In Living Color: An Intercultural Approach to Pastoral Care and Counseling

by Emmanuel Y. Lartey

The meaning of pastoral care in modern multicultural societies is challenged and re-examined from a pluralistic, global perspective in this book. Emmanuel Lartey stresses the importance of recognizing different cultural influences on individuals in order to effectively counsel, guide and empower them. He provides a clear and concise history of pastoral care and considers its relationship to different models of counseling and spirituality.

This new edition has been updated to reflect postmodern and postcolonial studies and provides illustrations of how an intercultural approach can work in practice. Theological teachers and students will welcome its return as an indispensable introduction to the field of pastoral care. In Living Color is an essential source of inspiration to leaders from any religious stream who wish to provide pastoral care in a way that reflects their community's cultural diversity. This book is also a useful resource for practitioners in a wider range of caring contexts who work in multicultural environments.

Genres: Spirituality, Religion, Church, Nonfiction, Psychology, Christianity

192 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1997

Reviews

[Jade · Rating 3 out of 5]

The chapter attempting to delineate the difference between therapy and pastoral counseling is reductionist and unfortunately will give pastors or chaplains the impression that they can and should be doing therapy. However, I love any book that’s talks through the lens of liberation theology.

[Holyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - reading primary sources of liberation, womanist, queer theology would expand and round out Lartey’s work.

[Rose Schrott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful applications and case studies and definition of pastoral care.

[Clarence Cunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as part of my coursework and found it to be quite informative. It made me aware of historical models of Pastoral care (Pope Gregory) to more modern models (Lartey).

[Laura Robb · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very academic-style book for an important topic.

[Blake Strother · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is certainly a tool. However, it is a tool that won't be useful to everyone. For the minister/chaplain/layperson who is really trying to launch themselves into the 21st century this is a book for you and will likely come off as groundbreaking as it was intended to be. For those readers it is wonderful summary of the shift that is occurring at liberation theologies, postmodern theologies, and intercultural approaches to ministries become more prevalent. These summaries are both valuable and show that Lartey has his pulse on some of the most important authors who write about these topics extensively. While the summaries i.e. chapters are filled with valuable content, it is not presented in a particularly intriguing way. That is why for those who may have went to a seminary and already studied some of the content in the book in a more detailed manner or are younger ministers/chaplains who literally grew up in this postmodern area the book appears to be lacking. If you've read titles by Paulo Freire, bell hooks, James Cone, Gustavo Gutierrez, Elizabeth Johnson, John Caputo, or any other liberation/postmodern theological voices, than I would say skip this book. Unlike some other overview books I've read I would say if you are really invested in these approaches to ministry and theology than you will be better entertained (as well as obviously informed) if you dig into some of the primary texts that this book references. This book has an audience for sure but the person who has done work in the areas the book has covered or anticipates wanting to dig deeper into those areas than I would say SKIP. That doesn't mean I don't think this book needs to find its way into those pastoral caregivers who have been resistance and in many occasions totally ignorant to change. So I digress this book isn't mind-blowing but it has its purpose and can serve the purpose adequately.

[Rev. Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

From Back Cover: The meaning of pastoral care in modern multicultural societies is challenged and re-examined from a pluralistic, global perspective in this book. Emmanuel Lartey stresses the importance of recognizing different cultural influences on individuals in order to effectively counsel, guide and empower them. He provides a clear and concise history of pastoral care and considers its relationship to different models of counseling and spirituality.

This new edition has been updated to reflect postmodern and postcolonial studies and provides illustrations of how an intercultural approach can work in practice. Theological teachers and students will welcome its return as an indispensable introduction to the field of pastoral care. In Living Color is an essential source of inspiration to leaders from any religious stream who wish to provide pastoral care in a way that reflects their community's cultural diversity. This book is also a useful resource for practitioners in a wider range of caring contexts who work in multicultural environments. - Read for Spring 2016 course at Brite (Ministry of Pastoral Care)

[Corey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I have to give this author credit for his unique approach to this topic, the book is TOO organized, delineated far beyond the point of helpfulness. This is one of those books that has a point within a point with 3 subpoints and 4 explanations beneath each subpoint, etc. The author possesses the knowledge to offer good content, but it gets lost in his excessive organization of his material.

[Robert Munson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like to use this book for pastoral care and Clinical Pastoral Education. It draws from Hiltner, Clebsch and Jaekle, Clinebell, and Lester. But Lartey also draws on cultural themes. Working in Asia, I find this especially useful. It is introductory and useful in a Bible school or seminary setting.

[TJ]

Not what I was looking for. Not helpful

[Juliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource for counsellors.

[Vonnie James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marvelous. I still use this book as a text for a course in Principles and Techniques of Pastoral Counselling.

[Sarah Boyette · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book provides many important points, but it is a real snoozefest. I wish Lartey wrote with a little more zest. The topics are interesting, but his language is to academic to make it accessible.