Table Of ContentPASTORAL CARE AND COUNSELING FOR BEREAVED PARENTS:
A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE ROLE
OF CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY IN COPING WITH THE LOSS OF A CHILD
A Dissertation
presented to
the Faculty of
Claremont School of Theology
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
by
Deuk Hyoung Yoon
May 2015
©2015
Deuk Hyoung Yoon
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
This dissertation completed by
DEUK HYOUNG YOON
has been presented to and accepted by the
faculty of Claremont School of Theology in
partial fulfillment of the requirements of the
Doctor of Philosophy
Faculty Committee
K. Samuel Lee, Chairperson
Duane R. Bidwell
Andrew Dreitcer
Dean of the Faculty
Sheryl A. Kujawa-Holbrook
May 2015
ABSTRACT
Pastoral Care and Counseling for Bereaved Parents:
A Phenomenological Study of the Role
of Christian Spirituality in Coping with the Loss of a Child
Deuk Hyoung Yoon
As a practical theological work, this phenomenological study explored the lived
experiences of bereaved parents as a way to examine the role of Christian spirituality in
coping with the loss of a child. The death of a child is a tragic and incomprehensible
experience. Bereaved parents search for the meaning of the loss and of their lives by
asking God “Why?” Recently, researchers in the areas of psychology and mental
healthcare have been interested in studying the role of spirituality/religiosity in parental
grief. However, practical theologians have shown less concern about the issue. This
dissertation explores from an interdisciplinary approach the reality and meaning of the
spiritual journeys and lives of bereaved parents.
In order to understand and interpret bereaved parents’ experiences, this study used
the qualitative method, particularly IPA (Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis). Three
Korean bereaved couples and three individual bereaved parents five to fifteen years after
the loss of a child were recruited through email and phone calls to pastors of churches.
In-depth interviews were conducted with semi-structured questions, and data were
analyzed through within-case analysis and across-cases analysis based on the principles
of IPA. From this analytic process, seven super-ordinate themes emerged: Faith
Community as a Sources of Support, A Moment of Encountering God, God Gives their
Life Meaning, Significant Perspective Changes on Life and Death, Sharing their Stories
of Life, Family as the Ground of Sustaining Life, and Remembering the Child.
These findings were put into dialogue with both social sciences and theology.
From the first dialogue between meaning-making theory and a narrative theological
perspective, the spiritual journey of bereaved parents to find meaning of the loss and their
lives was explained. Then, I discussed these findings in a second dialogue between ritual
and feminist theories. In the interpretation of the findings, spiritual healing and
transformation of bereaved parents were emphasized. In the normative task, I attempted
to integrate all discussion into a pastoral care and counseling framework. I extracted one
essential factor and six variable factors of Christian spirituality that affected bereaved
parents as they were coping with their grief. 1 defined the spiritual journeys and lives of
bereaved parents as God-centered healing and transformation. In the end, I presented four
suggestions that provide pastors with insightful information that can enlighten and guide
pastoral ministry of bereaved parents.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
It is my confession that without God’s grace, I could not have completed this
dissertation. God has always led me to the right path and sent God’s angels to me in order
to assist and encourage me when 1 was troubled in proceeding with my study. I am
thankful for those individuals of angels who made this dissertation possible.
Above all, I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to my academic advisor
and chairperson of my committee, Dr. K. Samuel Lee. He guided and supported me
throughout the process of designing and writing this dissertation. His knowledge in
research methodology offers a strong foundation of my research project. I would also like
to thank other committee members, Dr. Duane Bidwell and Dr. Andrew Dreitcer. They
provided me with insightful comments, encouragement and support throughout the
dissertation. I feel privileged to have worked with them and am grateful for their faithful
dedication to completion of my dissertation.
I also feel privileged to have studied under honorable professors at Claremont
School of Theology. 1 would like to acknowledge Dr. William Clements, retired professor
who taught me pastoral care and counseling for bereavement. I am grateful to Dr.
Kathleen Greider. I learned from her not only about theories and practices of
psychotherapy, but also about academic rigor and integrity. I am grateful to Dr. Rosemary
R. Ruether for her generous contributions of feminist theology. I also acknowledge Dr.
Kathy Black whose expertise is in liturgies. She taught me about theories of feminist
liturgy.
I would like to thank Dr. Ok Nah Kim Lah who is chairperson of Kakdang
Welfare Foundation in Korea. She encouraged me to study in the USA and supported me
with prayer and scholarship at times. I worked with her to develop the field of death
education and counseling for youth. She entrusted me with designing and performing
important programs. My dissertation is one attempt to contribute to the death-related field
in Korea.
1 would like to extend deep gratitude to my mother, mother- and father-in-law
who have supported me with love and care throughout the process. Their financial and
emotional support helped me to continue and complete my study. For nine years of study
in the USA, I could not visit Korea for several reasons. 1 feel sorry to have missed some
important family events including my mother’s 70th birthday party, my mother-in-law’s
60th birthday party, my father-in-law’s 70th birthday party, and my sister-in-law’s
wedding. 1 appreciate their deep understanding and sympathy.
I extend the most gratitude to my wife, Sena Lee Yoon who has witnessed my
efforts over the years and supported me sacrificially. She has helped me in countless ways
with love, patience, and encouragement. She has worked for our living and taken care of
our children. Sometimes she had to take them to her workplace when 1 needed to focus
more on my dissertation. 1 could not have done it without her.
To my daughters, Sarah and Grace: You are invaluable to me as the source of my
life. 1 am sorry that I could not be fully present to you while I was writing my dissertation.
I would like to give you an unknown quote, “Dear my daughters, if I could give you one
thing in life, 1 would give you the ability to see yourself through my eyes. Only then
would you realize how special you are to me.” I love you!
Finally, I am deeply grateful to the bereaved parents who volunteered for my
study. They were willing to share their personal and painful stories with me and us.
Without their participation in the research, I could not even have started my research
project. I believe that their participation in this study will contribute to developing
pastoral resources for the church and to helping other bereaved parents going through
similar situations.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................1
Discussion of the Problem.................................................................................................1
Thesis..................................................................................................................................10
Method and Theological Framework.............................................................................10
Definitions of Key Terms.................................................................................................14
Christian Spirituality..............................................................................................14
Greif, Grieving, and Mourning............................................................................17
Grief Responses.....................................................................................................18
Complicated Grief Responses..............................................................................18
Audience.............................................................................................................................19
Scope and Limitation.......................................................................................................20
Originality and Contributions.........................................................................................22
Outline of the Chapters....................................................................................................23
CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW..................................................................................26
Grief Theories...................................................................................................................26
Early Grief Theories.............................................................................................26
Attachment Theory...............................................................................................28
Task Theory............................................................................................................29
Contemporary Theories........................................................................................31
Grief from Pastoral Theological Perspectives.............................................................33
Parental Grief and Spirituality........................................................................................44
CHAPTER 3. RESEARCH METHOD AND DESIGN.........................................................56
Research Method..............................................................................................................56
Rationale for Qualitative Method in Practical Theology.................................56
Phenomenology.....................................................................................................59
Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis...........................................................62
Research Design...............................................................................................................64
Data Collection......................................................................................................64
Data Analysis.........................................................................................................71
CHAPTER 4. DESCRIPTIVE TASK: FINDINGS................................................................76
Situation of the Death of Participants’ Child................................................................76
Bereaved Couples..................................................................................................76
Individual Bereaved Parents................................................................................80
Themes................................................................................................................................85
Faith Community as a Source of Support..........................................................86
A Moment of Encountering God........................................................................96
God Gives Their Life Meaning..........................................................................104
Significant Perspective Changes on Life and Death.......................................109
Sharing Their Stories of Life.............................................................................115
Family as the Ground of Sustaining Life.........................................................122
Remembering the Child......................................................................................129
CHAPTER 5. INTERPRETIVE TASK: DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS IN
INTERDISCIPLINARY INTERPRETATION.............................................................136
Dialogue Between Meaning-Making Theory and Narrative Perspectives............137
Why Meaning-Making Theory?........................................................................137
Theoretical Background of Meaning-Making and Narrative Approach 139
Making Sense of the Loss of a Child in One’s Spiritual Journey................144
