Ministry to middle life: The use and abuse of developmental psychology

Ministry to Middle Life is an exploration of some ways in which developmental psychology can be of use in ministry to persons in the middle years of life. It has, as a basic assumption, the view that developmental psychology can help us not only to understand what is happening to people at the various ages and stages of their lives, but also to develop specific paradigms of pastoral care. This basic assumption is not offered without reservation. A chapter on theological foundations contends for a vigorous dialogue between Christian tradition and the psychologies so that, in our use of psychology, we can discern differences between the Christian vision and the moral and spiritual visions of the developmentalists. Only as we do that can we maintain a ministry true to Christian understanding and not distorted or limited or false or inadequate goals.;Having laid that foundation, the study turns to a careful examination of six developmentalists and the contributions they made to our understanding of the movements, transitions, and challenges of middle life. These are Jung, Levinson, Erikson, Gilligan, Kegan, and Fowler. The chapter offers some critique of the various developmentalists from a Christian point of view and also from the point of view of each other. The information contained in this chapter will be of value in itself to anyone seeking to minister to middle lifers.;This research lays the foundation for approaches to middle lifers through group processes. It gives a content to be shared with them and suggests approaches to help then to a greater awareness of themselves and others at middle life. My action in ministry was to lay before middle lifers the results of the earliest research and see how it stimulated their reflection and interaction. My goal was to come to some conclusions as to the value of such an approach. Two different group processes are described both of which might be of value to those planning group ministry with middle lifers. The results of these experiences are discussed and some conclusions offered as to the value of using developmental materials in ministry to middle lifers.;Throughout the study, the influence of Carl Jung will be most evident. Also apparent is my growing appreciation for Robert Kegan. A paradigm for ministry to middle adults emerges based largely on his work. A personal preface makes more concrete why this study was undertaken and a personal epilogue makes more concrete, some results for my ministry today.