Clergy Counseling: An Abiding Faith in Women
As part of our work to equip clergy to counsel women and couples and to act for reproductive justice, RCRC offers two training workshops: All Options Clergy Counseling and Pastoral Counseling for Reproductive Loss.

All Options Clergy Counseling

There is no doubt that a welcomed, loved child is a gift from God and a blessing to a joyful family. Yet, not every pregnancy is welcomed (we do not confuse unplanned or unintended with unwelcome). Women and their families who are dealing with unwelcome or problem pregnancies often have religious, spiritual, and theological questions and look for supportive pastoral help to answer these questions.

The decision of whether or not to continue a pregnancy is extremely complicated for many women. During the workshop, clergy learn more about those complexities. Factors that lead to those complexities may include any one or more of the following: relationship with boyfriend or husband; relationship with parents; attitudes about sexuality; feelings about being pregnant; previous pregnancies; financial and social situation; feelings about being a woman; plans for the future; attitudes about abortion; interpretation of scripture; personal religious beliefs. Therefore, no one choice is best for all; each choice has the potential for pain and loss.

While a simple referral is adequate for some women, we have found that the great majority of women welcome the opportunity to sort out the factors involved in their decision and to express their feelings to an objective, sensitive, supportive clergy counselor. Many women are able to use the counseling session to gain a better understanding of the conflicts that may have led to an ultimately problematic pregnancy. Ultimately, clergy who take this training and engage in this type of pastoral counseling will be helping a woman to strike a balance between the time she needs to consider her decision carefully and the time she decides to act (over 89% of all abortions are performed in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, both by choice and due to legal barriers to abortions post-12 weeks).

To engage in this work is to accompany women as they decide whether to bear a child in accordance with their own faith and beliefs, and then support whatever choice is made.

Pastoral Counseling for Reproductive Loss

Any reproductive loss - whether through miscarriage, infertility, stillbirth, abortion or adoption - can carry with it a range of feelings, including feelings. Grief, loss, loneliness, regret, relief, and sadness are common. A person or couple experiencing a pregnancy loss may benefit from the counsel of a sympathetic clergy person who will listen and provide support. Pastoral counselors can do much to help restore emotional health for those who have experienced tehse losses.

“Pastoral Counseling for Reproductive Loss” covers medical, emotional, and spiritual issues and how these issues impact women and family member. Rituals and an extensive bibliography of print and on-line resources are provided. Particular issues involved around reproductive loss for those in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities are also discussed.

To inquire about holding an All Options Clergy Counseling workshop or Pastoral Counseling for Reproductive Loss workshop in your region or at your denominational conference or seminary, email info@rcrc.org.