Belongingness to the family during the transition into motherhood in Bangalore, India: a practical theological reflection with recommendations for support within the church in Bangalore

ABSTRACT

Transitioning into motherhood is a significant experience. Successfully traversing this change often involves having supportive relationships. Within the Church, the covenantal relationship that God established between himself and Israel now extends to every member; consequently, those who are linked to Christ are also linked to each other in a familial relationship. Hence, the Christian community could serve as a support system for the first-time mother and for her family as she transitions into motherhood.

Using Swinton and Mowat’s (2016) model, this article presents a practical theological reflection on the theme of belongingness to the family when first-time mothers transition into motherhood in Bangalore, India. The article first explores three areas of belongingness to the family – a sense of being embedded in the larger family, a need for the support of their own mother and/or motherly figures, and the experience of closeness with their spouse. In order to benefit the Indian church, the authors reflect on each of these areas, using select Biblical texts. Then, based on empirical evidence presented through interpretative phenomenological analysis, the authors make practical recommendations for care for first-time mothers within the local church in India.

KEYWORDS:

• First-time mothers
• transition
• belongingness
• family
• support
• local church

Acknowledgments

The author thanks Dr Sreenath K., under whose supervision the study was conducted, and Mr. Philip Ewan Yalla (M.Th. in Old Testament, SAIACS), second author, for contributions in the theological reflection of the themes. The author thanks Dr. Joshua George (Department of Practical Theology, SAIACS) for feedback and Dr. Stephanie Schnorbus Stephens (Ph.D. in History, USC) for copyediting the text.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Salome Namrata Simeon

Mrs Salome Namrata Simeon is a Faculty in Training in the Department of Practical Theology and Counselling, SAIACS, Bangalore. She is pursuing her Ph.D. in Psychology at CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore.

Philip Ewan Yalla

Rev Philip Ewan Yalla (MTh in Old Testament, SAIACS) is an ordained Teaching Elder in the Presbyterian Church in India, Reformed.

Sreenath Kuruveettissery

Dr. K Sreenath is an Assistant Professor & Ph.D. Coordinator in the Department of Psychology at CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore.