History and developments of pastoral care in Africa: A survey and proposition for effective contextual pastoral caregiving

Abstract

The practice of pastoral care (cura animarum) over the ages has been informed and influenced by the need to develop creative ways (interventions) to respond to people’s contextual challenges. These approaches have been well documented. However, the history, developments and emerging pastoral care practices in Africa have not been documented. This article, by way of a survey, considers the pastoral care approaches that emerged in Africa from the period when Christianity was introduced to the continent. It addresses three interlinked questions. Firstly, to what extent has pastoral care approaches and practices in Africa been influenced by the African context and developments? Secondly, to what extent has the context and the emerging pastoral care approaches in Africa been discerned from historical developments and documented? Thirdly, what links can be drawn between pastoral care practices in Africa and its historical as well as cultural context? In answering these questions, the article retrieves pastoral care developments in Africa by discerning pastoral care during the periods of Christianity in Africa. The notion of cura animarum as ‘soul care’, referring to care for the whole person (holistic care, i.e., nephesh care) from a Christian spiritual perspective, will be employed as a framework. The assumption guiding the article is that pastoral care practices and approaches in Africa have arisen as responses to the contextual realities being experienced at the interface of Christianity and the African people. These realities arose and persist to this day as a struggle to relate, apply and live out an authentic African Christian life to cope with life in a meaningful way. It concludes by suggesting ways on how pastoral care in Africa should be practiced in the current period and going forward.

Search for Spiritual Assistance in Religious Organizations: What Are the Motives of Persons Who Have Experienced Destructive Relationships at Work?

“…Another important aspect of pastoral care is that the pastor does not necessarily limit themselves to a conversation with the persons seeking help. According to Magezi ( 2019 ), pastoral care, or “Cura animarum” as the concept of “healing of the soul,” is related to care about the whole person. This expresses a holistic view to the person, viewing from the perspective of the incarnation of God and love of the loved one, responding to the needs of people, and the models of pastoral care can vary depending on time and context.…”

Why is pastoral care crucial to Africa? Towards an African pastoral care perspective

“…The recognition of the necessity to utilise appropriate pastoral care models that would produce outcomes in the African setting has been acknowledged by several researchers in the field of pastoral care (Acolatse 2014;Klaasen 2018Klaasen , 2023Louw 1997;Magezi 2016aMagezi , 2019aMagezi , 2022Ndlovu & Naidoo 2023). Foskett and Lyall (1988) state that pastoral care has been at the heart of the church since its inception.…”

“…According to Berinyuu (1988:4), the notion of pastoral care in Africa predates the arrival of Western Christianity on the continent. Despite this legacy, in contrast to its Western counterparts, pastoral care in Africa has seen a very sluggish rate of development, as noted by Magezi (2019a). Magezi (2019a) observes:…”

“…Despite this legacy, in contrast to its Western counterparts, pastoral care in Africa has seen a very sluggish rate of development, as noted by Magezi (2019a). Magezi (2019a) observes:…”

“…However, they are deficient in addressing emerging challenges in the modern and technologically advanced Africa. (p. 10) Magezi's (2019a) concern was earlier pointed out by Lartey (2013), who commented that the slow catching up of pastoral care in Africa is a result of African-led churches even in the diaspora that exhibit backward African thinking and much less progressive African thinking. What is this backward African thinking that Lartey (2013) refers to?…”