Why Pastors Should be Counselors (of a Sort): A Response to Richard L. Krebs

Abstract

In responding to a previously published article, the author argues that although parish clergy may not be in an ideal context for a certain kind of long-term counseling due especially to transference phenomena, their very involvements in the lives of their parishioners represent opportunities for effective ministry. The expectations placed on them by their role often make the minister the preferred and even the unique helper in a wide range of situations.We owe a debt of gratitude to Richard Krebs for his valuable contribution to us in his article, "Why Pastors Should Not Be Counselors" (The Journal of Pastoral Care, December 1980). His major points are that few ministers are sufficiently trained to be long-term counselors of persons, even those few will rarely have the time for it if they are keeping up with their other work as ministers, and even this infinitesimal minority ought not to engage in longterm counseling for reasons which he specifies. Therefore, the training of ministers should not emphasize long-term counseling, but rather those elements of perceptive listening and responding which will be helpful to persons with whom the minister has very brief and occasional pastoral conversations.In addition, the minister should be able to evaluate persons so as to make appropriate referrals. The reasons for not doing long-term counseling, even if one is trained to do so, are the reality of transference phenomena, the danger of role confusion, and the danger of misplaced priorities on the part of the minister.With much of this I agree. Only a few ministers are trained in the complexities of long-term counseling. Only a small percentage of these, if they are parish ministers, would have time to engage in the process if they are doing their other work adequately or better. It is important for all ministers, not just those attempting to do long-term counseling, to be aware of the reality of transference phenomena in their relationships with persons, problems of role confusion, and the danger of over-emphasizing anyone aspect of ministry to the neglect of other essential functions. Brief, unplanned conversations, or the occasional planned ones, can have a powerful impact upon the lives of persons if the pastor is sensitive, can listen with concern and perceptiveness, and can respond helpfully. However, given the value of what Krebs has offered to us in

The Clergy as a Resource for Those Encountering Psychological Distress

“…Spiritual help appears to be what they want. Research seems to indicate that more attention should be given to the unique contribution the clergy offer as clergy rather than "apprentice" psychologists (see Hiltner, 1960, Browning, 1984Switzer, 1983).…”

“…Since 1963 a highly professionalized organization, the American Association of Pastoral Counselors has provided pastoral counseling training based on theology and psychology/psychotherapy (for a history of this movement see VanWagner, 1983;Strunk, 1984). While some disagreement exists about amount and type of training needed (see Hiltner, 1964;Clinebell, 1964) it is widely recognized that counseling is a vital part of the parish minister's role (Switzer, 1983;Hiltner, 1949). A second reason for rejection is grounded in empirical data.…”

“The Friendly Clergy”: Characteristics and Referral

“…These clergy should be accessible and humane (thus "friendly" as opposed to judgmental), and known personally by their congregation. The unique manner in which these clergy find themselves involved in the lives of their parishioners and the expectations placed upon these clergy due to this unique position may result in many opportunities to make use of perceptive responding skills and short-term therapeutic counseling methods (Switzer, 1983).…”