Pastoral Project
All involved in the project will execute their work with sensitivity and respect for the trust placed in them in the capacity of the Church.
YOU ARE PRECIOUS TO US BECAUSE YOU ARE PRECIOUS TO GOD
not about Church attendance, or financial contribution.
It is recognised that there is already a great deal of ad-hoc care within our church, yet for this to be effective we have developed the pastoral project. We hope this will avoid people falling through the net, with everyone thinking someone else is contributing.
- The ill or housebound
- Those who no longer come to church
- Those who are struggling in some other way or wish to receive communion
- To offer comfort to those who are struggling and offer support from within our church community.
- Through a system of referral that works successfully
- Through the support of church members who volunteer to become part of the support network
- Through proper assessment of needs, signposting as necessary and training to those involved.
- Through recognising what pastoral care is and is not, and understanding how it can be helpful.
The Association of Christian Counsellors (ACC) define Pastoral Care:
Most people have a caring attitude towards others, however there is a special calling to some to practise this caring in a more significant way, both within and beyond the church, and this we understand as Pastoral Care. The term is also being used in education, personnel management and the caring professions.
Pastoral Care is an integral part of the whole ministry of the church to the world and will have a great variety of expressions. ACC acknowledges that this, perforce, means that Pastoral Care, like counselling, should be offered on a 'no strings attached' basis, focussed appropriately on the needs of individuals and social groups within the local church and wider community.
Caring or befriending at Christian worship and gatherings, and between Christians, should be seen as a normal activity of every Christian. When on a more formal or approved basis, however, Pastoral Care undertaken on behalf of a church or the Christian community should be under the authority and supervision of a church leader. Many of those with appropriate skills and who have experience in practising care, formally or informally, in the church setting, will also have opportunities to exercise care in the community beyond the church. Whether this is in paid or voluntary work, it is important that proper lines of accountability and/or supervision are in place for such work in the community, in addition to any oversight and support which may be available from the Church.
Those in the Pastoral Care who have not received training as counsellors (probably the majority) will use many of the counselling skills but they should not give the person the impression that they are counsellors. They should clearly understand the distinction between Pastoral Care and counselling, and when it is appropriate for a referral to be made from one to the other, or to some other source of help. Also, it must be recognised that the need for confidentiality is paramount throughout
Emphasis Added.
http://www.acc-uk.org/pages/1503.htm accessed 23-10-09
Pastoral Care is
- Spending quality time together
- Giving individual attention and support
- Making the recipient aware of their value to God and to the Church family
- Being a good listener
- Helping to reduce social isolation
- Sharing fellowship
- Enabling a person to tap into God’s resources
- Helping people to help themselves – empowerment and autonomy
- Encouraging choice
- Facilitating a solution to practical care needs
- Being available for the recipient to ask for and receive prayer support
Pastoral Care is not
- Trying to solve the recipient’s problems
- Making judgements about lifestyle or behaviour
- Counselling or any kind of therapy
- Taking responsibility for the recipient’s decisions or actions
- Giving advice that isn’t asked for
- Creating dependency on the visitor
Pastoral Care helps:
- Raise self confidence
- Build trust
- Reduce isolation
- An awareness of God’s love growing
- Increase awareness of being part of God’s family
- Increase recipient’s independence
- Increase involvement in new activities within church and communities
- Decision making is promoted so the recipient can ask for help from appropriate places and people
- Relationships with family/carers/other professionals can improve
Should you wish to find out more about Volunteering for the project, or wish to contact us about accessing some support then you will find all our contact details here.