Journal Article Review:
Silence or Discernment
Author Note
JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW:
SILENCE IN PASTORAL CARE
Ed Price
School of Behavioral Sciences
Department of Community Care & Counseling
Liberty University
Ed Price
I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Ed Price
Email: eprice10@liberty.edu
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Journal Article Review:
Silence or Discernment
Journal Article Review: Silence in Pastoral Care
Summary
The author sets the tone with a counter-culture proposal and asks himself and the reader
to consider silence and its implications as part of the practice of pastoral care (Moriichi, 2009, p.
1). The writer goes on to detail the basis for his theses. His convictions are rooted in his cross-
cultural learning, his pastoral education, wisdom from Christian figures of the past, and the
ministry where he currently serves, (Moriichi, p.1). Advocate is the term Moriichi uses to
describe himself in his current ministry setting (Moriichi, 2009, p.1).
Moriichi further references pastoral care as the continuing search of God in the lives of
the people we seek to serve (Moriichi, 2009, p.2). Witnessing what God does in our midst rather
than focusing on the ‘what’ we do is primary to listening. The article is the authors' reflection of
how he came to appreciate silence as a spiritual medium of communication. He continues by
elevating silence as an asset in the practice of pastoral counseling. The reader is given cultural
examples and stories that highlight the authors' frame of reference growing up in Japan. We
learn that ‘the mouth is the root of all trouble’. It’s also important to note that Japanese culture
would view Western verbosity would be viewed by the Japanese as a sign of disengagement or
stupidity.
We learn in time that the author came clashed culturally with Western ideology regarding
silence. His marriage, his seminary experience, and his pastoral education and internship all
contributed to his appreciation of silence as a medium and tool of the ministry of counseling.
The author concludes that silence is more important and even more necessary than we normally
consider (Moriichi, 2009, p.6). Although we are required as pastoral counselors to speak in a
timely manner, our duty is to develop a ‘theology of silence’ and practice the ministry of silence.
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Journal Article Review:
Silence or Discernment
Interaction
It’s been said ad nauseum that we have two ears and one mouth for a reason. My own
career started out in traditional sales. I learned from seasoned mentors the key to success and
making sales was to ask a question and then shut up and listen. What I gained from those
mentorships was simply that my silence or lack of response allowed the prospect to speak, and I
was required to listen. Over my years in ministry, I have developed a habit of meeting people
and asking them to tell me their stories. In this simple question, I have found out some of the
most intimate details of a person’s life and been able to reply as needed.
I was intrigued by the article and the application of silence as an integral part of pastoral
counseling. The author does well to outline his cultural experience as a person of Japanese
descent. We learn exactly where his love and respect of silence are drawn from. As a Westerner,
it was curious to hear the Eastern or Japanese perspective regarding our ‘lack of silence’. My
interest in this article was piqued as I work in an industry and the people I am blessed to serve
are especially able to verbally communicate. My grandmother would call it ‘the gift of gab’. I
find with our residents that there is almost always an agenda and silence allows me discernment
as well as the ability to decipher and process.
As I consider my continued pursuit of pastoral counseling I am intrigued by the author's
references and time permitting, plan to explore the ministry of silence and press into the theology
of silence. Surprise for me came in the exposure of the Japanese culture and the frame around a
‘skilled mouth’ or ‘speaking a lot’ (Moriichi, 2009, p.2). The surprise led to a realization and
maybe a little shame in the way we as Americans approach silence. We view silence as
weakness, not meekness. As Americans, we see response and language as power. I am
challenged to explore ministry and counseling with my ears first to best serve.
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Journal Article Review:
Silence or Discernment
Application
To apply silence as a tool to be used in pastoral care I would naturally utilize it in the
group or individual counseling setting. My role at the rescue mission puts me in a position to
counsel men in an individual or group setting and women in a group or chapel setting. Our client
base has a requirement to participate not only in group counseling, but also attending four
alcoholics anonymous meetings each week. Beyond attendance, each person must participate by
sharing and engaging. In doing so the addict and alcoholic become skilled at telling their story.
Some become so good they come to love the sound of their voice and the tale they weave.
A challenge for me as a pastoral counselor would be to strategically insert questions into
group or chapel that would allow me to remain silent and the counselees to respond. My silence
would be a struggle as counselees could potentially compete for the attention in the moment.
Potentially, I could break the silence long enough to acknowledge another counselee to speak.
James tells us to be quick to listen, slow to speak (James 1:19, NIV, 1984). Addicts and
alcoholics have the distinction of being master manipulators. In counseling sessions
manipulation is common. Silence can be used as a method of control by the pastoral counselor.
The ability to remain calm and exert control through silence can be seen as power.
For an illustration, if a resident came to me seeking peace over a situation they had no
control over, I could use well placed questions and subsequent periods of silence to posture
myself for God to show up. Silence is the key to allowing the Holy Spirit to move and work in
the heart and spirit of the counselee. Residents in therapeutic recovery tend to over dramatize
minor issues over which they have little or no control. Exercising patience and using silence as a
medium to serve those I am blessed to witness to is the key to allowing healing from God.
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Journal Article Review:
Silence or Discernment
References
Moriichi, S. (2009). Re-discovery of silence in pastoral care. Journal of Pastoral Care &
Counseling: Advancing Theory and Professional Practice through Scholarly and Reflective
Publications, 63(1-2), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1177/154230500906300103
Zondervan Bible Publishers. (1984). The Holy Bible, New International Version.
