LEARNING TO CARE PB

People involved in church life expect to be cared for, practically, emotionally and spiritually. Even the secular world sees churches as places of practical and emotional care, a component in the social capital that all societies need. But people are often critical of the pastoral care that churches give in practice, and lack of such care is often the reason given as to why individuals part company with particular churches and the Christian faith in general.

Independent evangelical churches often struggle to provide the pastoral care that they would like to give. Many—perhaps up to one third at any moment—spend long periods without a paid pastor. Even when there is such a pastor, they can feel overwhelmed by the needs that they know of, let alone those that are concealed. Other churches rely on leaders who have secular jobs and little opportunity for training in pastoral skills. They are only too well aware of the need to improve the pastoral care that they give.

This book seeks to advise on how the resources of time and spiritual gift across congregations as a whole can be nurtured and deployed to improve pastoral care. It encourages what might be called 360-degree care, from every member to every member.

Learning to Care is the fourth book in the Leading to series—the others being Learning to Lead, Learning to Share the Good News, and Learning to Preach. Together, the four books are a remarkably accessible introduction to leadership skills that grow churches.

David Clarkson worked for many years on the staff of Tilsley College, the training wing of Gospel Literature Outreach. In addition to lecturing, he was involved in developing the college’s extension ministries including the Learning to Lead course. Before that, he spent fifteen years as Head Teacher in a large secondary school in the south of Scotland, and latterly, trained newly appointed head teachers. His first degree was in chemistry from the University of Glasgow and he has a Cambridge Diploma in Biblical Studies. David was the full-time worker and elder at Cartsbridge Evangelical Church, Busby, Glasgow.

Stephen McQuoid grew up in Ethiopia where his parents were missionaries. He then lived in Ireland and qualified as a nurse before going on to study theology. He has a Dip. Th. from Belfast Bible College, a BA in Biblical Studies from Trinity College, an MA and PhD in Theology from Trinity Theological Seminary, and a MTh from the University of Wales. He has written more than a dozen books. Stephen is the General Director of Gospel Literature Outreach and has a teaching ministry that takes him all over the UK and abroad. He is married to Debbie and they have three children.

As reviewed by Stephen McQuoid, General Director of GLO, in March 2023: 'This is a book on pastoral care which could either be read on its own or used as a teaching guide for training purposes. It would be inappropriate for me to comment of the quality or otherwise of the book, so I will merely state that it is the fruit of the many years David and I have been involved in giving pastoral care to people so I hope the reader will find it practical.'

Published by Partnership UK, GLO Europe & OPAL Trust 2023 Paperback 250 pages