Pastoral Care

Learn with expert tutors, self-driven study, and weekly online peer groups, across the summer term.

About this course

All Christians care for others, but some discover a particular gift or ministry in this area. This course is for people already involved in pastoral care or those wanting to discover more about this ministry.

Come ready to learn more about the nature of pastoral care, different ways we can care well for each other, some practical skills to help in all this and how theological understandings of healing, wholeness and being human can help inform our practice.

Case studies cover a range of circumstances, including times of transition and loss, ‘ages and stages’, things that can’t be ‘fixed’, awareness of mental health and domestic abuse.

Accessibility

We are striving to ensure our courses are as accessible as possible to those who are disabled, neurodivergent and have learning differences. Please let us know any reasonable adjustments that would create a better learning experience for you.

Course Format

· Diverse Learning Modes. Explore through videos, audio, text, and interactive activities.

· 6 weekly Online Group Tutorials (with preparation). Connect with fellow learners and delve deeper with support from your group tutor.

· 2 onsite Study Days. Gather together to wrestle with some key issues.

Who is this course for?

This course is for anyone who wants to:

· Learn more about the practice and theology of Christian Pastoral Care.

· Grow through study and reflection with others online, discover new perspectives, ask questions.

· Deepen their discipleship or explore a call to minister in some way.

Dates:

Online Welcome Evening: Thursday 23 April 2026 at 7.30pm

Onsite Study Days:

Saturday 9 May 2026 (9.30am-4pm) at Church House Oxford, Kidlington OX5 1GF

Saturday 6 June (9.30am-4pm) at Church House Oxford, Kidlington OX5 1GF

Online Tutorials: Wednesdays at 2pm, Wednesdays at 7.30pm or Thursdays at 7.30pm

Wednesdays: April 29; May 6, 20 (not 13, 27); June 3, 17, 24 (not 10):

Plus July 1 - Optional Assessement Evening

Thursdays: April 30, May 7, 21 (not 14, 28); June 4, 18, 25 (not 11).

Plus July 2 - Optional Assessement Evening

(Please indicate when booking which time and day you would prefer for your tutorial, and provide a second choice of time and day if we are unable to accommodate your first choice).

Bookings for this course close on Friday 27th March 2026 at 6.00pm

Please Note:

Oxford Learning Hub courses are suitable for anyone in the diocese with an interest in the topic, as well as forming part of the training programme for authorised ministers. The courses are only available to people living in the Diocese of Oxford – Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Milton Keynes.

This study group is not suitable for those who have already trained for LLM or ordained ministry. Contact [email protected] for details of alternative courses.

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Host or Publisher Diocese of Oxford - Learning Hub