Helping the Helpers: Supervision and Pastoral Care

Written by J. Foskett and D. Lyall Reviewed By Clare Hendry

This book sets out to explore the themes and methods of training and supporting those who exercise a ministry of pastoral care within the church. It recognizes that helpers need help themselves and aims to look at the support given to both ordained and lay people.

The first chapter deals with new developments, such as the increased importance of lay pastoral care. From the beginning the need to build up a community of faith, rather than eliminating defects in a person’s life, is seen as the focus of counselling.

The main emphasis of the book is on how the relationship and process of supervision works; so it begins with looking at a basic Action-Reflection model of pastoral supervision. One of the strengths of the book is the helpful use of carefully documented illustrations to show, not only how good supervision works, but how to remedy the problems.

Whilst models can be useful, at times this book does rely too heavily on their use. Models are helpful guides but when too legalistically followed become restrictive—people do not always fit neatly into categories. The excessive use of models can lead to pre-judgment on a person’s real needs and the supervision he requires.

Chapter 6 was particularly helpful in suggesting ways of supervision, e.g. triads—three people who are involved in ministry regularly meeting to consult together, and to support each other. The book goes on to look at the tensions within the contemporary approaches to pastoral care—such as pastoral care being both the function of the whole people of God and also a function of trained people within the church. Possible problems in the relationship between student and supervisor are then considered.

The book tends to focus on supervision with regard to the professional in ministry. It would have been useful to explore how the professional in ministry caters for the supervision and support of the laity involved in pastoral care. Overall this is a book worth reading, since the subject of supervision for those involved in this ministry has been neglected.


Clare Hendry

Oak Hill College