Most books on pastoral care focus on individuals, or, in a few cases, couples, and families. However, I believe that when church leadership thinks of the congregation as an emotional unit in itself and can think in terms of caring for the congregation as a whole, then the individuals, couples, and families in that church will be better cared for.
There are a huge number of good books on pastoral care of individuals. However, I don’t know of any that speak of caring for a congregation as a whole. These two books (Volumes One and Two) will not focus on specific pastoral care practices and techniques. However, they may be the most “practical” books on pastoral care that you will ever read. They are practical in the sense that they will be highly useful in understanding the emotional ways of relating for people in your congregation. This understanding will illuminate how leaders can respond most effectively.
The material in this two-volume collection is based on a consistent and coherent approach to understanding human relationships. What unifies all of these workshops is their basis in Bowen family systems theory.
