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Pastoral Care and Counseling (TEL Cohort) FA26

Assignment | What is Going On? | Reflective Question

Teaching Assistant

September 3, 2026 10:08 AM

In the reflection, provide detailed information as to the what of the matter, resisting the temptation to analyze or synthesize yet, but simply naming what you see/sense/observe. Engage at least 2 other peers on Forum.

Discussion (26)

@rosspimentel6008 September 3, 2026 5:04 PM

Forum Test

@rosspimentel6008 September 3, 2026 5:12 PM

Test 2

@rosspimentel6008 September 4, 2026 6:23 PM
Test 3
@TeachingAssistant Author September 8, 2026 7:57 PM
What is the matter at hand - Test.
@AlikaKinimaka October 7, 2026 11:59 PM
The matter at hand this week explores Osmer's pratical theology through a case study of Mary Jo and I know Mary Jo all too well. My board is generational and deeply attached to certain ways of doing things. So I just always go along with whatever they want to do
@joyceguy5895 October 6, 2026 12:28 AM
Hi everyone this assignment truly requires some deep reflection of myself
@AlikaKinimaka October 7, 2026 9:28 PM
It definitely illustrates similar challenges that my congregation faces. I think Mary Jo.may be on my board of trustees as well!
@ChaunceyEvans October 9, 2026 6:31 AM
Yes I agree it has been extremely enlightening.
@rosspimentel7386 October 6, 2026 2:55 PM
test
@AlikaKinimaka October 7, 2026 9:24 PM
Osmer reflects upon one of his first assignments out of divinity school where he pastors a church in the rural mountain community of eastern Tennessee. He leads a congregation that is predominantly older members with intention on growing the flock. An incident occurs in the changing of the congregational dynamic as new members begin to attend. Mary Jo a long time member of the church as well as its treasurer moves a child's swing-set away ftom a designated picnic area and to a new location without any consultation with the body of the church through its members, the board or the congregation's leadership. This action triggers the offense of many of the church members requiring pastoral response.
@StephanieSisk-Hilton October 9, 2026 3:59 AM
I loved this example, as it made so clear the importance of each of the four tasks of practical theological interpretation. I wish he had also provided an example from further along in his pastoral care (which he probably does later in the book). As I reflected on "what is" in a few different challenges in my church, I was struck by the interconnectivity that Osmer discusses near the end of this reading. I can tell a story of what happened in terms of what one person did (like Mary Jo in his story), but then I quickly become caught up in all of the other vantage points and experiences, such that I'm not sure everyone in my church would be able to describe something as visible as physically moving a play structure in the same way. I appreciated the clarity of the four steps he outlines, and at the same time, I find myself stuck trying to accurately describe "what is" from anything other than my own, limited vantage point.
@ChaunceyEvans October 9, 2026 6:35 AM
Well said, This resonates with me in a lot of areas. I think that we get a bit caught up in formalities rather than seeing and meeting the needs. This causes a trigger in most people because it isn't the normal way to do things. 
@AlikaKinimaka October 14, 2026 11:01 PM
I am submitting a new scenario for my context below:


It was the largest gathering at the church in a while. The head Deacon's younger sister had passed away unexpectedly and at a young age as well. The Head Deaconess and her husband were the only regular attending members of the church so all of her family had genealogical ties to the church but did not attend regularly. I volunteered to chaperone the event as all church events require board member presence to supervise the use of facilities. As part of the daily responsibilities I was asked to supervise the kitchen and buffet so family could focus on each other. The Deacons cousin was present in the kitchen as well and to defer power I entered and asked "who is running the line today?" He immediately said "You are". When the Deacon came through she was sure to introduce us formally to each other and commented how we were both in food service and how her nephew is a chef. Throughout the feeding I attempted to graciously but effectively check in with everyone volunteering but many of the family I did not know personally. Towards the end of service I began plating large pans of food for the church members I knew would not wait in line but instead return to their neighboring houses and I could bring them food later. The Deacon's nephew asked "Is all that food for you?" And I jokingly said "Yes." After the family visited and began breaking things down I took a private meeting with a member of the board in the office. Afterwards with the family almost completely cleaned up I exited the office and noticed all the food that had been packed up was gone. I reflected upon the earlier encounter with the nephew and recognized my error. I told the Deacon on Sunday how the food was intended for the members who wouldn't go through the food line. At the meeting later that morning she joked about how next time I should mark the trays of food cause if you leave food out around Hawaiians it will definitely always get eaten. 

@StephanieSisk-Hilton October 9, 2026 4:52 AM
The "what" in my own congregation that I reflected on as I made my way through this week's readings is that our church has experienced a near collapse of our children and youth programs since the pandemic. Many people in our congregation, including me, have lots of ideas about why this has happened or what we should do in response, but there is not wide agreement about the "what" of the situation other than the fact that the children are gone. Working to describe what is going on through the lenses of interconnection and alterity (a word I did not know until this week!) was both helpful and challenging. :)
@kyrahbrown9611 October 9, 2026 7:00 PM
I agree that understanding this descriptive-empirical method to get to the "what" of the matter is a simple yet critical way to backwards map something that is occuring, before looking to offer a solution. It highlights cause and effect more clearly. I hope this method helps you and your congregation.
@FrankMulek October 9, 2026 5:18 AM
What is Going On? Mary Jo, a  kupuna (elder) of the church, requires respect and did not want her late husband to memorialize the picnic area, but she still removed the swing set next to it with her own money. The backlash came when the rest of the congregation had to do the extra work of removing all the concrete from the swing set and moving it back to the picnic area. She then resigned her treasurer position and the church altogether.
@FrankMulek October 9, 2026 6:31 AM
When I was young in church, I had so many new ideas about church. I was very fortunate to have a loving aunty who took very good care of me. I kept telling her my new ideas and I always got the same answer, It would not pass the kupuna (elderly) of the church. Now Iʻm a kupuna of that same church. I learned to respect the elderly.
@kyrahbrown9611 October 9, 2026 7:03 PM
Your testimony and the example used in our reading offer me additional insight into how I need to be mindful of the type of leadership style I have as a younger leader in my congregation. Every voice matters in the workings of our individual churches, and as society changes and new tools are introduced, we have to work to blend our needs and not isolate any one group's thoughts or inclinations. 
@samuelpoumele3968 October 13, 2026 1:12 PM
Frank, we deal with the same challenge, which my experience has revealed is in most churches, especially older congregations that have evolved through time.  As you shared about the kupuna in your church.  My experience is the same, but we must move forward together in order to flourish and not become stagnant, leading to death.  A church that does not understand God is always doing something new is one who is already perishing.  So we must stay the helm and focus on God's moving ministries.  We love our elderly and youth, but let not that love blind us to our duty to God's purposes.  I hear you loud and clear.  Thanks Frank.
@ChaunceyEvans October 9, 2026 6:42 AM
I'm a member of a somewhat elderly church. The respect and care that I have for our congregation goes beyond compare and respect. It's a reciprocation of the care that was show to me throughout my life. A true eye opener of protocol, familiarity and respect.
@kyrahbrown9611 October 9, 2026 6:58 PM
From the case study Osmer provides with Mary Jo, I observe that he took the time to understand Mary Jo and looked at the event from start to finish, as well as the historical context, to paint a broader picture of the actions Mary Jo took when the swing set was set up. Broadly speaking, I also observe that this church community may not have been in communication with each other on a regular basis, from a leadership perspective regarding decision-making, based on how reactionary Mary Jo was. 
@samuelpoumele3968 October 13, 2026 5:10 AM
good perspective on our story.  very common situation when dealing with change within any church organization because people are different and have their own biases, opinions. and beliefs.  This situation is intrinsic in the church family history.  
@LanitaMims-Beal October 11, 2026 1:58 AM
Hello everyone, I apologize for being late to the conversation. I have read all of the comments and viewpoints, and I want to interject mine as well.

My grandmother and grandfather were one of the couples at my church that "ran the show". They well off families made up the church council and really set traditions in place for the next generation to follow. I completely know some of the Mary Jo's in our church and sad to say some of them are the oldest members of the congregation and the hardest to follow and understand. In today's our church is not even a 3rd of the congregation it used to be. We have a new pastor that most folks have issue with, and we have not young people at all, not one. Everything has a "remember why this is here and who paid for it" feel. And Mary Jo is very present. 

One thing that this story brought up for me that is very pertinent is that I have to listen, learn the "Why" and base those questions to the right people for some information collection.

For this case study it seems that Osmer really wanted to understand and get to know Mary Jo's way of making decision as well as learning why she did what she did.  I can only fathom that the congregation members of this community were not communicating with each other, because if so, someone could have told the pastors why Mary Jo was so offended and offended to the degree of quitting the church. I wonder if she consulted God before she quit? 

@samuelpoumele3968 October 13, 2026 5:00 AM
Creating a space for positive dialog takes getting people to agree that it is to everyone's benefit to work together, even though sometimes it seems impossible.  
@samuelpoumele3968 October 13, 2026 4:57 AM
Hi everyone, since I am playing catch-up this week after being out last week, I will keep this short, but hopefully I add to our discussion.  Well, most can all attest that we all have a Mary Jo in our church, some maybe more.  Osmer sought to get the facts so he could best understand what was going on and then how to proceed from where he was. When dealing with people, especially in a volatile situation, we first must gather credible facts.    
@nkglass@yahoo.com October 17, 2026 3:08 AM
What is going on? Looking at my congregation, a pastoral reality is the complete absence of adults in their twenties and thirties. On any given Sunday, our church is an active, warm community spanning ages from 40 to 80+. We are blessed with a wonderful music director, engaging sermons, and a handful of children ages 5 to 15 who mostly participate in separate spaces away from the main service. Yet, the missing twenty and thirty somethings create a profound generational gap. Asking "What is going on?" through both Osmer’s and Doehring’s lenses reveals that this demographic gap is more than a statistic. It is a spiritual care need centered on meaning-making. It points to a disconnect between our church's established rhythms and the transitional, often isolating realities facing young adults today as they navigate career pressure, shifting cultural landscapes, and new life stages. While our community enjoys wonderful music and engaging preaching, the absence of young adults creates a profound silence. 

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