|
Friends United Meeting |
 |
June 2003
Quaker Pastoral Care
By Bill Ratliff
The Religious Society of Friends has been concerned from its inception with the way religious faith is lived in daily life. Friends have also historically been close-knit communities, more set apart from the world at some times than is true in the present. Both of these factors have produced a caring for others that has been strong and deep and consistent with Quaker beliefs and practice. As a result, pastoral care has been a central part of the life of the Quaker community.
Pastoral care, at its best, in the Religious Society of Friends, has flowed from the core beliefs and practices of Friends. Faith and practice of Quakers can be described in many ways. These basic beliefs and practices follow, with a brief description from my point of view.
1. Direct access to God. Beginning with Fox's experience, we believe that everyone has access to God, without the need for any intermediary. Indeed, there is "that of God" in every person, as Fox put it.
2. Worship. In expectant waiting, we listen for God's voice speaking directly to us or speaking through others in the gathered community.
3. Business Procedures. Each business session begins and ends with worship. Because everyone has access to the truth, then everyone must be listened to, in making decisions. The Spirit of God leads to unity, we believe, as each person seeks to know the truth. The clerk of the meeting prayerfully listens to what is being said, while also listening to the Spirit. The clerk will articulate the sense of the meeting on a particular issue under consideration, which does not have to reflect unanimity or even majority sentiment. Those attending then respond, while also prayerfully listening to God's Spirit.
4. Testimonies. The inner experience manifests itself outwardly in daily living. Testimonies have served as guides for the ethical life for Quakers. While additional ones could be listed, Wilmer Cooper suggests the following basic social testimonies today: Integrity, simplicity, peace, and equality.
These beliefs and practices have influenced the pastoral care and pastoral counseling Quakers provide. While certain themes for pastoral care emerge, the following five themes are not exclusive to Quakers.
First, is a basic respect for others, a respect that comes from the heart of Quakerism. If everyone has access to God, then everyone, including those who are currently receiving care, has access to truth. Persons are listened to carefully, not just to find out where they are and what they need, although those areas are important. They are listened to because they are potential revelations of God to us. They usually know best what they need. The caring relationship can be revelatory for both caregiver and care receiver. A basic sacramental quality exists in life and in relationships, and especially in caring relationships.
Second, because we are not bound to a liturgical tradition, but instead to an inner, spiritual experience, we are free to be flexible and adaptable in ministry situations. The central concern has to do with discernment of how God's Spirit may be directing the caregiver at the moment.
Third, Quaker pastoral care follows the leading of the Holy Spirit. While Quakers are now trained in seminaries, in Clinical Pastoral Education, and in pastoral counseling training programs, these skills and abilities will be used in the service of God's leading them in a specific situation. Quaker pastoral care providers are not free, however, to do something simply because it feels right. Quakers pay attention to their spiritual attunement before, during, and after a pastoral care encounter. As anyone knows who provides pastoral care, great courage and great discernment is often required as to what to say or not to say. For the Quaker in pastoral care situations, courage and discernment come from a spiritual center.
Fourth, Quaker pastoral care providers may "speak truth to power." We do not rest easy with power and hierarchy and are sensitive to injustice and oppression. Quakers providing pastoral care are concerned not only with the persons but also with the systemic and organizational problems that have contributed to the individual problems. Pastoral care issues and social issues have been more integrated among Quakers than among some other faith groups.
Fifth, pastoral care belongs to the whole community. Because every Quaker is a minister, every person has the responsibility and possibility of providing care for others. In practice, Quaker communities recognize that some are gifted in caring and there are often committees of overseers that attend to the personal and psychological needs of the community. Even in pastoral meetings, however, the work of the pastor does not take away the responsibility of everyone to provide pastoral care. Quakers have been slow to accept pastoral care and counseling as a professional discipline. With the difficult experiences of Quakers in their own faith communities and in their own lives, we have become more open to care from persons who are professionally trained.
The focus of Quakerism on the inner experience and the focus of pastoral care on the relational experience with the care receiver come together in the telling of stories. Reflection on experience, which is at the heart of modern pastoral care, and reflection on experience, which is at the heart of Quakerism, join easily. Quakerism diverges as to the kind of reflection done, since it is more concerned with the faithfulness of listening to God in the experience.
Pastoral care rooted in Quaker faith and practice issues in a deep respect for the care receiver, is flexible, follows the lead of the Holy Spirit, speaks truth to power while also caring, and belongs to the whole faith community. Such care is holistic in approach, emerges from listening to God in worship, and requires courage. We stand in a grand tradition.
Bill Ratliff retires this June as Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling at Earlham School of Religion. This article is adapted from his Introduction in Out of the Silence: Quaker Perspectives on Pastoral Care and Counseling.
Copyright (c) 2003 Friends United Meeting
Return to June 2003 Contents page