Practical and evidence-based resear

Practical and evidence-based research is scarce regarding the perceptions of spirituality and spiritual nurturing of volunteer pastoral care workers. This study set out to explore perceptions of spirituality and spiritual nurturing of volunteer pastoral care workers in a Christian ministry. The aim was to identify what influence their spirituality had on ministry, whether there were links between spiritual experiences, spiritual nurturing and spiritual growth and to develop relevant recommendations to improve training and praxis within the field of pastoral care, an area of increasing interest and demand within the Christian tradition. Thirty participants from an interdenominational volunteer ministry in the Christian tradition, Victorious Ministry Through Christ (VMTC), were interviewed and data were analysed using principles of Grounded Theory to inform subjective spiritual experiences and discover themes regarding spiritual awareness, sensitivity, and effective practice. There were strong indications that a totally dependent, reciprocal relationship exists between spirituality and the ability to minister, suggesting a negation of ability could occur by an absence, unawareness of, or disengagement from the existence of a spiritual dimension. The extent to which an individual was able to effectively and sensitively offer pastoral care was dependent on the degree to which properties of Substantive Spirituality were appropriated, demonstrated through strands of spiritual Sensibility, capacity for Reciprocity, and response to Modification, which combined to form Integrative Spiritual Function (ISF). ISF supported mature functioning of the individual personally, was pre-eminent to formation and effective ministry, and integrative for the whole person. ISF also informed the development of SIFTable; an example of an appraisal tool for use in pastoral care contexts to gauge competency. Recommendations regarding thoughtful and appropriate training of volunteer pastoral care personnel may assist in the formative process associated with ministry to ensure a holistic response to pastoral needs of the volunteer, and the recipient of ministry.