SUDS webinar focuses on congregational pastoral care amid pandemic
“Ministry of presence means we bring the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ to one another. This is not a passive move of just listening there and doing nothing. It is an active one. Only [through] effective listening we can minister effectively and act appropriately in caring,” shared Rev. Josuah M. De Rosas during the webinar on congregational pastoral care, November 10, 2021 via Zoom and Facebook Live organized by the Silliman University Divinity School (SUDS).
Titled “Stewardship of Ministry: Congregational Pastoral Care in the Midst of the Pandemic,” the webinar focused on the foundations and praxis of pastoral care in times of crisis with Rev. Josuah M. De Rosas, our new faculty member in spiritual care at SUDS, as the speaker.
Biblical, theological foundations
De Rosas began by analyzing Psalm 23 in four movements with an attempt to rediscover the biblical and theological foundations of pastoral care for the congregation.
“The first movement gives us a scenario, a picture of tranquility, peace, and providential care. The person is in a state of satisfaction. The phrases, ‘I shall not want,’ ‘green pastures,’ ‘still waters,’ ‘restoration of soul after a weary day’ and even confidence of what to do and where to go in the next steps in life. These are situations of normalcy and fulfillment,” De Rosas shared.
He added that the second movement pertains to “an unexpected twist and turn of [events]; darkness, uncertainty, threat of survival and death, with no end in sight.” This said movement can also be likened to the COVID-19 pandemic and other manmade and natural disasters.
On the other hand, De Rosas pointed out that the third movement ushers in the assurance that someone, in the person of God, “with a strong hand with a rod and a staff,” will “guide and comfort and accompany us until we get out of that darkness into light.”
The higher being, said De Rosas, comes as well with “a surprise of abundance, in the presence of enemies, problems, and disasters” and “the act of anointing with oil, for joy to be complete” despite the said occurrences.
“The fourth movement talks about stability, of the accompaniment of God’s goodness and mercy all our lives, and the assurance that God is our home, and we shall dwell with God forever in this life and the next,” explained De Rosas.
Pastoral care practices
The speaker then proceeded with a quick assessment of the local churches’ pastoral care practices based on the framework of the phases of disaster.
“In this framework, we are hoping that we can move on to reorientation as to the nature, purpose, and ministry of the Church in this time of [the] pandemic. We can build resilience and effectiveness in ministry when we know where we are and what’s next to be done,” said De Rosas.
This was followed by the sharing of pastoral care practices during the pandemic.
“There are types of groups in the church’s ministry of healing and growth. The groups can be formed by people of the same spiritual gifts to maximize their potential and capacity for service. Each group requires training and orientation. It depends on what you see as your congregation’s needs and giftedness,” said De Rosas.
Meanwhile, Pastor Christopher Daomar, an intern ministerial formation student at SUDS from the Central Mindanao Area Conference, gave his reaction to the input of Rev. De Rosas.
Daomar was able to relate how his current church assignment adapted to the pandemic situation and the importance of the ministry of presence by listening intently and by responding with empathy to the congregation who are going through problems and tribulations.
De Rosas, a faculty of spiritual care, is the newest addition to the roster of SUDS mentors. He completed a Bachelor in Secondary Education degree from the University of the Visayas in 2005; Master of Divinity from the San Francisco Theological Seminary in California, USA in 2010; and Master of Theology in Spiritual Care and Counseling from SUDS in July this year.
For a century now, SUDS has been one of the reputable centers for theological studies in Asia and the world. The institution offers a year-round Clinical Pastoral Education program for the clergy and laypeople from all denominations to equip them with knowledge and skills for hospital and community chaplaincy.
(Report by Klein Fausto Emperado, SUDS Centennial 2021 Special Project Staff)
