beziehungsweise

Michael Herbst presents the foundations and fields of practice of Protestant pastoral care in this book. It occurs "in relation," namely as healing of relationships that have gone awry. This pertains to relationships with other people and the world, with oneself, and with God. Such pastoral care, which takes place in specific fields of practice, is rooted in the expectation of a God who comes to meet people. It is a mission of the entire Christian community and has an essential missionary dimension. In pastoral care, it is the task of the Christian community to engage with people in various life situations about existential questions within the horizon of the Christian faith. It occurs "in relation": the support and assistance of Christian caregivers help heal relationships that have gone "out of balance." This affects the entire ecosystem of human relationships.