‘Pearls before Swine’ The Story of the Southwark Pastoral Care and Counselling Scheme

Abstract

Summary This article tells the story of the Southwark Pastoral Care and Counselling Scheme. It began in 1971 and was the first of its kind in the UK, working from the ‘bottom-up’ to provide support and to develop pastoral care and counselling in the Anglican Diocese of Southwark by involving clergy and laity in ‘basic groups’. The story of these groups is told here: their waxing and waning over the last thirty years; the tensions between pastoral authorities and pastoral practitioners; whether to be learning communities or ‘an ambulance service’ for wounded clergy; how to use theological as well as human science resources. The story of these groups is set within the unfolding development of the national pastoral care and practical theology movement.