Pastoral care is the ministry of the church that looks at well being of each believers as well as church as a whole. Pastoral care is based on Christian faith and it is a care that is like a shepherd who cares for his sheep. In pastoral care pastor takes the initiative to love, guide, nurture and heal people.
Pastoral care may never be a profession but it should always be an offering or action through which the power of God’s love and healing can reach out to people by the people. Campbell calls the person who provides care as “wounded healer,” the reason he calls wounded healer is that the care giver in the midst of his/her own weakness becomes a healer and the power of God flows through a care giver. Care giver may not necessarily be a pastor; of course every Christian is a caregiver in various levels and stages of life.
Pastoral care is described with a metaphor “shepherd caring for sheep.” Seward Hiltner calls this ministry as ministry of peace making (shalom); more over it is the basic goal of this ministry.