Using stories to assist storytelling in a pastoral setting: Four female pastors in dialogue with Mary Magdalene

Abstract

Sometimes we need a source of encouragement for restoring our own lives, to help us re-create ourselves. Using text as narrative texts opens up a multitude of possibilities in the work with clients in therapy. The story of Mary Magdalene told in John 20:11–18 is considered to be a healing story. This article aims to retell the story of her encounter with the resurrected Jesus, using the Gospel of Mary as an enlightening intertext. Because the story of Mary Magdalene’s encounter with Jesus is used as a healing story, the basic principles of transformative narrative theory are considered to be useful in the analysis of this text. Mary Magdalene’s story is then discussed with three female pastors of the Netherdutch Reformed Church of Africa. The research opened up a discussion about spirituality. This article would be incomplete without reflecting on the spirituality stories of the group of co-researchers.<p><strong>How to cite this article:</strong> De Beer, S. & Müller, J., 2009, ‘Using stories to assist storytelling in a pastoral setting: Four female pastors in dialogue with Mary Magdalene’, <em>HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies</em> 65(1), Art. #149, 5 pages. DOI: 10.4102/hts.v65i1.149</p&gt

The Use of Spirituality in Narrative Couples and Family Therapy

“…When examining the literature outside of Turkey, the inclusion of spiritual elements is seen used in narrative therapy while working with spiritually oriented clients, and studies are found that reveal narrative therapy used by including spiritual elements to have a positive effect on solving the problems of spiritually oriented individuals, couples, and families (Baldwin & Estey, 2015;Bermúdez & Bermúdez, 2002;De Beer & Müller, 2009;De La Lama & De La Lama, 2011;Kropf & Tandy, 1998;Marais, 2009;McNicholas, 2018;McWeigh, 2016;Morningstar 2010;Robbins, 2014).…”

“…When examining the performed research, this therapy method is found to have positively contributed to solving the problems of couples affected by infidelity (Duba, Kindsvatter, & Lara, 2008); couples or families who've been adopted (Gold, 2016); families who describe having a lesbian, gay, or bisexual child (Saltzburg, 2007); homeless families (Fraenkel, Hameline, & Shannon, 2009); families where intense parent-child conflicts are experienced (Besa, 1994); new families formed by newly married individuals (Madigan, 2016), and spiritually oriented families (Morningstar, 2010). When examining the literature outside of Turkey, the inclusion of spiritual elements in narrative therapy are additionally seen to be used while working with spiritually oriented clients; studies are also found to reveal narrative therapy that is used by including spiritual elements to have a positive impact on solving the problems of spiritually oriented individuals, couples, and families (Baldwin & Estey, 2015;Bermúdez & Bermúdez, 2002;De Beer & Müller, 2009;McNicholas, 2018;McWeigh, 2016). When examining the literature in Turkey, however, no study is seen related to the use of spirituality in narrative couples/family therapy, and the theoretical knowledge and research on narrative couples/family therapy is seen to be limited.…”