1. Spiritual Formation as it relates to family Health.

2. Spiritual formation ( spiritual Health)- Definition and Process Oneness with God. Disciplines towards intimacy with God - a means and a fruit. Spiritual health Is manifested in: Knowing the reality of God: Psalms 27: 1; 121: 1 Longing to be in God’s presence.

3. Spiritual formation (Family Health)- Definition and Process Unhealthy - broken family: Structure- less family: - no values, morals, beliefs that hold the family members accountable. No clear subsystems Competitiveness Triangulation - anxiety laden system.

4. Implications for spiritual formation & family health A) Spiritual formation & family health are intricately inter-related. Main objective of Pastoral counseling is to reconnect people with God - D. Benner. family health must be viewed in the five main areas of humanity: Spiritual, relational, psychological, emotional and physical.

5. Implications for spiritual formation & family health Pastoral Care - “refers, in a broad and inclusive way, to all pastoral work concerned with the support and nurturance of persons and interpersonal relationships including everyday expressions of care and concerns that may occur in the midst of various pastoral activities and relations.” DPCC p.845

6. Implications for spiritual formation & family health Pastoral Counseling - Refers to “caring ministries that are: more structured and focused specifically articulated need and concern. degree of contract in which a request for help is articulated specific arrangements are agreed upon concerning time and place of meeting; in extended counseling a fee may also be agreed upon …” p.845 Pastoral counselor operates from a theological stand point/base.- Dialogue with the faith tradition. DPCC. p.850

7. Implications for spiritual formation & family health People come to Pastoral counseling due to individual or family brokenness- meaning one or more of the five areas are hurting. Yet each of these areas is related to another

8. Implications for spiritual formation & family health (cont’d) B) strong assumption that manifestation of family brokenness implies disintegrating spiritual health.

9. Practical measures towards Spiritual formation & family Health Principle of inner circle Engage spiritual disciplines as an open means. Acknowledge that we are fallible human beings. “ Give way but do not give up”

10. Pastoral role in helping congregations towards family Health through spiritual formation Live the example Premise all your pastoral care and counseling on reconnecting people to God. You are an instrument of God, not the healer.