A pastoral perspective on the threatening loss of employmentThe changing employment situation in South Africa is currently characterized by the various challenges it poses to individuals in the workplace, such as affirmative action, voluntary severance packages and discharges. Discharges are often associated with employment insecurity and the threatening loss of employment. A psychological approach to the threatening loss of employment is on its own inadequate. The aim of this article is to investigate the possibilities of a holistic approach as part of pastoral support to persons experiencing the threat of losing their employment. It aims to argue that pastoral care can benefit from a multi-disciplinary approach to the threatening loss of employment. However, pastoral care needs guidelines to facilitate its relationship with psychology and to assist in dealing with faith in the counselling process. This article makes use of Gerkin's model for pastoral care in order to provide some guidelines for pastoral care for individuals who are experiencing a protracted threat of loss of employment. Gerkin's model will be brought into dialogue with a cognitive behavioural therapeutic model. VRAAGSTELLINGVeranderende werksomstandighede in Suid-Afrika word tans gekenmerk deur verskeie uitdagings aan individue in die werksplek. Regstellende aksie, vrywillige skeidingspakette en afleggings is 'n werklikheid wat vir sommige individue 'n traumatiese ervaring kan wees. Werksonsekerheid en dreigende werksverlies in Suid-Afrika kan egter nie as uniek beskou word nie, maar as 1 Hierdie artikel is 'n verwerking van van die MA (Teologie)-verhandeling van Roelf P G Schoeman, "Dreigende werksverlies: 'n Multi-dissiplinêre uitdaging vir die pastoraat", ingedien in die Departement Praktiese Teologie, Fakulteit Teologie, Universiteit van Pretoria, met prof dr Yolanda Dreyer as studieleier.

National conscripts and their quest for closure:A Pastoral challenge. During the apartheid era, young white men were conscripted for military service in the South African Defence Force. After the demise of apartheid, these military veterans became part of the transformation process in the country. They were often not prepared for the emotional and psychological impact of the political, economic and social changes. Many of them found and still find it difficult to take their place among the citizenry of the country. The post-apartheid government provided no support for them to reintegrate into the community or to process the often long-lasting effects of war related trauma and moral injury. For many, this resulted in a lack of healing and closure on a psychological, moral and spiritual level. This article aims to contribute from a pastoral care perspective to the process of healing, closure and reintegration of this specific group. A holistic narrative approach integrates the contextual approach of Charles Gerkin, the philosophical counselling of Daniel Louw and the insights of Neil Anderson with regard to the connection between spirituality and identity. A contextual approach promotes a deeper understanding of the veterans and their needs in the context of their local communities, including faith communities. In these local communities, resources are available and should be utilised. Such a constructive engagement between veterans, local communities and faith communities can contribute to healthier individuals, families and communities as well as to a healthier society. Guidelines for pastoral support of these veterans that can contribute to their social and personal transformation and process of psychological closure are proposed.