Assessment of an Effective Pastoral Care Model for Helping Widows Overcome Grief in Ack Kirinyaga Diocese, Kenya

Abstract

Widows go through emotional difficulties in the process of grief yet they constitute a large percent of the adult female population. Nevertheless, they continue to remain silent considering the inadequate well laid out mechanisms for emotional support by the church. This study assessed an effective Pastoral Care Model for helping widows overcome grief in the Anglican Church of Kenya, Kirinyaga diocese, Kenya. The objective of this study was to assess a Pastoral Care Model that can be theologically incorporated in widows’ ministry. This study was guided by Kubler- Ross model of grief care. This study was restricted to 358 widows and 70 clergy in Kirinyaga diocese. The findings of this study were that; widows experienced stages of grief in a non-linear progression; emotional support was arguably neglected to some extent; clergy enrolling in a teaching module would assist them in widow’s ministry and; three variables were significant in predicting the most effective Pastoral Care Model. In this article it is therefore proposed that a Pastoral Care Model which is theological and contextual to African setting should be taught to all care givers so as to effectively deal with the issue of death and grief among the widows.