall, the study indicates that transmitting Christian values in the digital era requires creative, dialogical, and contextually grounded approaches, while maintaining collaborative partnership between the family and the church. Through such efforts, Christian values can be passed down in a continuous and meaningful manner across generations.

This journal examines the influence of Instagram on the worship attire style of Christian youth, with a particular focus on motivation, identity formation, and the spiritual implications that accompany it. The research was conducted through a field survey involving 50 respondents and supported by several theoretical foundations, including Erving Goffman’s dramaturgy, Nancy Baym’s theory of digital relationships, as well as theological studies from Bradshaw, Martin Luther, Clement of Alexandria, and HKBP Hymn BE No. 31:2. The findings reveal that Instagram has a significant role in shaping perceptions of the “ideal appearance in worship,” including the tendency among youth to appear attractive, neat, and fashionable as a form of impression management within the digital sphere. Moreover, the study indicates a shift in awareness among young people that appearance is not the primary value in praising God. Simplicity, sincerity, neatness, and genuine spirituality are increasingly recognized as the essential core of true worship. Therefore, the tension between digital culture and liturgical ethics presents an opportunity for the church to provide pastoral guidance, theological education, and character formation to help young people express themselves in healthy ways without losing the values of the Christian faith.

Recent scholarship on clergy wellbeing in South Africa and globally notes the ongoing strain on pastors post-pandemic. The general aim of aim of this study was to address the paucity of research on stress and burnout among Indian Pentecostal ministers in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The study is based on a study of forty full-time pastors who were investigated as part of a Masters in Counselling Psychology thesis. Using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the Stress Diagnostic Survey (SDS), findings indicate that compared with helping professionals, pastors reported lower levels of burnout despite moderate to high levels of stress. Responsibility for People was the most significant stressor, followed by role conflict, role overload, leadership demands, and financial difficulties. The study highlights gaps in denominational ministry training, particularly in pastoral counselling, institutional leadership, conflict management and financial wellbeing. Despite these pressures, reliance on spirituality, a sense of calling, and support from spouses provided strong coping resources, buffering burnout risk. The mediating impact of spirituality is discussed through the lens of Pentecostal theology which promotes an eschatological, other-worldly mindset, which may become a form of spiritual bypassing. Recommendations include strengthening a trauma-informed theological curricula, developing peer-support systems, and providing institutional backing to enhance resilience and reduce burnout risk.

Abstract: This study specifically outlines the role of pastoral counseling in the church for the restoration of the spiritual health of the church. This paper uses qualitative methods with a literature study approach. The description in this article describes that the interpersonal relationships between counselors and their consensual. Counseling comes from the Latin "Consillium" which means with or with and taking or holding. Pastoral counseling serves to heal the whole human being therefore pastoral counseling to help the "wounded", to survive and go through a state in which the recovery to the original condition. In applying pastoral counseling to the conggregation a counselor must understand how he or she should deal with the consequences. This is so that the counselor does not rush to blame or confront a person sharply and directly in the early stages of counseling. A good Christian pastor or counselor should put his or her function first rather than his office, for without real realization of the duty of responsibility one cannot be said to be a good shepherd or counselor.