Renewing Lay Pastoral Ministry
Care for one another and our neighbour has always been part of our shared life and this year is an opportunity to give thanks, and to renew and build up our pastoral care ministry.
As part of this initiative, the Cathedral’s Clergy team hosted a workshop for all those interested in learning more about pastoral ministry and how we can be involved. There were presentations by The Reverend Daniel Graves and Canon Joanne Davies, as well as reflections about the past and current pastoral ministry by Cathedral clergy and members of the congregation. The workshop concluded with some suggestions for how we can build and expand our pastoral ministry together. What follows is a summary of the Workshop.
Pastoral Ministry Foundations
The Reverend Graves (Associate Priest, Trinity Church Aurora) offered a theological framework for pastoral care ministry. He noted three main points:
- The relational nature of pastoral care, grounded in our shared humanity, and the importance of recognising the holiness and essential otherness of the one ministered to.
- The holistic nature of pastoral care, which is not simply about a recovery or a cure, but about overall well-being in body and in spirit.
- The ministry of pastoral care is primarily a ministry of presence by which we remind one another that we are before all else beloved children of God.
The Reverend Canon Joanne Davies (Chair, Bishop’s Committee on Healing Ministries) offered a presentation on the ministry of pastoral care in the Diocese of Toronto, noting the following:
- Screening and training. The Diocese of Toronto has developed screening and training requirements and resources for those engaged in pastoral ministry – volunteers must be appropriately screened, trained and in some cases licensed by the Bishop before beginning ministry.
- The gifts and skills involved in the ministry of pastoral care, including faith and personal maturity, attentive listening, prayerful presence, and capacities like record-keeping and practiced theological reflection.
- Information about how to organise a group of volunteers and to ensure appropriate training
Pastoral Care Ministry at St. James’ Cathedral
Nancy Mallett, retired St. James’ Archivist, offered an overview of the many ways members of the Cathedral have been involved in pastoral care over the years, touching on both spiritual and physical well-being of the congregation and our neighbours.
Roger Pearce, the Chair of the Cathedral Health Council, provided a summary of the Health Council’s ministry at St. James. The Health Council was started in 2000 to support the new position of parish nurse. Following the retirement of the parish nurse in 2019, the position was discontinued. Roger noted that discernment regarding the role of the Health Council moving forward is ongoing.
Canon Douglas Graydon presented an overview of the evolution of Lay Pastoral Visiting since 2019. He noted that Lay Pastoral Visiting is a parish-based ministry, functioning under the supervision of the Cathedral clergy. This ministry builds on friendship but is different than a social visit. It is carried out on behalf of the Cathedral and involves those activities that offer care and compassion, promoting spiritual health and well-being of the person being visited through:
- The ministry of presence – attentive listening is key
- Prayer and reading of scripture
- Theological reflection
What does it look like today?
Presently there are 4 parishioners trained and engaged in Lay Pastoral Visiting: Leslie Derbecker, Joanne Short, Peter Harris and Nick Tunnacliffe. We noted that Joanne and Leslie also serve as members of the Health Council.
Leslie outlined the exercise of Lay Pastoral Ministry at the present time:
- Oversight is provided by the clergy
- Visitors are assigned to parishioners as appropriate by the clergy
- Focus of visits is connection, listening, sharing scripture and prayer
- Home Communion as permitted and with the clergy
- Occasional greeting cards, flower delivery
- Participation in Blue Christmas liturgy
- Monthly meetings for reflection and planning
Future Possibilities
Canon Beth Benson noted that it is our intention to bring all activities related to pastoral ministry under one coordinating body in order to support its continued growth, and as resources allow. Future possibilities include:
- Greater understanding and awareness among all members of the Cathedral
- Training and more visibility of the Lay Pastoral Team in our shared life of worship (e.g. Communion Minister, Intercessor, Reader, Lay Anointer); more members involved
- More visits to seniors’ homes and long-term care facilities
