A proposed biblical counselling supervision model aimed at promoting the multidimensional development of the biblical counsellor

Abstract

Biblical counselling ministry can be defined as the conversational ministry of God's gracious Word, through which people are renewed. However, due to the difficulty of biblical counselling ministry and the need to develop biblical counsellors into maturity, supervision is a vitally important element. Despite its importance, though, there has been very little work done in this crucial area. In particular, there has been little empirical research into the nature, conceptualisation and praxis of biblical counselling supervision. Furthermore, there has been minimal theological reflection on supervision. The premise of this research project, therefore, explored in chapter one, is that the formulation of a practical and theological supervision model will promote the development of biblical counsellors. The primary question that this research is seeking to address is: what would a proposed biblical counselling supervision model aimed at promoting the multidimensional development of the biblical counsellor look like? This study answers that question through four tasks, advocated by Osmer's (2008) practical theology paradigm. The first task is the descriptive-empirical task. Through a pragmatic qualitative empirical research approach, chapter two presents the supervision methods, models and activities that are currently being used in biblical counselling supervision. The research headlines revealed that no model for BC supervision exists, that it is rarely practised in a multidimensional manner (often only two out of four dimensions are focused on), and that there is widespread agreement that supervision is important. The second task is the interpretive task. By drawing on the empirical research, church history, theological literature, secular counselling literature and biblical data, chapter three interpreted the situation revealed in chapter two. Specifically, the two-dimensional focus--along with the lack of conceptual work regarding a supervision model--was interpreted through the categories of historical factors, logistical factors and theological factors. The third task is the normative task. By way of exegesis, chapter four answers the question: What are the biblical principles regarding BC supervision that can be used to promote multidimensional development? It answers this question through a syllogistic proposition: (a) Supervision is a form of discipleship. (b) Discipleship is multidimensional. (c) Supervision, therefore, ought to be multidimensional. The theology in this chapter underpins the model presented in the next.

The fourth task is the pragmatic task. Chapter five presents the culmination of the research project by proposing the MULTIDIMENSIONAL biblical counselling supervision model. This model provides a practical and theological foundation for biblical counselling supervisors to promote the multidimensional development of the biblical counsellor.