Covenant making and pastoral counseling

The biblical concept of convenant refers to realities that place God beyond the gods of the philosophers. It also suggests the kinds of relationships the people of God should seek to establish with others. Helping establish such relationships constitutes one important goal of pastoral counseling, incorporating and transcending the more usual counseling goals. The biblical concept of convenant making also integrates counseling with larger pastoral and theological concerns.Richard C. Erickson, an ordained Presbyterian minister, is staff psychologist on the inpatient unit at Portland VA Medical Center and an associate professor of Medical Psychology at the Oregon Health Sciences University. His address is: Portland VA Medical Center (116 B), 3710 SW U.S. Veterans Hospital Road, Portland OR 97201.