The task of caring for everybody within the Church is too great for one person therefore the Pastoral Portfolio is in place to help the Minister with this portion of the Church Vision. The secretary coordinates the work of 39 Church Visitors. There are many aspects of Church life that can be made easier by a friendly visit but sometimes it is necessary to pass on information, perhaps in confidence, so that further help and care can be provided.

The portfolio covers

• Pastoral meeting

• Pastoral visiting

• Maintenance of

  • Membership list

  • Pastoral register

  • Baptismal roll

• safeguarding

•  Healing

• Counselling

The people who are involved include

• Pastoral visitors

• Baptismal roll secretary

• Safeguarding officer

• Named person for safeguarding contact

• Registration secretary

• Healing team

Notes on Healing

Purpose:

• to enable and encourage spiritual and physical well-being

• to keep up to date and trained in prayer ministry, listening skills and counselling

A Vision for Pastoral Care at GAMC

The Church Cares for You

1. Maintain Traditional ‘class visitors’.  Purpose: General oversight. Routine visiting at Harvest, Christmas, Easter and possibly more depending on level of relationship with people on list.

• Grow this into new lists as new people join

• Attend 2 Pastoral meetings per year.

2. Extend care through Housegroup Leaders and Hosts- building level of trust and fellowship outside group meetings. Extend care through church groups and places people meet ‘as’ church .  Housegroups, Network, Coffee & Crafts, 8O’clock, Band, Youth Group, 1^st Tuesday, Geli-tots etc.  Housegroups, Network and Youth group are particularly organised with this function.

3. Develop Pastoral Team, of up to 12 people who will take on ‘visiting at a deeper level’ – Housebound, those not able to come, chronically unwell, routine Hospital, personal struggles. 

   • Meet 6-8 weekly to review needs and report on progress with Pastoral Secretary

   • Pray for each other and for people

   • Report sudden problems/new situations to Pastoral Secretary.

   • Pastoral Meeting twice a year

   • Team appointed by recommendation of Pastoral Meeting

4.  Pastoral Secretary

• Work with minister to ensure delivery of Pastoral care to church and community lists

• Help develop church life & opportunities to meet needs of demographic

• Ensure computer list/ database of church members & friends, kept current with address and other appropriate information

• Be lynch-pin for pastoral team, managing groups and offering support

• Convene 2 Pastoral meetings a year with Minister, Pastoral team and visitors.

• Ensure distribution of membership tickets

• Ensure the letters at Harvest, Christmas and Easter are happening

• Be local contact for requests for visits or need for visit from Church