Counseling Issues & South Pacific Communities

Counseling Issues & South Pacific Communities. Edited by Philip

Culbertson. Auckland, New Zealand: Accent Publications, 1997.

344 pp. NZ $38 (approx. US $18) (paper).

Pastoral care in several islands in the South Pacific is the subject of this ground-breaking book. With sections written by persons indigenous to that particular island culture, the book describes pastoral care as viewed in the cultures of the native Maori in New Zealand, Cook Islands, Niuean, Samoan, Tongan, and Pakeha (non-Maori) in New Zealand. Philip Culbertson, an Anglican priest teaching Pastoral Care at Auckland University, compiled the chapters, and edited them, while also providing a helpful, general introduction to culture and pastoral care viewed cross-culturally.

A common theme to the sections is the affirmation of a particular culture while remaining open to change. Each of the writers attempts to describe the pastoral care as actually practiced and lived in her or his particular culture, without influence of western conceptualizations of pastoral care. Winston Halapua, in the section he wrote on Tonga, best describes the thesis of the book, in addition to the thesis of his particular section: ". . . pastoral care in South Pacific Island cultures requires the utilisation of all aspects of indigenous gifts and values which have withstood the test of time, even those which have lain dormant for years" (p. 251).

For persons not living in the South Pacific, this book helps us with our ethnocentrism. We have tended to see the way we practice church, with the pastoral care embodied in it, as the best way for everyone everywhere. Our emphasis, for example, on the individual person is viewed differently when seen in the light of communal cultures; this is seen most starkly in Jean Mitaera's description of pastoral care in the Cook Islands as the practice of genealogy (p. 117). Our concern for marriage may be seen differently when viewed in the light of other cultures where relations with another family's members are more important than marriage. The final sections on the Pakeha will appear most familiar to us in the U.S. and the West (although with subtle differences), in dealing with issues such as pastoral care of families whose children have been murdered, women recently retired, Christian spirituality (a brilliant section), and cross-gender dialogue. The last two, even if one had little interest in cross-cultural issues, are worth the price of the book.

I am delighted in the publication of this book, and Philip Culbertson is to be congratulated in pulling together such a wonderful and diverse group of writers. We need many, many more books which describe indigenous pastoral care in all parts of the world.

The book is accessible at many levels. I expect to use it in the courses I teach on pastoral care. Theological thinkers will find instructive the beginning attempts in several sections at formulating indigenous theology. Churches of all denominations will find the book valuable in adult Christian education classes in helping church members to expand their horizons.

*Orders for this book can be placed by writing or faxing Snedden dT

Cerven Publishing Company, 38 East Street, Newton, Auckland,

New Zealand, fax: 64-9-358-2393.

BILL RATLIFF

Earlham School of Religion

Richmond, Indiana

Copyright Anglican Theological Review, Inc. Fall 1998
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