"TREASURE IN EARTHEN VESSELS"
Care of Souls facing Fragility and Destruction
- Individual and Systemic Perspectives

"SCHATZ IN IRDENEN GEFÄSSEN"
Seelsorge angesichts von Zerbrechlichkeit und Zerstörung
- Individuelle und systemische Perspektiven

"SKARB W GLIWIANYCH NACZYNIACH"
Duszpasterstwo wobec zranienia i zniszczernia
- Indiwidualne i systemowe Perspektywy

In the first line of our theme we have a symbolic and biblical description of human experiences:
we have the treasure of life and faith in a fragile being (Life as fragment - a famous article of the German theologian Henning Luther); even more, we experience destruction in many ways in our world - and we can survive (2 Cor 4, 7).

With the second line we ask about possibilities and limitations in care and counselling facing fragility and destruction;
- to find out about the powers of religion;
- to reveal the misuse of power of religion;
- to empower people and systems for real life.

In the third line we give some direction how to look at the issue, namely from individual and systemic perspectives;
- to hear about stories of individuals and of groups and cultures;
- to look after the context of people;
- to bring together therapeutic, spiritual, socio-political, economical and cultural aspects in the care of souls.

Using the term "Care of Souls" we refer to the last European Congress as well as to the old, pre-Christian, latin term of "cura animarum".
The Council's decision at the Bangalore-Congress, to use English as well as German as official languages at the 2007 congress, also implies to take a closer look at terms which different languages traditionally use.

Address of the convenor - regarding the theme

We humans experience the treasures of life as fragile beings. Joy, happiness, trust and beauty may fill our bodies and souls, but within a short time, our limitations demonstrate our brokenness.

Even more, we experience destruction in many ways in our world - and yet humans survive.

In a fragile and destructive world with disasters in nature and violence among humans we have pastoral care and spiritual counselling as a treasure. But that treasure is fragile in itself and limited in its possibilities. Therefore it is important to reflect again and again, what people need and what is helpful for them in their context, in their culture and their faith. As practitioners and teachers of care and counselling we have to ask about possibilities and limitations in care and counselling facing fragility and destruction. Included in our reflections must be to find out about the power and charisma of religion and spirituality and to reveal the mis-use of religious and spiritual power. The task of care and counselling has to be to empower people and sys-tems to cope with real life.

Many gifted people in the field of care and counselling have found that it is not enough to help individuals and therefore they employ systemic perspectives. Care and counselling can only be done by becoming aware of the context and the narratives of individuals and of systems as groups and cultures. Pastoral and spiritual care-givers gain a lot from therapeutic, socio-political, economical and cultural approaches. Therefore it is neces-sary and interesting to work together with women and men of other disciplines. Pastoral and spiritual care and counselling develops its own special power and identity through co-operating with related sciences and ex-perts. Therefore all who are interested are invited to attend this Congress.

The Congress will move into a process, which will start with stories about how women and men from differ-ent cultures experience and interpret their situation, in contexts and in life. This will enable all participants to speak about themselves in small groups.

Then the next step will be to reflect our fragile being and destructive power from a theological and socio-political perspective. How can we interpret the disasters created by nature and by humans? We can see that poor and superstitious people are most affected by destruction - and yet many of them develop an enormous resilience.

From reflecting we will move to the practice of care and counselling. Examples of work in various fields will be presented and discussed.

And lastly we will come back to the "treasure in earthen vessels" and will meditate on biblical and poetic im-ages and symbols to empower ourselves for our future work.

The Congress will combine five movements
- How can pastoral and spiritual care empower people in a fragile, destructive and violent world?
- What manifold resources of counselling can be found in various cultures, religions and faith-groups?
- How can care become effective and powerful not only for individuals, but for systems, communities and societies?
- How can the participants build up and support networks of caring and counselling throughout the globe?
- And additionally there will be the opportunity to learn more about Poland.

Outstanding speakers and presenters will inform us about their work in lectures, workshops and groups. There will be many opportunities for exchange and dialogue in formal and informal settings. Through excur-sions the participants will see beautiful landscapes and historical places in the western part of Poland.

The languages will be English and German.

Beside the Congress there will be a pre- and a post-conference with the members of the International Council on Pastoral Care and Counselling - ICPCC.