Lesson 1
Academy of Iambe
IAM-220 — Pastoral Listening & Grief
Prescribed course of study in pastoral listening & grief.
| Minimum time | 3 instructional hours + role-play |
|---|---|
| Prerequisites | IAM-101 and IAM-201 |
| Primary text | Canon Chapters III, XIII–XIV, XXXII–XXXIII |
| Purpose | To prepare ministers to accompany grief and loneliness without forcing humor, practicing therapy without competence, or abandoning the Iambist vocation to restore fellowship. |
Lessons
Lesson 2
Lesson 2. Grief, Loneliness, and the Returning Smile
Lesson 3
Lesson 3. Pastoral Boundaries and Referral
Lesson 4
Lesson 4. Memorials, the Last Toast, and Continuing Presence
Course assessment
Complete a supervised pastoral role-play and written reflection. The scenario must include grief or loneliness, an invitation to levity that may or may not be accepted, and a fact requiring the candidate to recognize the limit of pastoral competence. Submit a 750-word reflection on listening choices, boundaries, and referral.
Assessment rubric
| Criterion | Meets standard | Needs revision |
|---|---|---|
| Listening | Reflects and clarifies before advising or joking. | Rushes to solutions or humor. |
| Agency | Asks permission and respects refusal. | Controls the person’s emotional response. |
| Boundaries | Recognizes competence limits and dependency risks. | Acts as an unqualified clinician/adviser. |
| Referral | Identifies when specialized or emergency help is appropriate. | Attempts to contain serious risk within ordinary pastoral care. |
| Iambist theology | Integrates Returning Smile without denying grief. | Treats laughter as proof that grief is resolved. |
Course review questions
Why does Iambist pastoral care begin with listening?
How can Hospitality respond to loneliness?
Name three pastoral boundary risks.
When is referral part of good ministry?
What is the purpose of the Last Toast?
How can a minister follow up without implying that grief should be over?