Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Reading Report 1 Pastoral Care and Counseling
Reading Report 1 Pastoral Care and Counseling
CHMN 512 Pastoral Care and Counseling (2022) Name: Veli Kotilainen
AIIAS Online, Silang, Cavite, Philippines Date:1.4.08.2022 Time:23.55
Bibliographical Details: Lynch, Gordon: The significance of values & moral reflection for
pastoral care & counselling, a chapter from the book Pastoral Care & Counselling -Ethics in
In this first chapter of his book the author Gordon Lynch who is Professor of Modern Theology
at the University of Kent, UK, deals with several areas moral dilemmas, problems and
components that pastors will be experiencing during their ministry. On the introductory part he
abuse of clients. He glimpses a view on how values of pastors affect and impact on the guidance
pastors will be giving to their clients and necessity of moral reflection on pastoral work.
After few paragraphs of introduction Lynch goes directly to a so called “case study”
whereby he elaborates a narrative pastors could come across. Interestingly Lynch brings forth not
is actually based on her values. After this first example Lynch moves on analyzing more in
details things concerned in value based behavior. The guidelines that pastors give to clients could
be based value systems, idelogies or school of thoughts – then Lynch refers to Stephen Pattison,
after which he defines “The Good Life” in a separate section. Lynch quotes also well-known
Classical Philosophians such as Aristotle, Cicero and Rousseau, and classical Theologians such
as Thomas Aquinas and more modern thinkers such as Arrington, Cooper. Author compares
deals with marriage counseling – this example of Laura and Rob is typical situation in a modern
Western Hemisphere – for the career´s sake a married couple have decided to stay without
children, and when time passes problems occur. From pastors perspective situation is not easy
and recommendation, suggestion and guidances are basically value based. Lynch brings forth
even hermenautical framework, and other tools to deal with the problem. In the end of the
chapter Lynch asks several questions – The summary also helps to grasp current reading in a
compressed manner.
Personal Reaction
This article has been essential in understanding moral dilemmas and value based approach into
them for pastors. I can also see more clearly the need for Moral reflection in my own life,
actually reading compels me to reflect my own life and perhaps be more merciful for my fellow
Christians. I have certainly enjoyed this reading, and it has been most interesting and useful for
developing skills in pastoral work. I think it is somehow helpful to find out that there is not
always a patent answer to each problem, but adjusting own decision making skills as well as
Statement: “I,Veli Kotilainen have read Lynch, Gordon: The significance of values & moral
reflection for pastoral care & counselling, first chapter from the book Pastoral Care &
Counselling -Ethics in Practice Series - SAGE Publications, London 2002, and this report