Purpose
Pastoral care plays an important role in the life of the church. With many activities and ministries going on there is the potential for provision of pastoral care to be missed. This policy aims to provide an accepted structure of support in which pastoral practice can happen so that both church members and church staff/coordinators know how someone can receive support. This also takes into account that it is not possible to support everyone and there is some onus on the person needing support to seek it out, albeit in a caring community that is willing to help.
This is not intended to be an exhaustive document as there maybe a certain degree of flexibility required from situation to situation that can largely vary from very practical support to emotional spiritual support. It is also recognised that there will be situations where someone from a trained or professional background will be better (or in some cases legally) placed to respond to situations.
General principles
2.1 What is Pastoral Care?
Pastoral care is the term that we broadly apply to a ministry of compassion, encouragement and transformation within the Christian life. A broad, but not definitive definition would be:
To care, support. To demonstrate unconditional love, acceptance and encouragement. Bringing hope, biblical truth and practical advice. Being present with, listening to and journeying alongside. Reflecting Jesus, sharing burdens and praying for those in our care
Pastoral care can vary from being very practical in nature (eg, meals, shopping) to spiritual/emotional (eg, prayer, listening)
2.2 Who can receive Pastoral Care?
We would love to provide Pastoral Care to all that seek it out, but we also have to be mindful of our resources, both as a church and as people. We should be aware of the effectiveness of the Pastoral Care being given or received and realistic about how long we are able to offer continued support
Although there is no formal church membership process, some of the key characteristics we consider as being evidence of membership are Small Group attendance and serving in an area of the church. Therefore we would expect there to be some form of pastoral oversight in either of these areas, either in the provision of pastoral care or asking for further support on behalf of the person requiring pastoral care. Equally anyone that is considered a part of the church community can contact the staff/leadership team directly in the office where arrangements can be made.
If someone seeks out pastoral care who is not part of the church or does not engage within the church community (or very minimally), we will try to offer care according to the resources we have Consideration will also be given to whether sign posting to a more appropriate form of support is a better option.
All Pastoral team members should have access to a signposting contact file or member of staff that can provide this information. This should include the contact numbers of local authorities and other secular organisations that can be used as a referral when there are concerns about individuals well-being. For example a local G.P., homeless shelter, and NHS referral clinics.
Financial Support is generally not an option to be considered when people in need ask for money, shelter support or food. Any exceptions can be considered by the Senior Pastor.
Expected ways to access Pastoral Care
Pastoral Care issues can be escalated and supported within the following structures of the church:
Through Every Member Ministry – We aim to provide opportunities and a culture of reaching out with a realistic expectation that people would provide practical and emotional support independently of any process or procedure as any legitimate community would do. We provide spaces on Sunday morning to meet new people, events, groups, ministries that mean people can frequently develop new relationships. This requires older and newer church members to be outward looking in their approach. It is hoped that organic community support will come from this
Through Small Groups – With a wide range of small groups there should always be an opportunity for prayer ministry and relationship. Pastoral issues can be picked up here and support provided by:
Small Group/Leader > Small Group Coordinators > Pastoral Care team/Staff > Delegate to appropriate person
Through Serving on a team:
Team members > Team Coordinator > Pastoral Care Team/Staff > Delegate to appropriate person
Through Prayer ministries:
Sunday Ministry Team/Social Media Prayer Groups > Prayer ministry Coordinators/Facilitators > Pastoral Care Team/Staff > Delegate to appropriate person
Direct contact with office/Leadership Team:
If then relevant notify Small Group Leader > Pastoral Care Team/Staff > Delegate to appropriate person
Expectations of those giving pastoral care
We have basic expectations to keep the person receiving Pastoral Care safe as well as those giving Pastoral Care:
Be clear about specific roles and responsibilities amongst your pastoral team. Ensure good communication to avoid overlapping responses.
Be mindful of people that may seek to draw a disproportionate amount of attention. It may be more effective to allocate a designated person to coordinate Pastoral Care.
Make sure to feed back to someone senior to ensure accountability and suitable care is being provided.
Be clear about the difference between pastoral care and clinical or therapeutic interventions. While some people may be trained counsellors, it may not be appropriate for this work to be classified within the normal remit of Pastoral Care within SV. Be sure everyone operates only within their level of training and expertise.
Listening Skills central to good implementation. Practice developing excellent listening skills.
Ensure that there is excellent liaison between the Pastoral Care Team and the Church Leadership team.
Unless someone is at imminent risk of harm, information should remain confidential to the person/people providing pastoral support and the Pastoral Care team.
Working alone with someone under the age of 18 or a vulnerable person (as legally defined: a person over the age of 18 receiving services due to various disabilities/conditions as set out in the Protection of Vulnerable Adults Act) will require a valid DBS check.
Consideration when providing Pastoral Care
Think about the appropriateness of the setting. Is it safe, open, populated, quiet and uncompromising. Consider inviting a supporter for initial meeting or if you are unsure about safety. Be aware of and close to exits.
Be aware of power dynamic involved and how people may feel speaking to and receiving advice from someone in a Pastorally senior position. This could influence what they tell you or how they respond to suggestions/advice (eg, being uncomfortable or reluctant to disclose various information)
Always carry a mobile phone or some means of contacting support, even if meeting in a neutral area or visiting someone well known to you. Being able to make quick and easy contact is essential.
Be aware of issues of sexual attraction and co-dependency. If you sense that a pastoral encounter could prove unhelpful for either self or client make new arrangements for their support. Generally pastoral care should not be provided one on one to someone of the opposite sex.
If home visiting is necessary ensure that the meetings are diarised, that a third party is informed of the meeting length and nature of the meeting.
Stick to the pre-agreed time frame for pastoral meetings – 60 to 90mins is appropriate. Only in exceptional circumstances should they be longer. Keep the frequency and setting the same each time if possible.
Have a developed strategy for responding to crisis calls or breaching of normal boundaries.
Confidentiality should be defined carefully. Pastoral Carers should caveat the circumstances in which it cannot be offered (Child Protection, criminal activity, potential danger to self, etc). Explain the structures of reporting and supervision, who will be kept informed etc.
