COURSE SUMMARY
D308 Ministering in Complicated Losses and Difficult Deaths
Spring 2007
Instructor: Dr. Roslyn A. Karaban rkaraban@stbernards.edu 585-271-3657 x 280
Enrollment and Restrictions: Recommended prerequisite: basic course in loss and bereavement, or basic course in pastoral care and counseling, or experience working with bereavement. Limited.
Course Description:
This is an advanced level grief course for those students willing to look at complicated grieving situations. The course will focus on such losses as: murder, divorce, suicide, cancer, rape, abuse, the death of children and community disasters. Complicated losses and difficult deaths involve complicated grieving processes that require of the minister a sophisticated understanding of the grieving process, a willingness to grapple with complex theological concerns, and a working knowledge of advanced-level skills for ministering to grievers. Therefore the course will focus on:
understanding complicated losses and difficult deaths
assessing and ministering to different types of complicated grief
addressing theological concerns evoked in complicated grief
Course Goals:
At the end of this course a student will have:
1. gained a new understanding of the complexities of complicated losses and difficult deaths and the problems they create in the grieving process
2. identified and practiced particular skills needed for ministering in complicated bereavement
3. examined theological principles and concerns underlying and raised by complicated grief
Course Format: Lecture, discussion, practicums, and case study panel presentations
Required Reading:
Kenneth Doka, ed. Living with Grief: After Sudden Loss, Suicide, Homicide, Accident, Heart Attack, Stroke. Bristol, PA: Taylor & Francis, 1996.
Roslyn A. Karaban. Complicated Losses, Difficult Deaths: A Practical Guide for Ministering to Grievers. San Jose: Resource Publications, Inc., 2000.
Therese A. Rando. Treatment of Complicated Mourning. Champaign: Research Press Co., 1993.
Peter Young. Celebrate Life: Rituals for Home and Church. Cleveland: United Church Press, 1999.
Recommended Reading:
Joseph R. Jeter, Jr. Crisis Preaching: Personal & Public. Nashville: Abingdon, 1998.
Margaret Smith. Facing Death Together: Parish Funerals. Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 1998.
Assignments/Requirements:
Attendance at class and active participation in class discussions, case studies and practicums.
One case study panel presentation - an oral and written presentation of a situation of complicated grief consisting of three components: case study, practicum, and ritual (3-6 students per panel) 10-12 pages
One verbatim report – an actual conversation and analysis of a conversation in which you ministered to someone experiencing complicated grief (10-12 pages)
OR
Three reflections papers on one night’s reading (4 pages each)
Grading:
Class participation 20%
Case study panel 30%
Verbatim or papers 50%
Course Overview
Class II: Tuesday, January 23
Review of Uncomplicated Grieving
Overview of Complicated Losses: Ambiguous, Traumatic, Disenfranchised
Required Reading:
Rando, chapter 2, pp. 19-77
Karaban, Introduction, chapter 1-2, pp. 1-54
Class III: Tuesday, January 30
Overview of Difficult Deaths: Sudden, Unexpected; Violent, Mutilating and Traumatic; Death of Children; Death from Overly Lengthy Illnesses
Required Reading:
Karaban, chs. 3-5, pp. 55-101
Selections from Doka
Class IV: Tuesday, February 6
Complicating Factors
Assessment
Caring for Ourselves as Grief Ministers
Required Reading:
Rando, chapters 4, 6 and 14 pp. 149-183, 243-266 and 651-664
Karaban, chapter 6, pp. 103-110
How to do a Case Study
Required Reading:
Rando, chapters 8 and 9, pp. 333-450
Karaban, Appendix , pp. 111-117
Tuesday, February 20
Rituals and Religious Resources for Loss and Death
Required Reading:
Selections from Young
Rituals from your own religious tradition
Recommended Reading:
Selections from Jeter and Smith
Classes VII, VII, IX and X: Case Study Panel Presentations Tuesday, February 27, March 6, 13, 20 and 27
Possible Topics:
Alzheimer’s Disease, Divorce, Suicide, AIDS, Abortion, Community Disasters, Accidents, Homicide, Rape, Death of Children, Cancer, Abuse, Mental Illness, and Multiple Sclerosis
Readings from Doka, Rando, Karaban and Young (specific readings depend on case study topic)
No Class Tuesday, April 3 – Holy Week
Class XI: Tuesday, April 10
Class Choice (Depends on what topics are presented in panels)
Class XII: Tuesday, April 17
Summary and Conclusions
Verbatim Due last class (April 17); Reflection papers due throughout