COURSE SYLLABI - B.Th.

SEMESTER- 6
India Christian Bible College
Thengode, P.O., Kochi-682030

PASTORAL CARE AND CONSELING

Department of Christian Ministry

Course Code: CM/521 Placement: B. Th. III

Credit Hours: 3

Course Description
This course is designed to familiarize the student with the principles and its application in the
ministry of pastoral care and counseling. This course emphasis the pastoral care of individuals,
and especially on the role of the pastor as counselor of those who need help at times of particular
crisis in their lives.
Course objectives
1. The students should be able to know and understand what is pastoral counseling and its
importance in the Christian ministry.
2. To help the students to understand about the different skills of counseling and make aware of
problems common to people in their lives.
3. To motivate the students to prepare themselves to become effective counselor in their
Christian ministry with different counseling techniques.
4. To help the students to learn the various counseling methods and the right applications of
these methods in the ministry of pastoral counseling.
5. The students should be able feel and appreciate that the spiritual sources are important in the
ministry of counseling than any other knowledge and wisdom.
Course outline
Introduction (October 1-6)
1. Pastor
2. Pastoral care
3. Pastoral Counseling

Chapter 1
The Ministry of Pastoral Care (October 8-20)
1. The good shepherd idea in the Bible
2. Pastoral Care in the Church
3. Understanding people
4. Understanding oneself

1
Chapter 2
The Ministry of Counseling (Oct 22-Nov 5)
1. What is counseling
2. Counseling in the Bible
3. Counseling in the Church
4. Traditional or Cultural Counseling
5. Counseling Today
Chapter 3
The Pastor’s Approach to Counseling (Nov 5-17)
1. The Aim in Counseling
2. Positive Attitudes
3. Negative Attitudes
4. Awareness and Understanding
5. Talking and Listening
6. Ways of Responding
7. The Client
8. The Counselor
9. Qualities of a Good Counselor
Chapter 4
The Practice of Counseling (Nov 20-26)
1. Counseling as a process
2. Making contact
3. Getting Introduced
4. Clarifying the problem
5. Working towards possible solutions
6. Ending counseling
Chapter 5
Methods of Counseling (Dec 2-10)
1. Directive Method (The Authoritative Approach)
2. Non-Directive Method (The Reflective Approach)
3. Identification Method (A Sharing Approach)
4. Combining Method (The Flexible Approach)
Chapter 6
Spiritual Resources in Counseling (Dec 15-22)
1. The work of the Holy Spirit
2. Using the Bible
3. Using Prayer
4. Fellowship in the church
5. The sacraments in the Counseling
Chapter 7
Common Counseling Situations (Dec 29-Jan 12)
1. Marriage and family Relationship
2. Sickness and Healing
3. Suffering
4. Death and Bereavement

2
Course Requirements
Class participation, attendance, class notes, monthly tests, assignments, reading reports, quiz and
final examination.
Assignments (500 words)
1. Discuss the idea of “Good Shepherd” in the Bible and what is the pattern set by Jesus?
2. Describe how much you would counsel a young man who suffers from his emotional
problem due to an unsuccessful love affair. List the steps you will take systematically. Describe
the methods of counseling you will use.
Reading Reports (200 words)
1. Understanding people. (PP34-40).
2. Make a conversation based in example 43.
3. Evaluating our ministry of pastoral care. (PP273-275).
(Text: Tend My Sheep-Harold Taylor)
Text Books
Taylor, Harold. Tend My Sheep. New Delhi: ISPCK, 2002.
Murray, Ezamo. An Introduction to Pastoral Care and Counseling. New Delhi: ISPCK,
2006.
Paul, D Meier. Introduction to Psychology and Counseling.
Bibliography
Taylor, Harold. Tend My Sheep. New Delhi: ISPCK, 2002.
Murray, Ezamo. An Introduction to Pastoral Care and Counseling. New Delhi: ISPCK, 2006.
Kurian, Alexander. Patterns for Christian Youth. USA: Gospel Mission of India, 1991.
James, Emmanuel E. Ethics. Bangalore: TBT, 2001.
Crabb, Larry. Effective Biblical Counseling. USA: Zondervan Publisher, 2002.
Tapkoot, betty. Ministering Inner Feeling. USA: Tapkot Ministries, 1987.
Webser, Daugas D. Finding Spiritual Direction. USA: Zondervan, 1973.
Solomon K. Marriage. Assumption and Fruitfulness. Tiruvalla: CSS, 2008.
Ekman, UIF. Our Holy Calling. UIF Ekman, 2009.
Varghese, B. Pauline Theology. An Introduction. EI. Shalom, 2012.