The pastoral care of preaching and the trauma of HIV and AIDS

Abstract

There is within the history of Christian worship practices a long tradition of someone offering a sermon to those gathered for worship. The primary means for many Christians throughout the world of receiving Christian education and guidance is by listening to sermons. There is generally embedded in all Christian preaching some attempt on the part of the preacher to share a worldview based upon the his or her biblical and theological interpretation of the meaning of faith and their application to daily living. This article explores how the sermon can be a source of religious instruction and aspect of pastoral caring for those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS. The article also suggests that such sermons can be a form of advocating social justice for those who are stigmatized because of their HIV status. Note: The people mentioned in this article, are real but, their names, Rob, Inspiration and Pastor Able are fictitious for reasons of confidentiality.<br />“My Africa is fading and no one sees or cares that it is happening.

Love: A philosophy of pastoral care and counselling

“…In the early 1980s, I was visiting a congregant, Rob (not his real name), about whom I have written before (Streets 2008(Streets , 2013, a young man in his early thirties who was in the hospital with AIDS. He was having a difficult time during the period in which my hospital visit with him occurred.…”

'Go in peace – and die!' The task of the church in the HIV and/or AIDS context

“…Unfortunately, what is said at these occasions and how it is said can sometimes cause HIV-infected parishioners to feel more marginalised and rejected by the church (Streets 2008(Streets :832, 2013. Only 20% of clergy who participated in this study gave attention to HIV and/or AIDS issues in sermons and in prayer meetings.…”