Pregnancy out of wedlock and the church : pastoral care perspective

Abstract

This dissertation concerns itself with the task of creating a pastoral model in order to offer care for the young ladies who experience the trauma of rejection and shame when they have fallen pregnant out of wedlock within the church, resulting from the painful suspension. It was motivated from the author’s personal experience of being suspended while pregnant out of wedlock and her understanding that suspension is not meant to shame or hurt anyone. Through Group Therapy, the author used her understanding of Christian hope, and by creating a positive conversation among these young ladies. The focus and hope of this dissertation is to research the problem of suspension, in order to help the clergy and lay leaders in their role as pastoral caregivers. However, this dissertation would have been of no use, if it did not attempt to create a model for caring which will empower lay leaders and the clergy to become pastoral caregivers towards young ladies who fall pregnant out of wedlock. <ul> <li> Firstly, the author will try to clarify the problem faced by the young ladies.</li> <li> Secondly, the author will seek to bring an awareness of this problem to the church through its prophetic voice.</li> <li> Thirdly, the author hopes to create a model of pastoral care that will not only care spiritually for young ladies, but will also meet their emotional needs.</li> </ul>