The "Society for Intercultural Pastoral Care and Counselling" (SIPCC) is a community of counsellors, pastors, supervisors, teachers, scholars, s and other pastoral caregivers committed to enrich the field of pastoral studies and pastoral practices. The purpose of the Society is to equip persons for pastoral care and counselling in the midst of diverse cultural contexts. Coming from a Christian background SIPCC engages in dialogue with other faiths and religions aiming at justice, peace and the integrity of creation.
International Seminars on Pastoral Care and Counselling started in 1986, from which roots SIPCC was founded as a registered tax free association in 1995 to provide a forum for the voices of women and men from different cultures and ethnic backgrounds in order to foster intercultural understanding of issues related to contemporary ways of doing pastoral care and counselling in practice and theory.
Members come from many different countries, religious backgrounds and cultures. Membership is open to all persons and institutions sharing similar concerns and goals which are mentioned below.
1. We dedicate ourselves to the creation of a mutually respectful and inclusive community in which we engage in conversation and activities which contribute to overcome historical barriers such as religion, race, class, gender and sexual orientation. We strive to overcome discrimination against economically and politically deprived as well as differently abled persons.
2. We dedicate ourselves to offer opportunities for concerned persons, associations and institutions to explore the meaning, purposes and methods of pastoral care and counselling from the perspectives of different cultures, religions and worldviews.
3. We commit ourselves to honor, understand and critically develop traditions of doing pastoral care and pastoral action in the midst of interfaith and ecumenical dialogue. We strive to be open to different practices of care which come from a variety of religious and non-religious traditions.
4. We commit ourselves to work for the development and implementation of liberative and transformative methods of care in ecclesiastical and social structures, public policy and interpersonal relationships.
5. We commit ourselves to create a forum for conversation between theology and other fields of knowledge concerned with critical reflection on the relationship between practice and theory in pastoral care and counselling.
6. We seek to learn from pastoral-theological dialogue and to enhance the practice of ministry in congregations, groups and specialised settings.
1. We conduct an annual international seminar on intercultural pastoral care and counselling for a large audience in various countries and cities. The seminar offers formal presentations, workshops, case studies, small groups, intercultural forums and other opportunities for exchange and dialogue between the participants.
2. We conduct an annual consultation for theory building.
3. We provide written materials through magazines and books to enlighten current understanding, practice and research in pastoral care and counselling.
4. We organise special study trips to various countries to experience different cultures, religions and their way of caring for people and learn from them.
The General Assembly meets each year to be informed, to discuss and to decide on the activities, finances, elections and other issues of the Society.
The Executive Committee with seven international members elected by the general assembly co-ordinates the duties and tasks of the Society. The Executive Committee appoints various committees such as
the Seminar Planning Committee, which prepares and co-ordinates the annual International Seminars,
the International Editorial Committee, which is responsible for publications of the Society,
and others as the need arises.
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