PC 411 Course at a Glance

Selected Topics in Congregational Care

Lectures By: Michael Gembola

Effective for the Academic Year: 2024-2025


Course Description

Building off of PC 111 Introduction to Pastoral Counseling, this elective course takes a deep dive into complex counseling issues you may encounter in your ministry. We will spend a brief time reviewing biblical frameworks and foundations before learning about complex suffering (e.g., depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety/OCD/scrupulosity, and traumatic suffering) and family struggles (e.g., divorce, domestic violence, sexuality issues).


Books to Purchase

The books listed below are required readings which students should acquire by the start of the term. Additional required readings will be listed in the course syllabus and available electronically in Canvas.

Grace for the Afflicted: A Clinical and Biblical Perspective on Mental Illness
by Matthew S. Stanford
InterVaristy, 2017
ISBN: 9780830845071
Dangerous Passions, Deadly Sins: Learning from the Psychology of Ancient Monks
by Dennis Okholm
Brazos Press, 2017
ISBN: 9781587433535

Estimated Workload

Lectures Readings Assignments
0.9 25 2.1
Hours Per Week Pages Per Week Hours Per Week

Course Assignments

The assignments listed below are provided for general guidance for students to reference as they plan and register. Please reach out to support@wts.edu if you have any questions.

  • Live Case Studies [4 - 1 hr meetings]
  • Goldilocks [750 words]
  • Independent Research [1,500 words]
  • Sexuality Issues [1,000 words]
  • Collaborative Care [1,250 words]