Pastoral care of Basotho widows after the burial : a challenge of clergy

Abstract

Pastoral neglect of widows sounds like a misconception to those who have never experienced it; however, it is one of the subjects that the church has swept under the carpet for years. The church has arrived at a period where we cannot hide the neglect perpetrated by pastors and pastoral caregivers. The challenge is that, pastors do not neglect the Basotho widows deliberately, but some of the African cultural practices hinders them to journey with the widows during their mourning period. These cultural practices become a stumbling between those who are to pastorally care for the Basotho widows and them. On the other hand, the widows feel rejected and neglected, thus, some of them stop coming to church services. The church has not helped these pastors to be able to journey with the widows during their mourning period. The research seeks to investigate why pastors are challenged when caring for the Basotho widows. The aim of the research is to highlight the African culture that hinders pastoral care of the widows in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The research will not only highlight the challenge faced by pastors and come with a model of care of the Basotho widows but will suggest a healing method for the neglected widows. This healing method will assist pastors and pastoral caregivers to pastorally journey with the widows.