AUTHOR'S PROFESSIONAL PAGE

Professional journey

When I was in fourth grade in a suburb of Amsterdam, the school newspaper published a brief story I had written about church people serving in a village in South East Asia. It was a indication of things to come. When I graduated from the Gymnasium in The Netherlands, I knew I wanted to be a helping professional. I chose medicine, but was denied a spot thanks to a national academic lottery. My next three choices were theology, cultural anthropology and psychology. I selected theology with chaplaincy as a vague career goal.  I wound up in Claremont CA which (with Howard Clinebell) was then the hub of the pastoral counseling world. By then experiences with Latinx in Texas and Arizona had awakened a cross-cultural fascination in me which was strenghtened by a CPE experience at Hawaii State (Mental) Hospital and an interim pastorate on one of the most remote Native reservations in the US. Back in The Netherlands I was trained for overseas work and was posted to a large hospital in Central Java with a chance to work in the wards and the villages as a counselor, trainer and social worker. I credit the hospital with allowing me to develop a holistic vision of care and the director for encouraging me to write about my experiences. At the same time the cultural interest kept deepening. A former Central Java Supreme Court judge allowed me to write about his royal family in Solo in a book published by Oxford University Press. This is how I became more enamored with cultural anthropology  and consequently made cross-cultural counseling my expertise. In 1995 Church World Service hired me as country co-director for Indonesia and occupied East Timor, thrusting me into economic development issues. Visits to Cambodia and East Timor that year opened my eyes to what can happen to countries when nearly all its leaders and educated people have been massacred, have starved or have disappeared. The national terror was physical, social, psychological and spiritual. I took to writing fiction because I realized that I could not describe my insights into South East Asian life fully within the bounds of any discipline, especially since my original home country had played a brutal role. Only the holistic view of a narrative might achieve that. Next I settled into pastoring a Japanese American (and now intercultural) congregation in California whose members had suffered greatly in the World War II concentration camps. 

All the helping professions have their take on the human spirit, but human experience defies disciplinary boundaries. The world needs experts who work within the lines, but also those who cross them. Criss-crossing them creatively has been an important part of my vocation. 

Publication quotes and reviews:

Cross-Cultural Counseling. (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1996).

From the book:"The departure point of this book is the idea that cross-cultural ... care must aim to encourage people away from brokenness and toward wholeness in all aspects of their lives. Wholeness ideally would include reconciliation and the restoration of communication in personal relations, acceptance of one's own talents and shortcomings, integration of one's value system-in-process, a harmonious experience of one's faith, as well as behavior consistent with one's self-concept, values....and the nature of one's relationships. ....in cross-cultural...counseling all these issues in their interconnectedness should be of concern."

Review: "The heart of van Beek's model surfaces as he examines case studies where there is an obvious cultural difference between the way the caregiver and the careseeker view reality. I recommend this book as a practical guide to doing cross-cultural counseling."(Edward P. Wimberly in The Princeton Seminary Bulletin, p. 334/5 Vol. XVIII, 3, 1997)

Life in the Javanese Kraton.  (Singapore: Oxford University Press, 1990).

from the book: "....from the Kraton the reign continues-not a reign over the treasury, or over aged soldier in their eclectic eighteenth-century uniforms, or over any affairs of the Indonesian state, but over the Javanese way of life and the Javanese soul."

Review: "Visitors who see the rather tawdry, corrugated-iron roofed edifices may wonder at their importance, which is largely spiritual. They represent, rather than are, and as van Beek comments in his work, the rulers never had vast sums at their disposal." (Michael Smithies, Bangkok Post, 1990)

Island of Shadows (Bloomington: Authorhouse, 2005) (novel )

From the book: "I have been told that where you are, on the Equator, there are no shadows at noon. I hope you stepped on the line and that for once you have become a man without shadows."

Preview:"......well-formed, well-written, and above all well-told, at once thrilling and touching. It is sensuous in observation, brisk in style, with a serious burden, religious underneath. " (H.H. Meier, Emeritus Professor of English Literature, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)

From the Heart of Java (Jakarta: Pustaka Sinar Harapan, 1997). (short stories)

from the book: I relinquish my youthful dreams, my sins, my love and some of my grief to those waves, but I retain my longing, for while in its power I am gripped by a slow dying, I soar also, ever higher, in pursuit of things unspeakable."

In the Shadow of Merapi (Yogyakarta: RS Bethesda, 1983). (poetry and short story)

from in the Shadow of Merapi: "the smoking sentries, Merapi and Merbabu have mostly silently stood watch, for centuries, piercing the white clouds they only occasionally belch out their cropped up emotions...."

Review: "A poem is a painting in words. In that sense I find Aart van Beek to be a fine painter...There are more people from the West who lost their heart to Indonesia...but do you remember one Western poet who was able to translate his love for the land into verse?" (J. van der Linden, in Centraal Weekblad, The Netherlands, 1984).

Hart van Java (Heart of Java), (Rotterdam:Indonet, 1999). (short stories and poetry)

Review: "Aart van Beek paints an astonishingly good picture of the society there, especially the paralyzing effect of the ....ex-government (Joop van den Berg, Trouw, The Netherlands, 1999).

Publication categories:

Pastoral care:

Pendampingan Pastoral (Pastoral Care) (Jakarta: BPK Gunung Mulia, first printing 2001).

Pastoral Counseling:

Cross-Cultural Counseling. (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1996).
Konseling Pastoral (ed)(pastoral counseling) (Semarang: Penerbit Satya Wacana, 1987).

Cultural anthropology:

Life in the Javanese Kraton. (book on the Sultans' culture of Central Java) (Singapore: Oxford University Press, 1990).

Fiction and poetry:

Island of Shadows (Bloomington: Authorhouse, 2005). (novel)
Hart van Java (Heart of Java), (Rotterdam:Indonet, 1999). (short stories and poetry)
From the Heart of Java (Jakarta: Pustaka Sinar Harapan, 1997). (short stories)
In the Shadow of Merapi (Yogyakarta: RS Bethesda, 1983). (poetry)

Spiritual Care:

Called to Justice, Action, Mercy (with Cathy Myers-Wirt). (St. Louis: Christian Board of Education, 1998).

Holistic Care:

Strategi Pelayanan Terpadu (Strategy for Integrative Care) (Jakarta, Pelkesi, 1991).
.
Health Services:

Menolong Penderita Alkoholisme dan Ketergantungan Lain (Helping the Victims of Substance Abuse), 1994.Struggle for Health, Birthpangs of a holistic approach to illness in Indonesia (Yogyakarta: RS Bethesda, 1984).
Kasus Kesehatan Holistik di Rumah Sakit Bethesda (A Holistic Case in Bethesda Hospital)(with Totok Soemartha). (Yogyakarta: RS Bethesda, 1983).
Mendampingi Orang Sakit (Caring for the Sick) (with Totok S. Wiryasaputa). (Yogyakarta: RS Bethesda, 1983).

Articles:

The Pastor and Fiction: The Integrity of the Pastoral Narrative and the Implications for Pastoral Supervision and Education, Pastoral Psychology, 67(1), 2018, 99-112

The Worldview of Memory Lane. Pastoral Psychology, 66, (3), 2017, 381-386

Developing a Diagnostic Filter For Cross-Cultural Counseling: Five Cases Involving Asian Americans From A Worldview Perspective, Pastoral Psychology, 64(1), 2015,123-134.

Probing the Fundamentalist Worldview. Pastoral Psychology, 61 (1), 2012,145-148.
A Cross-Cultural Case for Convergence in Pastoral Thinking and Training. Pastoral Psychology, 59 (4), 2010, 471-482.

Pastoral Counseling in Indonesia. James Farris ed. International Perspectives on Pastoral Care and Counseling (New York: The Haworth Press, 2002, 151-174) (simultaneously published in the American Journal of Pastoral Counseling).

Pelayanan Pastoral-Sosial Pelkesi pada Periode Awal. Diberkati Untuk Menjadi Berkat, 25 tahun Pelkesi (Jakarta: PELKESI, 2008), 98-104.

Toward a Contextual Model for Graduate Pastoral Studies in Asia,. Asia Journal of Theology, 8, 1, 1994.95-105

Contours of a Cross-Cultural Model for Pastoral Care and Counseling. Mesach Krisetya ed., Pastoral Care and Counseling in Puralistic Society. (Bali: Fifth Asia Conference on Pastoral Care and Counseling, 1993, 167-184).

Sumbangan Pendidikan Pastoral dalam Pelayanan Perkotaan. Buletin Holistik, 39 Th. X, 1993, 79-85.

Pastoral Education and the Cultures of the Self, Asia Journal of Theology, 5 (2), 1991, 366-372.

Percakapan Pastoral dan Pelayanan Terpadu. Buletin Holistik, 31, Th. IX, 1991, 30-35.

Peranan Dokter dalam Pelayanan Terpadu, Buletin Holistik, 30 Th.VIII, 1991, 25-34.

In Pursuit of Wholeness: The Birth of Clinical Pastoral Education in Indonesia. Asia Journal of Theology, 2, (2),1988, 312-320

Pastoral Counseling Challenges in the Javanese Hospital: A Cross-Cultural Perspective. Pastoral Psychology, 36, (2), 1987, 112-122.

The Relevance of Pastoral Counseling in the Indonesian Health Care Context.  Holistic Bulletin  Special English Edition, 1985, 24-36.

Coming of Age in Indonesia. Crossing Boundaries (Geneva: World Council of Churches, 1984, 97-100).

Teaching and training experience:

2021-present Lecturer Jakarta Theological Seminary in Pastoral Care and Counseling. 

2019-present Mentor for inter-contextual pastoral mentorship program in Indonesian, in cooperation with the Presbytery of North Central California and PELKESI.
2016-2019- Supervisor Intercultural Residency Program, Parkview Presbyterian Church and Presbytery of Sacramento.
2009-2013 Adjunct Professor in the Doctor of Ministry Program, San Francisco Theological Seminary, San Anselmo CA (courses: Pastor of Person, Multicultural Counseling and Dissertation Project)
2004-2007 Adjunct Professor for Critical Perspectives II (interfaith religious autobiography), Saint Mary’s College of California, Sacramento/Tracy programs in management.
1991-1994 and 1995-1996 Lecturer in pastoral care and counseling, Jakarta Theological Seminary, Jakarta, Indonesia.
1993-1998 Doctoral Studies advisor, pastoral counseling, South East Asia Graduate School of Theology, Singapore.
1984-1987, 1991-1994: Salatiga and Jakarta, Indonesia: Co-founder, trainer and supervisor of the first two locally designed  programs in clinical pastoral education in Indonesia (for pastors, nurses and social workers).
1983-87 Lecturer in counseling, psychology, group dynamics and personality theory, Satya Wacana Christian University, Salatiga, Indonesia.

Education:

1992 D. Th., Utrecht University, The Netherlands and the South East Asia Graduate School of Theology, Singapore in cross-cultural pastoral counseling (degree by SEAGST).
1980 D.Min., Claremont School of Theology, in pastoral counseling and theology.
1978 M.Th., Perkins School of Theology, SMU, Dallas TX (served as President of the International Student Association at SMU from 1977-78).
1975 Propedeuse degree (followed by an additional year of coursework, Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) in Biblical languages, social studies and Spanish.
Additional: Clinical Pastoral Education (Fall 1987/Spring 1988 Sutter Hospitals, Sacramento CA; Summer 1979, Hawaii State Hospital, Kaneohe HI; Summer 1978, Good Samaritan Hospital, Phoenix AZ).
Winter/Spring 1982, Mission Training Course, Hendrik Kraemer Institute, Oegstgeest, The Netherlands.

Professional certification:

1981 Ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament, Presbyterian Church USA Honorably Retired 2019.
1997-2017 Pastoral Counseling Educator, American Association of Pastoral Counselors.
2008- present. Registered Court Interpreter, Judicial Council, State of California.

Pastoral leadership experience:

1996- 2019 Pastor, Parkview Presbyterian Church, Sacramento CA (urban/ multicultural).
2002-2005: Pastoral consultant for a new GKI Indonesian fellowship, Sacramento CA.
1988-1990 Interim pastor, Carmichael Presbyterian Church, Carmichael CA ( suburban).
Fall / winter 1981/2 Interim pastor, Owyhee Presbyterian Church, Duck Valley Reservation, Owyhee NV (rural/ Native American).
1980-1981 Youth director, Capital Korean Presbyterian Church (ethnic Korean), Sacramento CA.

Community Service Experience

2023 Moderator, North Central California Presbytery PCUSA

2022 Vice-Moderator, North Central California Presbytery PCUSA

2019-present, volunteered as Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for foster children, County of Sacramento.

2000-2016, 2019-present Tutored elementary and junior high students in midtown Sacramento CA.
2016- hosted, interpreted for and presented in a two week intensive training program for Indonesian health care professional in Northern California on services to traumatized and marginalized populations.
2007- Volunteered as counselor and spiritual care giver at Juvenile Hall Sacramento.
2000-2005 Developed a church-based family mentoring outreach to downtown Sacramento Latinos.
1998-2001: Chair Philippine Partnership Committee, Presbytery of Sacramento.
1995-1996: Country co-director Church World Service, Indonesia and East Timor.
1989-1990 Chair Mission, Social Justice and Peacemaking Committee, Presbytery of Sacramento
1991-1994: Counseling consultant to the Indonesian Christian Association for Health Services (based at Cikini Hospital), Jakarta, Indonesia.
1982-1984: Hospital social worker and counseling trainer, Bethesda Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Volunteered as nurse's aid to typhoid and tuberculosis patients.
1980-1981. Member Education Committee, Hospice Care of Sacramento.
Winter 1980 Volunteer Hadassah Hospital, East Jerusalem, Israel.
Summer 1974 nurse's aid at neurological hospital in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.