Introduction
I’ve been doing ‘pastoral care’ for most of my life. Ever since I became a Christian as a young teenager, I’ve sought to walk alongside or offer care to my brothers and sisters in Christ. This year, it will be 50 years since I made the decision to follow Jesus, and over this time, I’ve tried to improve my skills and abilities in offering this type of care. This resource seeks to distil what I’ve learned.
There are three parts. First, a brief overview or ‘blueprint’ of what pastoral care is and what it involves. The second section concerns the carer – how can you continue to offer care without becoming exhausted and burnt out? The final section is your pastoral care toolbox – resources that will be helpful in offering this care.
Part 1: The Blueprint – written by my husband Keith Condie
How do you usually respond to someone who is wrestling with spiritual concerns? We’re likely to listen, pray, offer care, counsel, and comfort from God’s word. But (very) occasionally, this is entirely the wrong approach. That’s because the need for ongoing reassurance may indicate an underlying mental health condition known as scrupulosity – a sub-type of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
“I don’t know how to relate. What will I say? I don’t understand them!” Have you thought this about a different generation? This article from Amy Yeung suggests a framework that could help us care well, no matter what generation someone is from.
Pastoral care takes place in many different contexts and capacities. You might offer care to those in your family, your friendship network and your church community. A toolbox of resources can equip you in these various contexts and roles.
Caring is not so much about fixing a need or solving a problem – it’s about showing up and being there as a willing servant of Christ. It lets another know they are seen and valued.
