Pastoral Care
Pastoral care is the cornerstone of ministry. It is how relationships are built and kept person to person and minister to person. The degree to which we can be present to one another in a caring way shows the degree to which we can be with the greater world in times of celebration and suffering. In a society that brings individualism to a point of narcissism and fails to teach us how to be in compassionate conversation, developing a sense of congregational pastoral care is key.
By this, I mean that pastoral care is the responsibility of the entire congregation. The minister can meet with someone and provide care and support and that will matter. However, what people really notice is when their friends and acquaintances of the church take time to support and care for them. It is this caring relationship that helps communities survive conflicts and changes. We are willing to strive together more when we feel that our lives matter to someone besides ourselves.
Pastoral counseling reminds me why I do the ministry work in the first place. People look to their congregations in times of uncertainty, fear, pain, and loss. In those moments, are values become the cornerstone of relationship. However, I am strongly committed to working with pastoral care teams, committees, or associates programs because they help us all learn the tools to be in deeper relationship with one another.
Finally, pastoral care is not just one on one- it has multiple levels. As a minister, I believe I should provide pastoral care in social justice speeches, sermons, one-on-one conversations, religious education, and writing. If we can have a society more skilled at caring relationship, we stand a chance at turning the tides of oppression, ending bullying, and assuring that people need not be alone in the world.
By this, I mean that pastoral care is the responsibility of the entire congregation. The minister can meet with someone and provide care and support and that will matter. However, what people really notice is when their friends and acquaintances of the church take time to support and care for them. It is this caring relationship that helps communities survive conflicts and changes. We are willing to strive together more when we feel that our lives matter to someone besides ourselves.
Pastoral counseling reminds me why I do the ministry work in the first place. People look to their congregations in times of uncertainty, fear, pain, and loss. In those moments, are values become the cornerstone of relationship. However, I am strongly committed to working with pastoral care teams, committees, or associates programs because they help us all learn the tools to be in deeper relationship with one another.
Finally, pastoral care is not just one on one- it has multiple levels. As a minister, I believe I should provide pastoral care in social justice speeches, sermons, one-on-one conversations, religious education, and writing. If we can have a society more skilled at caring relationship, we stand a chance at turning the tides of oppression, ending bullying, and assuring that people need not be alone in the world.