Interfaith spiritual care

The research and writing project leading to this publication was designed with the following goals in mind: to explore the dynamics of interfaith spiritual care as a work of practical and pastoral theology; to identify reliable guidelines for the competent, and duly contextualized, practice of interfaith spiritual care; and to invite further cooperation on this subject among practitioners and scholars. The project aims to enhance the practice of spiritual caregivers in the hospital and other settings as they encounter the growing plurality of faith traditions and expressions among care receivers and colleagues. The present volume is therefore intended for chaplains, pastors, Clinical Pastoral education students and other caregivers, such as counselors and psychotherapists, both in training and already in practice. The first part stems from an unprecedented year-long seminar sponsored by the Lutheran Hospital of Indiana Pastoral Care Division and Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary Pastoral Care and Counseling Program. Such collaboration provided a unique opportunity to reflect systematically on spiritual care in interfaith situations in a health care center. The second part offers a partial view of the expanding field of interfaith spiritual care. The essays included reflect the commonalities and differences encountered in various culturally-specific settings in diverse countries. (Back cover).