The effects of the split in the Baptist denomination on the Ayeton congregation

Abstract

This thesis contains and deals with chapters on research methodology on psychological trauma in a single Baptist Congregation. This is the trauma of untold stories of individual church members through conflict, division and split. The author will also in his final analysis evaluate the psychological, pastoral counseling methods applied, care and healing of the clients of Ayeton Baptist church in Pretoria. Those who are deeply affected by emotional hurting actions are members towards other members including the executive and the pastor. C.V. Gerkin’s book on An Introduction to Pastoral Care and A,V Campbell on Rediscovery of Pastoral Care could be of great help on pastoral counselors, as well as in caring for the flock of God. The design will be as follows: <ul> <li>a. Methods used in the study</li> <li>b. Skills</li> <li>c. Essential elements</li> <li>d. Human needs</li> </ul> J Jeffrey Means in Trauma and Evil (2000:129) says: “We are hurt by other people and we depend on others for healing” quoting Carroll Wise saying: “The crucial fact of life is this: we are hurt by other persons, we are made sick through our relationships with other persons, and we are cured through other persons. The healing process is partly a process that affects relationship” (Means 1998:211). Women’s on reflection of forgiveness (2008:1) says, “In the cause of human relationships, it is virtually impossible to avoid hurting others and being hurt by them”. This assumption that forgiveness is beneficial to individual and relationships, even when it is not stated explicitly, it is implicitly in much of the research investigating its correlates, antecedents, determents, and consequences. While others have argued that forgiveness may be beneficial to mental and physical health of individuals (e.g., Mauger et al; 1992; McCullough 2000) <ul> <li>All stories told by clients were out of their hearts’ will; voluntarily and also out of their very own languages without prejudice.</li> <li>Such stories as related by members were in most sensitive and heart breaking</li> <li>Some of the clients told their stories inter related to some, whereas some were independent as well as individual</li> <li>Stories told, by clients, are as Means (2000) say that stories are that of individual telling someone to know him or her as he or she is about.</li> <li>Stories revealing dangerous and harmful people to others are found </li> <li>Sad stories on divorce are also told as Ruben Benjamin Kitchen (2008:66) says, 4.4.7 Dilemmas facing the church. “If the church wants to address the pain of evil in the world effectually, it must address the issues as described interrelation ally, the untouchables with theology of involvement. According to Means, this will include the following three areas: (1) “The vitality and life of the church: (2) The extent to which the church will be a place that offers care and support to those who have being hurt by violence and abuse (divorce), and (3) The extent to which the church will offer an environment of healing for those elements within people that set them up to interact with others in hurtful ways” (2000:179).</li></ul>