Caring for traumatized families of 'crucified' clergy : a challenge to pastorial care

Abstract

The research deals with trauma and violence as these affect women and children in the parsonage household when the clergy experience brutal attacks by parishioners. It focuses on the clergy households of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa especially within the black congregations. So, the hypothesis to this research is that the clergy, within the Methodist Church Of Southern Africa, are ‘crucified’, but no one cares for their families during these ‘crucifixions’- their well- being, feelings, anxiety and safety and security. No one listens to their stories. No one journeys with them. The only thing the church does, is to transfer the affected minister to another circuit wounded and unhealed. The question dealt with in this research is, where do the clergy go when they go through crisis situations? Do they really need pastoral care? Who cares for their families when they the clergy are the direct victims of violence or emotional attacks? Where do they find healing and counseling? For, it is the children and spouse of the clergy that are adversely affected when the clergy go through crisis, because, when one member of the family suffers, the whole body is affected. The research therefore investigates how the church, especially the MCSA has pastorally responded to the impact these ‘crucifixions’ have had on the emotions of the family members of the clergy; the extent and nature of the traumatic experiences of ministers’ families; the difficulties and problems faced by the church to address these problems and finally, make some personal recommendations to the church to effectively deal with these problems. The research concludes by suggesting a model of pastoral care that will help the church to deal with traumatic experiences of its clergy, for the obligation of the church to concern itself with suffering stems from the Bible where prophets and Jesus teach about love. This therefore, is a demonstration that it is imperative for the church to involve itself through pastoral guidance in dealing with such conflicts and its effects in the lives of ministers’ families. Copyright