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Grief: Contemporary Theory and the Practice of Ministry Paperback – March 12, 2010
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The experience of grief has been a source of intrigue and curiosity throughout history, and it continues to stimulate thought and theory in various fields of study. Unfortunately, these fields tend to function in isolation from each other. The result is a substantial disconnect between grief research, theory, and carewhich has evolved greatly over the last two decadesand ministerial practice.
Using a metaphor of grief as a mosaic, Melissa Kelley presents contemporary grief theory and research, integrated with important theological, religious, and ministerial perspectives. Written in an accessible way for ministers, ministers-in-training, and all pastoral and spiritual caregivers, this book provides the most up-to-date theory and research in grief to help inform their care of others. Through exploration of critical topics including attachment to God, meaning making, and religious coping in grief, readers are brought right to the heart of a contemporary understanding of grief.
- Print length176 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherFortress Press
- Publication dateMarch 12, 2010
- Dimensions5.4 x 0.7 x 8.4 inches
- ISBN-100800696611
- ISBN-13978-0800696610
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Editorial Reviews
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"Well researched and thoughtfully written, Melissa Kelley not only amends outdated ideas about grief with the latest social science on attachment, meaning-making, and coping. She adds what most secular theory overlooks - a wise grasp of religion, theology, and pastoral ministry. This book is a critical resource for professional caregivers and for all those who have lost loved ones and desire healing." --Bonnie J. Miller-McLemore, E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Professor of Pastoral Theology, Vanderbilt University Divinity School and Graduate Department of Religion
About the Author
Melissa M. Kelley is Assistant Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling, Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. She is among an elite number of professionals certified by the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC) and the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC).
Product details
- Publisher : Fortress Press; 1st edition (March 12, 2010)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 176 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0800696611
- ISBN-13 : 978-0800696610
- Item Weight : 8.8 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.4 x 0.7 x 8.4 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #616,757 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #855 in Christian Death & Grief
- #930 in Medical Clinical Psychology
- #1,074 in Christian Pastoral Counseling
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With a steady stream of quotes such as the above, packed between with thorough analysis, scriptural parallels, and memorable case vignettes, the book was beautiful, helpful, inspiring, meaningful, and surely trailblazing in the world of contemporary grief counseling. Above all, Kelley includes but transcends all secular history, theories, and positions, encasing points with practical tips for ministers, scriptural wisdom, and awareness that ultimately only God has all the answers. Consider this example referring to a healthy attachment to God as one's basic means of coping: "When we are oriented to this reality, we feel tethered in an ultimate sense to a loving, cherished God who holds us in our brokenness, and our coping efforts will help us to feel that life has meaning, even in brokenness, because God's love holds it all" (114-115).
Kelley's choice to use a mosaic was the perfect metaphor for both the brokenness of loss and God's ability to gather our pieces and make people whole again--albeit forever altered. She also tapped into the universal truth that all of human experience is an ongoing narrative, and throughout history, "Stories create meaning and reflect meaning" (78). Instead of grief being an isolated event that one must endure alone, Kelley weaves together common human elements such as stories and relationships epitomize. She writes, "Perhaps our greatest discomfort is when stories just do not make sense" (79). Upon this foundation, she successfully built her thesis that modern grief must address the meaningless shock and pain of most losses, and help those who mourn to realize they must create new meanings and write new narratives. All of this is done with others, as losses affect relationships and not just individuals. Most importantly, all of this is done with God, who never abandons his children, especially when they are hurting. Because of this book, God's ministers will be well prepared to comfort those who mourn.
The paradigm of seeking meaning instead of focusing on the stages of grief seems the perfect next step in the evolution of grief counseling--especially since the author makes the natural link to God as both core attachment and secure base. This new paradigm provides for me a rich new handle on the subject of grief as I now plans to begin to minister within this framework.
In my case as a jail chaplain, the book provides not only a new paradigm but also a new metaphor that will impact my doctoral project in a creative and positive way. Addressing the matter of emotional scars with inmates becomes particularly vivid when a death occurs. Surely there is no greater example of an emotional scar than the death of a loved one. At the same time, surely no event in life makes it easier to illustrate the concept. With the endearing, beautiful, and meaningful metaphor of a mosaic, I will be enriched both in my general ministry to inmates and as I conduct research among inmates for my project. As well, I will be able to bring principles from the book to bear as I minister to inmates who have lost loved ones.
What could be clearer to anyone than the concept of broken pieces (such as a loss creates), now made into a new whole that would not have existed before (such as new meaning creates), and which is etched throughout with the scars that join the broken pieces? In truth, the mosaic metaphor now will become a principle element of my project, referred to often and which will supply a great deal of new cohesion, clarity, insight, and understanding. Those who seek to find meaning in their scars (of all types) will be helped to find it through Kelly's ingenious metaphor of a mosaic.
In response to an email query with the question, "What has been the response from the professional world to your book?" Kelly responded with the following: "The response among pastoral colleagues has been very positive. So many people seem, at least intuitively, to understand the challenge of grief in some of the ways that I try to articulate, and so they find themselves resonating with various parts of the cases or the theory. That is very gratifying."
Moreover it presented the material in such a way that the reader is able to see the practical and pastoral implications of what the author is presenting.