Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of death on the family of the
pastor. The study poses a question of what pastoral care model can be used to help
the pastor’s family cope during their period of bereavement. A qualitative
methodological design was followed, allowing individual experiences to emerge. Five
female participants were interviewed. A qualitative analysis was undertaken in order
to explore their grief and coping mechanism during the period of bereavement.
The study traces the origin and causes of death, with the emphasis on African and
biblical perspectives. The aspect of how people make meaning of death is also
explored. The study revealed that death had a different impact according to their
different culture. Death leads to grief which can be psychological, emotional, social,
or spiritual.
Several themes emerged from the study. The themes were used to produce a
bereavement model that can be used to provide pastoral care to families during their
period of bereavement.
