An investigation into the phenomena and practices of spiritual ...

In the above extract the respondent clearly states that to be able to administer spiritualhealing is a gift. He also implies that the person with this gift is chosen by God and isprobably the minister. This person can receive training under the membership of the Groupfor Evangelical Renewal (GEAR). The blessing of the minister to develop this ministrywould probably make for an easier transition into training. However that this may beoutside the minister‟s domain there indicates that there are some aspects of church and theChristian life that reside outside of ministerial control. This respondent implies that there isroom for the development of the ministry of spiritual healing in the URC.Respondent 10 expresses a belief that although the NHS doctors are doing a good job theymay well come to a place where they find that they are limited and this is where „God tasover‟.Interviewer: How do think the NHS or doctors perceive healing in churches?Respondent 10: I think a lot of them have a great deal of respect for divine healing; somebelieve that it has its place. Some believe that it has it place and ultimately the medicalfield is the way forward, some believe that it can actually go hand-in hand. I feel that thereis a place for both. God has gifted man anyway to be able to carry out these tests that theydo and I would not knock them. They do a tremendous job and I also feel that they havetheir place and when it come to where they can‘t do anymore then God takes over. Thereis also the place where I also think that both work hand in hand‘Ministers in COGIC and other black majority churches are expected to participate inhealing directly or delegate this as regular activity in the church community. Spiritualhealing is physical and psychological. Often black communities have experienced feelings169