Here is a first-hand report:
On the second and third of July the ICPCC in partnership with the
Rede de Psicologia Pastoral da CETELA (The Pastoral Psychology Network
of the Community of Ecumenical Theological Education in Latin America
and the Caribbean) sponsored a meeting of Pastoral Psychologists,
Pastors and Pastoral Caregivers at the Methodist University of São
Paulo, Brazil.
The meeting was attended by 16 persons from 10 different countries
in South America, Central America, the Caribbean and the United States.
The theme of the event was
Pastoral Psychology in South America, Latin America and the Caribbean:
Past, Present and Future.
Three members of the ICPCC were present at the meeting: Ronaldo Sathler
Rosa, Sara Baltodano and James Farris.
The event was organized by Sara Baltodano and James Farris.
During the event, the book
Dimensiones del Cuidado y Asesorameinto Pastoral: Aportes desde
Améria Latina y el Caribe,
( Dimensions of Pastoral Care and Counseling: Latin American and
Caribbean Perspectives)
edited by Hugo Santos was presented.
the general theme of the book:
What are the fundamental challenges to Pastoral Psychology in Latin
America and the Caribbean?
Each chapter deals with a specific challenge, and they include
- The Church and Pastoral Psychology, Definitions of Pastoral Psychology
in Latin America, Multiculturality and Intercultural Understandings
of Pastoral Psychology in Latin America, Poverty and Pastoral Psychology,
Sexuality and Pastoral Psychology, Pastoral Psychology in Small
Communities (Rural Context), Crisis and Pastoral Psychology, Work
and Unemployment, Gender, Violence, Drug Addiction, Work with Adolescents,
Spirituality, Church and Health, and Liberation Theologies and Pastoral
Psychology.
Among the 17 articles which compose the book, three are written
by members of the ICPCC:
- Una Concepción Crítica de Concepciones y Práticas Actuales de
Psicología Pastoral
(A Critical Concept of Current Theories and Practices in Pastoral
Psychology ) – by Ronaldo Sathler Rosa;
- Rostros Empobrecidos (the Faces of the Poor) – by Sara
Baltodano;
- Categorías de Autoridad em la Evaluacíon Moral del Comportamiento
Sexual
(Categories of Authority in the Moral Evaluation of Sexual Behavior)
– by James Farris.
This Pastoral Psychology group set up a board with
Hugo Santos (Argentina), Sara Baltodano (Costa Rica) and Blanches
de Paula (Brasil) and will only meet again in three years, probably
in Costa Rica.
Between now and then, we will probably translate the book into Portuguese
and exchange articles and resources.
The group considers itself more of a network than a formal organization.
Participants:
1. Ronaldo Satlher Rosa (Universidade Metodista, São Paulo)
2. Blanches de Paula (Universidade Metodista, São Paulo)
3. James Farris (Universidade Metodista, São Paulo)
4. Hugo Santos - (Instituto Universitario ISEDET, Buenos Aires)
5. Mireya Baltodano (Universidad Bíblica Latinoamericana, San José)
6. Marlen Duarte (Facultad Evangélica de Estudios Teológicos, Managua)
7. Sidnei Noé (Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Matto Grosso)
8. Sara Baltodano (Universidad Bíblica Latinoamericana, San José)
9. Lothar Carlos Hoch (Escola Superior de Teologia, São Leopoldo)
10. Marianela de La Paz - (Seminario Evangélico de Teología, Matanzas)
11. Alix Lozano (Seminario Menonita, Bogotá)
12. Karin Hellen Wondracek (Escola Superior de Teologia, São Leopoldo)
13. Rubén Vélez (Seminario Evangélico de Puerto Rico, San Juan)
14. Olga Piedrasanta (Seminario Anabautista Latinoamericano, Guatemala)
15. Zicri Orellana (Centro Evangélico de Estudios Pentecostales, Concepción)
16. Renato Santos (Estados Unidos) James Farris São Paulo, Brazil