Pastoral Care & Visitation

A Workshop for Session Members

Pastoral Care & Visitation

Prepared by: Roger Janes, Program & Leadership Staff, NL Conference


The Minister?The Session member?

“It shall be the duty of the Elder to care for the poor and visit the sick.”

In many charges, a session member has a “ward” or area in which they oversee and provide care to members and adherents.

Whose Job is it to Visit?


Think of a time in your life when you experienced care. What did it look like?

Pastoral Care: “Is the communication of the love and presence of God through loving persons.”

How can people communicate God’s love and presence in their daily lives:Sitting with those who are dying, in pain, or grievingAnswering the call of a child in the middle of the nightGame of peek a boo

What is Pastoral Care?


Handout “Difference between a Social and Pastoral Visit.”

A Pastoral Visit is different!


What are your Questions and Concerns?


The Session can discuss and discern who should get a visit, and who gets priority.Those who are shut in, sick, in crisis?Those who request a visit?Everyone in my area/ward?

Who should I visit?


Depends on the community normMany people today would like notice (a call?)

How do I initiate a visit?


You want to be clear to the person(s) that you are making a pastoral visit

Helpful to have a length of visit in mind – and tell that person

Role Play

How do I communicate my purpose?


Depends on personal styleHelpful for you to have a time in mindHelpful to communicate anticipated time to

person being visitedAn hour is a goal for manyHow do I respond to hospitality?

How long should a pastoral visit be?


Focus on the person(s) you are visiting

Be attentive to people’s words, tone and body languageWords: 7% of messageTone: 38% of messageBody Language: 55% of message

SilenceQuestions The Place of PrayerDealing with Negative Comments

How do I actually “do” a pastoral visit?


Make your first call an easy one – someone active?

Pray before you go on the visitState your reason for visitingKey is to focus on them and their agenda Use Active listeningBe careful of asking too many questionsTry to identify what the person is feeling at

this timeDon’t let your story get hooked

Tips for Pastoral Visits

Case Studies



Listening and Caring Skills, by John SavageThe Ministry of Listening, by Donald PeelA Grief Observed, by C.S. LewisPrayer, by Phillip Yancey

Resources

Documents

Pastoral Care & Visitation