Pastors and premarital counseling: a descriptive study of Covenant Theological graduates from 1975-1995

Buikema, Jeffrey K.

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Pastors and premarital counseling: a descriptive study of Covenant Theological graduates from 1975-1995

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MLA citation style (9th ed.)

Buikema, Jeffrey K. Pastors and Premarital Counseling: a Descriptive Study of Covenant Theological Graduates From 1975-1995. Covenant Theological Seminary. rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/56b3d267-d42d-40f0-99b9-3e3de57574e7.

APA citation style (7th ed.)

B. J. K. Pastors and premarital counseling: a descriptive study of Covenant Theological graduates from 1975-1995. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/56b3d267-d42d-40f0-99b9-3e3de57574e7

Chicago citation style (CMOS 17, author-date)

Buikema, Jeffrey K. Pastors and Premarital Counseling: a Descriptive Study of Covenant Theological Graduates From 1975-1995. Covenant Theological Seminary. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/56b3d267-d42d-40f0-99b9-3e3de57574e7.

Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.

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Buikema, Jeffrey K.

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Abstract

The purpose of this research is to provide a descriptive study of premarital counseling preparation, perspectives, and practices by pastors who graduated from Covenant Theological Seminary between 1975-1995. From the findings, the seminary may evaluate and modify the existing marriage preparation education of her students. An extensive survey covering all three aspects of clergy and premarital counseling listed above, was mailed to 150 randomly selected graduates. The perspective of the vast majority of pastors in this study is that clergy are the primary providers of premarital counseling and they believe it should be required of all engaged couples. In keeping with previous research, most of the pastors in this study claim that their seminary preparation in premarital counseling was inadequate. Less than 25 percent received a class or seminar, while about 60 percent claim to have had a unit in premarital counseling. Only about one third of the resondents were exposed to a structured premarital counseling program and the same percentage of respondents were trained to use premarital counseling assessment instruments. Since pastors continue to provide a significant link between the church and the family, there continues to be a critical need today for seminaries and theological institutions to better educate and equip them to provide effective premarital counseling ministries in their churches. This study, like many others, bears out this conclusion.

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