ABSTRACT
Thomas W. Klink of the Menninger Foundation suggested .an "encounter" as the basic unit of pastoral work. He used this term to refer to the distinctive moments of meeting and acknowledging the meaningful existence of another (in person or even through longdistance communication) that mark the life of ministry. In an encounter, more or less explicit expectations emerge within a continuing and often multifaceted relationship. After any specific pastoral service contract is fulfilled, the continuing relationship is resumed, even though perhaps modified. This concept of encounter is used to place pastoral work on the broadest possible base.l
GENERAL PASTORAL RELATIONSHIPS
Carroll Wise notes that the "general pastoral relationship is the keystone in the entire arch of the minister's many activitie~."~ Ministers achieve success probably as much by beirzg a certain kind of person as by doing certain things. Yet ministers seldom think of their relationship with others as a resource; instead they often wish they could "think of something to say or do that would help." Ministers who exude attitudes of empathic understanding, reverence, genuineness, and concreteness in both formal and informal relationships usually are considered by parishioners to be helphl in
every phase of ministry. Rollo May wrote that "in every human contact some molding of personality occur^."^
The therapeutic relationship is but one example of interpersonal relations. Carl Rogers maintains that the same laws govern all relationships. Thus if a parent, teacher, administrator, or clergy is able to create the right kind of psychological atmosphere for the child, student, staff member, or church member, then a more wholesome relationship exists4 In F. E. Fiedler's experimental study of relationship, the fact that even laypeople could describe the ideal therapeutic relationship in terms which correlated highly with those of the experts suggests that "a good therapeutic relationship is very much like any [other] good relationship. " 5
Therefore, a ministry through relationships is possible when pastors offer not a set of dogmas or an institutional program but themselves in relationship. These relationships are quite significant, since ministers traditionally represent God-in-Christ. Such ministers come to measure effectiveness by the quality of interpersonal relationships.
