Atlanta Stephen Ministry was chosen for the evaluation, as it focuses on providing the support to people, who face the controversial situations during their lives including miscarriage, crisis, and spiritual confusion (“Atlanta Stephen Ministry” par. 1). In turn, it provides continuous educational opportunities to the members of the society (“Atlanta Stephen Ministry” par. 1). In this instance, the primary goal of the paper is to conduct the sufficient analysis while assessing the principles of congregational care with the assistance of various readings and publications. In the end, the conclusions are drawn to determine whether Atlanta Stephen Ministry complies with the characteristics of the pastoral institution.
It is apparent that the primary goal of the pastoral care is to have a communal benefit while assuring the well-being of the members of the society (Billman 10). In this instance, the events of Atlanta Stephen Ministry are apt to have an advantageous influence on the society due to the ability to address social needs and other issues. One of the examples is mental health training to enhance the educational opportunities for the individuals (“Atlanta Stephen Ministry” par. 1). In turn, it remains evident that that pastoral care requires special education while having a high contribution to the process (Billman 14). As for Atlanta Stephen Ministry, it vehemently focuses on providing high-quality education to the workforce of the Ministry to assure the sufficient delivery of the support. In this instance, Atlanta Stephen Ministry complies with the characteristics of the institution, which deliver the superior support to the people in need.
Additionally, it is essential to determine the primary differences between the professional therapists and pastor, as a pastor has the universal understanding of the issues (Proctor 72). The worldwide comprehension plays a crucial role in offering educational opportunities for the development of the sufficient interactions between the members of the modern society. In this instance, Atlanta Stephen Ministry focuses on providing support and care in different controversial situations without the judgment and considering all positions regarding the issues. Another aspect is the portrayal of the real freedom, as a pastor provides the self-determination of choice while following the movement of life (Proctor 72). Furthermore, the correlation with God is another matter, which has to be considered (Proctor 75). It remains evident that these approaches are strongly cherished in Atlanta Stephen Ministry, as it tends to have a high correlation with churches and other religious institutions. In turn, the compliance with God cannot be unnoticed due to the presence of these matters.
Lastly, the changing nature of the modern values leans towards the modifications in the controversial ways regarding the family’s relationships (Proctor 94). In this case, Atlanta Stephen Ministry has a tendency to consider paying attention to the relationships between the family members while discovering family ties in details. In turn, the organization provides support to these matters, as they incline to influence the behavior of the individuals. In the end, it is apparent that Atlanta Stephen Ministry complies with the principles of congregational care, as it respects support, values, and essentiality of freedom of self-determination in the modern world during the decision-making. It is apparent that the existence of these institutions is vital in the society, as they do not have tendencies to judge people and apply the universal perspective while discovering the problems from different viewpoints.
Works Cited
Atlanta Stephen Ministry 2009. Web.
Billman, Kathleen. “Pastoral Care as an Act of Community.” The Arts of Ministry: Feminist-Womanist Approaches. Ed. Cristie Neuger. Louisville: Westminster John Know Press, 1996. 10-39. Print.
Proctor, Samuel. “The Pastor as a Counselor.” We Have This Ministry: The Heart of the Pastor’s Vocation. Ed. Samuel Proctor and Gardner Taylor. Valley Forge: Judson Press, 1996. 71-92. Print.
Proctor, Samuel. “The Pastor and the Family Crisis.” We Have This Ministry: The Heart of the Pastor’s Vocation. Ed. Samuel Proctor and Gardner Taylor. Valley Forge: Judson Press, 1996. 93-109. Print.