Pastoral Responses to Sexual Issues

This excellent book offers help to pastors and other caring Christians who must act as "triage officers" on the front lines of congregational and community life and who believe in and want to explore the importance of sexual issues in ministry. William Arnold believes that our sexuality is a defining element for understanding who we are and who God is. For a pastor to work with people in a helpful and redemptive manner, this powerful force must be faced with courage and care. However, the pastor must be aware that attempts to care can be damaging if there is not an openness to learning more about the multiple forces at work in our sexuality. The pastor's awareness must be physiological, psychological, and theological. William Arnold stresses self-awareness as the key to dealing with sexual issues and advises the pastor not to rely strictly on intellectual information.