The theophostic prayer ministry (TPM) : an exploration of its practices and healing possibilities
As TPM warrants greater attention in the field of practical theology, this thesis is about the further development of TPM, within Pastoral Theology as well as in its practices. This research explored if more healing possibilities may emerge when TPM is epistemologically positioned in social const...
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| Format: | Others |
| Language: | en |
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2010
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| Online Access: | Crous, Jacobus Jooste (2009) The theophostic prayer ministry (TPM) : an exploration of its practices and healing possibilities, University of South Africa, Pretoria, <http://hdl.handle.net/10500/3035> http://hdl.handle.net/10500/3035 |
| Summary: | As TPM warrants greater attention in the field of practical theology, this thesis is about the
further development of TPM, within Pastoral Theology as well as in its practices. This research
explored if more healing possibilities may emerge when TPM is epistemologically positioned in
social constructionism and has drawn attention to healing possibilities that narrative practices
may open up for TPM. To achieve this, a process of social construction was followed where the
narratives of participants' experiences of the practices of TPM were reflected upon.
The participants related how and why the practices of TPM influenced the way they narrated
their lives. According to their tales the main influencing factor was an authentic encounter with
God, where they experienced that He had experientially entered into a conversation with them
about the way they constructed their realities. By giving His perspective on their beliefs about
memories from their past, He helped them to start processes of reconstructing new preferred life
stories. The importance of the role of a faith community as well as that of significant others also
became evident.
An important contribution of this research is the emphasis that was put on the ‘not-knowing’
position of the facilitator. This is not an authentic TPM-term, but the way the facilitator's role is
described, in the TPM guidelines, is similar to what is understood by that term in social
constructionist therapy approaches. Throughout the research report I indicated the important role
of this position in the helpfulness of TPM. It became clear through the narratives that when the
facilitator's knowing entered the Theophostic process, the process was impeded.
Closely related to this ‘not-knowing’ position, is the ethical accountability of TPM. I indicated
how this position of the facilitator related to the participants' experiences of the facilitator not
being judgemental and being respected for who (s)he is. In judging the authenticity of changes
experienced by the recipients of TPM, I proposed a process of participatory ethics. === Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology === Thesis (D.Th. (Pastoral Therapy) |
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