Pastoral Care Committee

 

TERMS OF REFERENCE
PASTORAL CARE COMMITTEE 
Mission Statement 

            ??.for I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me drink, was a stranger and you received me in your homes, naked and you clothed me.  I was sick and you took care of me, in prison and you visited me??  The king will reply, ?I tell you, whenever you did this for one of mine, you did it for me?  Matthew 25: 35-40 

            ??Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep??  Romans 12:15 
Purpose 
In response to the words of Jesus Christ, the Pastoral Care Team has accepted a call of Christian caring and love to minister to those in need and to celebrate with those who rejoice.  With the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit, the members have made a commitment to respond to this call whenever it may come. 
Congregational Structure 
The Pastoral Care Team is a sub-committee of the Elders Committee, currently accountable to clergy and Council. The team reports to Council only when requested to do so (perhaps once a year). 
Coordinators are appointed by the clergy and team members are approved by the clergy.  
Contacts are delegated by the coordinator(s) at the request of or in consultation with the clergy.  Any team member may initiate or accept a request for care. 
All activities of the Pastoral Care Team will be conducted in accordance with current provincial legislation, particularly as related to ethics in pastoral relationships. 
Core Values
?         Responsive: Crisis care
?         Supportive: On-going and attentive congregational care
?         Nurturing: Activities aimed at personal growth and support of co-team members
?         Confidentiality: All information obtained as a result of pastoral care activities must be treated in a confidential manner.  The team member is obliged to inform the congregational member needing support that their name will be shared with the co-ordinator and/or clergy.  The particulars of their situation may be discussed anonymously with the team members for the purposes of clarification and support.  
Qualities 
Pastoral Care requires compassion, knowledge, sensitivity, discretion, teamwork, a sincere desire to reach out to others and ability to listen actively without judgment and without a personal agenda.  A Pastoral Care member is not an advice-giver nor counsellor. 
Educational 
Completion of the Basic Pastoral Care Training Program or its equivalent workshops related to Pastoral care concerns 
Interview 
Convened by clergy and involving clergy and 1 or 2 lay people 
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 
Coordinator(s)
  • Is a member of Council
  • Organizes and chairs team meetings
  • Maintains regular communication with the clergy re needs of congregation and activities of team
  • Acts as liaison between pastoral care team and outside agencies
  • Delegates pastoral calls to the team
  • Organizes educational/training sessions
  • Submits an annual report
  • Regular bulletin announcements
  • Keeps informed on an ongoing basis regarding the activities of the team
  • Communicates, to team members any changes to rules and procedures
Team Members
  • Make calls or visits at the request of the coordinator(s)
  • Communicate to the coordinator(s) and/or clergy all direct requests for service; keep the coordinator(s) and/or clergy updated on each request
  • Attend monthly Pastoral Care meetings
  • Participate in educational/training sessions as organized by the team
  • Inform the coordinator(s) and/or clergy immediately of any high risk individuals
  • Be available for support of team members when the need arises, (at a mutually agreed time outside the time allotted for monthly meetings.)
  • Establish team rules and procedures; update as necessary; abide by following all team rules and procedures as established from time to time
Activities
  • Funerals: visit to funeral home, help during funerals at the direction of the clergy and follow-up
  • Contact new moms and dads, brides and grooms
  • Home visits
  • Phone calls
  • Hospital visits
  • Post baptismal calls or visits
Team Meetings 
The Team will meet the first Monday of every month from 7:00 to 8:30 PM at Orleans United Church
The Meetings will have a: 
  • spiritual component
  • review of concerns of the team
  • periodic educational session
Revised July 2, 2009