Role Expectations of the Baptist Pastor as Pastoral Counselor as Viewed By Pastors, Pastoral Students, and Faculty in Selected Pastoral Training Institutions. (Volumes I and II).

Abstract

The major objective of this study was to investigate the role expectations of the Baptist pastor counselor as viewed by pastors, pastoral students and faculty at selected pastoral training institutions; to identify and describe the possible determinants and qualifications for that role and the extent of agreement and /or disagreement within and between groups concerning role expectations; and to suggest possible implications for pastoral counseling training programs. Participants included forty Baptist pastors, forty faculty members from departments of religion and 120 students from four selected colleges which train Baptist pastors. The pastors were selected from a five county area surrounding Lynchburg, Virginia. The colleges were located in the middle-Atlantic and mid-south regions of the United States. Each participant provided data through the use of a Questionnaire and a Personal Interview Survey. Computer analysis of the data was employed and findings were presented, utilizing traditional statistical methodology. Major findings drawn from the study are as follows: (1) Expectations held by participants in this study for the role of pastor counselor were dissimilar when the counseling function was included within the broad realm of pastoral ministries but tended to be similar when the counseling function was isolated from the other pastoral ministries. (2) Discrepancies exist concerning the priority of pastoral counseling when viewed in the ideal sense compared to the actual practices of pastors. (3) Perceptions of the role of pastor counselor appear to be shaped by the everyday problems and needs faced by pastors rather than by formal counselor preparations. (4) Extensive pre-service and in-service programming needs were emphasized by participants in this study inasmuch as a majority of them indicated that their own pastoral training was inadequate in the counseling area. (5) Parameters within which a definition, objectives and services offered in a pastoral counseling program can be identified need to be established.