Rantoa Letsosa Rantoa Letsosa

This article formulates a new integrated pastoral care approach to bereavement healing ministry
in Africa, termed a circle for pastoral concern. In pursuit of this, the article highlights the pastoral
challenge brought about by the occurrence of death and bereavement within the cultural and
Christian intermix. Using the example of the Abaluyia of western Kenya, traditional cultural
bereavement healing approaches are assessed against the backdrop of Christian influence on
the understanding and response to death and bereavement healing and the resultant tension.
The article juxtaposes the Abaluyia cultural concept of okhukura [to encircle with loving care]
with the biblical koinōnia [fellowship, communion] as springboard for building culturally
sensitive and biblically sound Christian caring communities. It is hoped that the juxtaposition
helps to establish and promote meaningful engagement between therapeutic traditional
beliefs and practices, and the gospel. The gospel-culture engagement within a local church
setting provides the context in which bereavement healing and individual growth after the
death of a significant other takes place. The juxtaposition is necessitated by the rampant
practice in African pluralistic societies where Christians consciously, or otherwise, lurch back
to cultural approaches in their effort to provide or find healing when faced with death and
bereavement. The ‘circle for pastoral concern’ model encourages inclusiveness by enlisting
the means and talents of the community of believers, both ordained and lay. The principle of
inclusion ensures that the load of pastoral care is shared and assumes a deeper response due
to diversity of gifts and talents within the caring community.