As a Kirk Session we believe that pastoral care communicates that:

 

you matter to God and to us;

you belong to a church family that loves you;

you can know Christ and grow in faith supported by this church family

 

A Panel established by the General Assembly made the following observation,

 

The Panel on Pastoral Care believe that according to Scripture, there is a pastoral role for all church members and in particular for those with suitable gifts. Ministers and Elders, in addition to the exercise of their own pastoral ministry, have a responsibility to enable the whole body to function by identifying, releasing and governing the exercise of various pastoral ministries which will edify the church. Pastoral work is the privilege and duty of all.

 

The Kirk Session carried out a review of pastoral care arrangements in the autumn of 2012 and a new set of arrangements were agreed by Session in January 2013. These new arrangements, based on materials provided by the General Assembly, reflect the understanding that ‘...pastoral work is the privilege and duty of all.’

Under the new arrangements the congregation is now considered as a series of Pastoral Groups. A Pastoral Group is made up of members/families that have a common connection e.g. age or stage in life.  Each Pastoral Group will be considered separately in terms of how pastoral care is provided. For example those who are more senior in years or with long term illness will receive pastoral support from designated pastoral visitors. Those with young families will be supported through a team of elders who will look to provide opportunities for interaction and connection thus creating a mutual pastoral care environment.

A member of Kirk Session, Kris Patterson, has been appointed as the Pastoral Care Support Co Ordinator. The new Pastoral Groups are being established and it is envisaged that by September 2013 the new arrangements for pastoral care will be in place.

Each family will be provided with contact information to enable them to ask for specific support. Regular updates on the Pastoral Care Support Team will be published in Stormont Life and in the Sunday Bulletin. The overall aim is to foster a ‘one another’ approach to pastoral care. The Minister, together with the Kirk Session, will continue to adopt a hands on approach to pastoral care. The Prayer Ministry Team will also play an integral role in the pastoral care provision within Stormont.

A further leaflet, outlining how each member can receive and offer pastoral care, will be published early autumn 2013.