African American Pastoral Care

Is pastoral care effective in today's black churches? Is the influence of black pastors declining? What roles have pastors played in black churches? These and other topics are considered in the important first book about pastoral care in the American black church.

Respond to God's unfolding drama to bring healing and reconciliation. In this major revision of his classic book, Dr. Edward Wimberly updates his narrative methodology by examining current issues in African American pastoral care and counseling.

"Ed Wimberly's important book links politics and pastoral care, two practices I haven't seen connected very often. Wimberly's book comes at a critical time in the life of theological education and religious practice in America. There is a raging debate afoot within black church culture about the appropriate balance of personal and political construal of the Christian message. This book could advance a much needed approach to a complicated conversation about the kind of pastoral care best suited for people who have known racism, sexism, poverty, and religious abuse. Wimberly's dedication, warmth, intelligence, and charisma will transform this book into a tool for opening closed minds and closing open arguments that do not liberate."—Robert M. Franklin, Presidential Distinguished Professor of Social Ethics, Candler School of Theology, Emory University It is because pastoral care and counseling facilitate person agency and efficacy (personal, social, and political empowerment and transformation) that African American pastoral care and counseling are inherently political processes, contends Edward Wimberly. In African American Pastoral Care and Counseling: The Politics of Oppression and Empowerment, Wimberly outlines the theological anthropology that undergirds the practices of care and the practices of self as holistic processes. Wimberly shows those who engage in pastoral counseling with African Americans how to navigate around the negative self-images, identities, and stories into which they have been recruited in order to liberate themselves to discern how to best make use of their personal and political agency and efficacy.

It is because pastoral care and counseling facilitate person agency and efficacy (personal, social, and political empowerment and transformation) that African American pastoral care and counseling are inherently political processes, contends Edward Wimberly. In African American Pastoral Care and Counseling: The Politics of Oppression and Empowerment, Wimberly outlines the theological anthropology that undergirds the practices of care and the practices of self as holistic processes. Wimberly shows those who engage in pastoral counseling with African Americans how to navigate around the negative self-images, identities, and stories into which they have been recruited in order to liberate themselves to discern how to best make use of their personal and political agency and efficacy.

The Journey and Promise of African American Preaching is a constructive effort to examine the historical contributions of African American preaching, the challenges it faces today, and how it might become a renewed source of healing and strength for at-risk communities and churches. --from publisher description

Wednesday, November 9, 2016 is the day that changed America. A Republican business mogul and reality television host who once proclaimed that if women didn't accept the intimate advancements of men, then men were could simply grab these women by a particularly sensitive extremity below their stomachs, snatched the electoral collegiate vote and since then has worked tirelessly on reversing President Barack Obama's progressive policies and pushing immigration legislation backwards. This vital resource guide incorporates the basic understandings of spiritual care with the current social, emotional, existential and spiritual needs of African Americans simply surviving in Trump's violent America. It's one-of-a-kind, offering specific spiritual care strategies and interventions for African Americans dealing with particular physical, social and emotional health challenges in the midst of rising statistics of racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia leading to violence in the United States. Intended for anyone in academia or the helping professions, this comprehensive work benefits those seeking to provide spiritual care to African American hospital patients, counseling clients, church congregants and parishioners, military veterans, or returning service members. The contributors to this anthology are experts in their respective fields who offer a new, refreshing, and energizing perspective on important issues impacting African Americans.

How can African American church leaders maximize their leadership potential? What are current models for effective leadership in the African American Christian community? This book answers those questions and more with up-to-date research and current best practices regarding leadership principles and strategies. African American church communities and those who interact with and work with these communities will find this book particularly useful. ParkerBooks are written to equip and encourage African American ministry leaders.