Michael Herbst presents the foundations and fields of practice of Protestant pastoral care in this book. It occurs "in relation," namely as the healing of relationships that have gone awry. This concerns relationships with other people and the world, with oneself, and with God. Such pastoral care, which takes place in specific fields of practice, is rooted in the expectation of a God who approaches humanity. It is the mission of the entire Christian community and has a fundamental missionary dimension. In pastoral care, it is the task of the Christian community to engage with people in various life situations about existential questions within the horizon of the Christian faith. It occurs "in relation": the support and assistance of Christian caregivers help heal relationships that have gone "out of balance." This affects the entire ecosystem of human relationships.