In the last decade shame has emerged as a problem of growing proportions in the United States, primarily in the field of psychoanalysis. Much of the attention has been focused on shame of a chronic nature, analysed from the standpoint of self psychology. Fewer contributions, however, have been made by pastoral theologians in considering shame within Christian tradition. The impetus for this research, therefore, is to advance pastoral theological perspectives on shame. Toward this end, in-depth interviews were undertaken with parishioners in two Presbyterian churches in the United States. These interviews comprise the primary source of original and creative insights for this research. The findings can be divided into two primary realms. The first realm consists in the variety of phenomena constituting chronic shame. Guided by an emphasis in "grounded theory" research on determining relationships between various phenomena, interviewees chronic shame is analysed according to a sequence of causes, preventive strategies and consequences. Two important causes of chronic shame for interviewees appear to be failure and rejection. A peculiar feature of these causes is that shame is felt for failing demands interviewees believe they had exaggerated in their own minds. Moreover, shame is felt for rejection interviewees are not certain even occurred. A primary strategy interviewees employ to prevent shame is maintaining certain views of identity, and a second strategy consists in protecting against shame's pain. Finally, consequences of these strategies, and of shame itself, include self-estrangement, anxiety and withdrawal. The second realm of findings is to explore the roles both of social structures (particularly the church) and apparent psychic structures in creating chronic shame.