This excellent book offers help to pastors and other caring Christians who must act as "triage officers" on the front lines of congregational and community life and who believe in and want to explore the importance of sexual issues in ministry. William Arnold believes that our sexuality is a defining element for understanding who we are and who God is. For a pastor to work with people in a helpful and redemptive manner, this powerful force must be faced with courage and care. However, the pastor must be aware that attempts to care can be damaging if there is not an openness to learning more about the multiple forces at work in our sexuality. The pastor's awareness must be physiological, psychological, and theological. William Arnold stresses self-awareness as the key to dealing with sexual issues and advises the pastor not to rely strictly on intellectual information.

This problem-and-solution book looks at the positive values of solitude as well as the negative problems of loneliness. Integrating religious and psychological perspectives and a variety of personal experiences, this resource explores many of the factors that shape the ways we handle being alone.

William V. Arnold and Margaret Anne Fohl describe Christian caring as a unique form of helping that finds special expression in the church. Daily, Christians have opportunities to extend care, whether it is to a bereaved colleague or a sick friend. In simple, clear language, the authors describe how important it is that everyday women and men share in the ministry of caring and illustrate that this ministry involves skills that can be learned.

Valuable for both seminarians and practicing clergy, this basic work integrates theology and pastoral care in a practical and useful way. Citing actual experiences, with questions for personal reflection, this much-needed study brings about a new awareness of the ministry of pastoral care.