WEBINARS

Every congregation I’ve been part of or spoken with affirms the importance of pastoral care. Yet some struggle to define what pastoral care is, while others wrestle with determining who within the congregation is responsible for providing it. Are ministers or elders the primary ones called to walk pastorally alongside congregants? Should responsibility belong to those with formal titles or to those who are spiritually gifted for this work? And most importantly, how do we ensure that the needs of all our congregants are truly met?

While grief is very much an individual process, there are times when our communities experience grief together over a shared loss. Individual and communal grief can be navigated similarly in some respects, but communal grief can often be more complex since everyone grieves in their own way. We will explore some strategies to help a community walk the path of grief together in healthy, respectful, and meaningful ways.

This seminar provides a simple four-fold model for pastoral care that is grounded in scripture. Participants will learn an accessible framework for supporting those in their congregations, families, and communities during loss and crisis. Two goals are for participants to have a clearer understanding of pastoral care and increased competence in caring for those around them. Registrants will receive a copy of A Brief Biblical Reflection on Pastoral Care.

Regardless of where you are in your grief, special events can bring back the pain of loss in different and acute ways. This webinar will explore what types of things you can expect in these moments. We will also look at ways to incorporate your grief and memories into these times without letting it take over these significant life events, such as holidays, weddings, and other milestones.