Indiana Area Pastoral Care and Counseling records

Indiana was in the forefront of the denomination when a pastoral care and counseling program was begun by the late Bishop Richard C. Raines more than 30 years ago. Centers which could provide counseling were then almost non-existent. The area wide program with Dr. James E. Doty as its first director emphasized counseling centers to provide services to pastors and people in the community. There was strong emphasis on the training of pastors as counselors.

A re-evaluation in 1970 was promoted by the fact psychotherapeutic services were by then more readily available in local communities. It was determined the Indiana Area would no longer sponsor or develop such centers, but instead the person employed by the area would provide counseling services to pastors and families. That person also would be available to help the conferences develop programs to increase counseling skills of pastors. Foster Williams had been named Area Counselor in 1966 and officially retired August 1, 1986, the 20th anniversary of his appointment to the post. He has continued as a part-time consultant.1

At the 1986 Sessions of the NIC and SIC the following motion was passed: "On behalf of the (Proper Conference Name) representation to the Area Committee on Pastoral Care and Counseling, I move that the Bishop appoint a joint task force committee with representation from SIC and NIC to study the needs of Pastoral Care of clergy and their families in the Indiana Area and to suggest a plan of action to care for these needs. This committee is to report to the next session of each of our Annual Conferences." In the South Indiana session, the following was added: "That at lest one member be added to this committee from either North or South Conference who is an ordained clergy person, a pastoral counselor, and a member of the American Association of Pastoral Counseling."2

Recommendations made by the committee:

1. Each Annual Conference develop a program which best serves its needs, is tailored to its group insurance program and funded by the Annual Conference.

2. Other recommendations instructed, among other things, a committee be formed to develop this program, and the existing Area Committee of Pastoral Care and Counseling continue through December 31, 1987.

3. The North and South Conference committee met together September 1987 and arrived at the decision to make the transition to the "Interim Plan" effective January 1, 1988. It was recommended and adopted that the Interim Plan be extended to July 1, 1989.

4. The South Indiana Conference of 1989 voted adoption of the Revised Interim Plan of March 1989

5. The Committee on Pastoral Care and Counseling has in place a Supplement to the Group Insurance Plan of the South Indiana Conference. The coverage is the same as last year, including coverage for those individuals who need extended counseling service beyond the normal "PCCP" coverage.

The Committee has no more plans to meet, but will be placed under the Board of Clergy Concerns.6

The Pastor Care and Counseling program continues to see increasing use by the North Indiana pastors and their families and many requests have been received to add specific counselors to our Provider List.