Pastoral Visitation

by Nancy J. Gorsuch

Publisher:

Fortress Press

, 1999

Overview

Clergy, students of pastoral care, and lay visitation volunteers will find Nancy Gorsuch an effective guide in developing an intentional, proactive program of pastoral visitation in the local church. To increase the pastoral visitor's positive experiences of effectiveness, the author presents basic how-to information in a straightforward manner characterized by vivid illustrations and case studies. The book provides a theological basis for pastoral visitation and goes on to explore the types and purposes of visitation, preparation and resources, training and basic helping skills, assessment and follow-up, and methods of sustaining pastoral visitation as a means of building a caring community of faith.

Contents

Top Highlights

“Pastoral visitation in the current cultural milieu means attending to and nurturing a personal life of faith, and inviting and encouraging public expression of that faith—what I call fostering faithfulness.” (Page 11)

“Pastoral caregivers need to visit members and friends of the congregation to nurture them in faithfulness” (Page 3)

“to offer care and nurture in the personal context of someone’s home (Jackson, 1990” (Page 2)

“Pastoral calling and visitation often occur in response to particular needs” (Page 2)

“Helping skills for pastoral visitation include attending behaviors that build trust, active listening, empathic responses and judicious use of questions, and assessment of what is going on, what problems need to be addressed, or growth encouraged.” (Page 47)

Product Details

• Title: Pastoral Visitation
• Author: Nancy J. Gorsuch
• Publisher: Fortress Press
• Publication Date: 1999
• Pages: 94

About Nancy J. Gorsuch

Following ordination in the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A., Nancy Gorsuch served in Associate and Interim Pastor positions for fifteen years before joining the Brite faculty in 1992. She was Director of the Pastoral Care and Training Center at Brite from 1992-2002, and is a Diplomate in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and a Licensed Professional Counselor. Current research interests include pastoral care in congregations, and pastoral theological perspectives on health and care.