Purpose
To extend the care of the church, through one-to-one caring and helping activities by lay members of the congregation to those who are in special need. This is pastoral care – a ministry of presence and support – not pastoral counseling, which requires counseling certification.
Size and Characteristics
A group of eight (8) or more pastoral associates plus a coordinator and minister is what we strive to maintain. Ideally, the group should reflect the diversity of the congregation. Additionally, it is advantageous if the group is diverse in terms of areas of pastoral interest and strength (i.e., a pastoral associate who is especially knowledgeable and effective in situations involving loss and grief, another which specialized in health problems, and so forth). Although assignments to church members in special need would not be made on that basis, diversity in expertise would allow group members to consult with one another on practical problems.
Responsibilities of Pastoral Associates
- Attend pastoral associate committee meetings, and any special training meetings that may be planned.
- Following request by a pastoral associate coordinator, initiate contact with person or family in a timely fashion.
- Being someone who shows up and cares, typically through interested and active listening.
- Demonstrate trustworthy behavior, for example by maintaining appropriate confidentiality and safety practices.
- Keep pastoral associates coordinator informed about special needs of church members.
- Act as a resource and provides support for fellow pastoral associates
Organizational Structure
The Pastoral Associates form a team that serves under the direction of a minister (currently Rev. Anastassia Zinke). The pastoral associate coordinator is a vital role that helps ensure that we are responsive to the needs of the congregation in a compassionate, equitable, and organized way. The coordinator helps lead the monthly meetings. The coordinator, or someone else on the team, helps prepare pastoral announcements to be shared with the congregation.
Operations
- Referral of church member in need to a pastoral associate comes from the pastoral associate coordinator
- The pastoral associate coordinator schedules meetings, notifies members of meetings, prepares agendas, provides leadership at meetings, and maintains communication link with the minister.
- Regular training and care for the caregivers is built into the meeting and training structure of the Pastoral Associates meetings.
Criteria for a Successful Program
Identifying a Pastoral Associate Coordinator
The Leader should be someone other than the minister, and should have the following characteristics:
- A strong commitment to pastoral care and to the church
- Strong organizational and follow-up skills
- This should be the primary activity that this person is doing for the church so that their time will be less likely to become fragmented in other activities.
- A single focus for the committee is important. We don’t recommend that this role be handled by more than one person.
- If possible, a Pastoral Associates Coordinator should have experience being a Pastoral Associate.
Identifying Pastoral Associates
Desired characteristics of pastoral associates:
- Compassionate, has empathy for others.
- Able to reach out and focus on needs of others.
- Good listener.
- Comfortable with feelings of loss, pain, anxiety in others.
- Non-judgmental, does not have preconceived notion as to how others should feel or respond.
- Personal integrity and ability to keep confidences
- Ability to follow through on care requests.
- A member of All Souls.
All Souls will conduct a background check on all those who formally ask to serve as Pastoral Associate. The ministers may use their discretion regarding the selection of worship associates.
Care of Pastoral Associates
Providing pastoral care can be stressful. For the success of the program, it is important that pastoral associates practice self care. We do this by:
- Limiting the length of the commitment to be a Pastoral Associate to one (1) year, allowing people to renew as desired.
- Set aside time at each meeting for meditation and a self-care check-in.
- If a pastoral associate is having a difficult situation in his or her life so that doing adequate pastoral care is compromised, they may take a leave of absence until the situation is resolved.
Ministerial Involvement
A minister (currently Rev. Anastassia) attends the monthly meetings. The minister(s) will follow through on high-need situations such as deaths, divorces, reproductive loss, domestic violence, or other situations referred to them.