The mandate of the Pastoral Care Committee is to develop targeted programs and services that are responsive to the needs of the congregational and community.
These programs and services are aligned with Grace’s vision and mission. Currently, the Pastoral Care team is supporting trained Homebound Visitors and the Company of Deacons as partners in pastoral care delivery. Special education sessions were held to engage and equip elders in their role in pastoral care to members and adherents in their districts and the broader community.
Work Highlights
A selection of work highlights includes:
- Developed, recruited and trained five volunteers for the Homebound Visitors Program. Each of these volunteers is in regular contact with those individuals who are homebound.
- Developed, recruited, trained and the Company of Deacons with four Deacons trained in specific areas of ministry: Bereavement Care, Home Bound Care, Community Care, and Hospital Visitation. Education sessions were held for all Deacons as well as the focus area of their work. Deacons were commissioned on Sunday, March 1, 2020.
- Presence on the Board of Trinity Place Foundation, which recently amalgamated with Gracewood Housing Group, which manages Grace Gardens and Grace Manor.
- Our Deacon for the Homebound Ministry received specialized training in Stephen Ministry and is now a commissioned Stephen Minister in our Grace community (Learn more about Stephen Ministry here).
- Elder Training including “What Elders need to know to provide bereavement support”and “What Does an Elder visit look like” were given in winter 2019 to interested elders.
- Continue to ensure maintenance and accuracy of membership roll and adherent lists.
- The Roll Program is hard at work reviewing all membership and adherent lists and supporting the input of the membership list, known as“The Official Roll” into the data base known as Power Church. Debbie Roorda from our Church staff team, has worked to ensure the information is correctly entered into our data base system and supporting the work of the Roll Program.
- Provide support to the Grace Quilters Program who meet regularly from October through June to create wonderful quilts, table runners, and other creations that support the ministry of pastoral care within our Grace Community and also missional work through Reset Society and quilts for Mexico home building project.
- Support the Parish Nurses in their service to the Grace community.
- Maintain Grace Church Housing Society as Grace Church evolves on the pathway to becoming a missional presence of loving our neighbours as we love ourselves.
Impacts: Ensuring People know they are remembered
As a result of this work:
- All members of the congregation are offered connection with Grace, whether they can attend church or not.
- Five volunteers were recruited for the home bound visitors program with training provided in September and individuals assigned to each volunteer.
- Four volunteers were recruited for the Company of Deacon pilot in the fall with training provided in late fall and early winter.
- Approximately 1080 pastoral care visits were made in 2019.
- Volunteers report that many who are visited appreciate being remembered and knowing they are not forgotten.
Members
Nancy Connors (Convener), Shirley Walker (Session Liaison), Jim Campbell (from September), Margot Kellough, Lyndon Nordean, Robin Tomlinson, Rev. Dr. Jean Morris (January to September), Rev. Christian Persaud Interim Pastoral Care Leader
