The factors affecting effective provision of Pastoral Counseling Services by Pastors of the Africa Brotherhood Church in Makueni County, Kenya

Abstract

This research sought to determine the factors that influenced pastoral counseling services among pastors in the Africa Brotherhood Church in Makueni County. The objectives of this study were: to determine pastoral training levels of the pastors serving in the ABC Church in Makueni; to identify areas in counseling covered during and after their initial theological/divinity training; to assess the issues that in the pastors’ view affect their effectiveness in pastoral counseling roles and to establish parishioners’ perceptions of an ideal pastoral counselor. This study used a descriptive research design. Target population included pastors and parishioners of the ABC Church of Makueni County. The sample size entailed all pastors in Mukaa sub-headquarters church administrative zone which was randomly selected out of the six administrative zones in the county and parishioners from one parish also randomly selected from the parishes in the study area. The parishioners identified for this research were selected through purposive sampling. Data was collected through use of questionnaires and structured interview schedules. Quantitative data was analyzed through use of SPSS version 20, while qualitative data was analyzed through thematization process. The study was based on adlerian therapy theory by Alfred Adler. The study found that most pastors were holders of diploma in theology/divinity followed by certificate holders and the least were graduates and post-graduates. Most pastors had undergone pastoral counseling training during or after their initial theological/divinity training. Topics covered included premarital counseling, decision-making skills, stress management, anger and conflict management, death and bereavement. The study showed that, there is average uptake of pastoral counseling services with most pastors focused mostly on preaching and teaching scripture to congregants. The study found that effectiveness of pastoral counseling programs depended on the pastors’ education and training levels, their preparedness, their attitude to pastoral counseling responsibilities, the time consciously made available for the counseling activity, effective communication and their level of knowledge on theory and practice in pastoral counseling. Certain Kamba cultural beliefs were also found to profoundly affect pastoral counseling endeavors. The study recommends that pastors should be exposed to deeper and wider training in pastoral counseling through seminars in service programs and also through knowledge sharing platforms in the social media. Further, the study recommends that pastors should be provided with other resources like offices for purposes of counseling.