What are the New Areas of Calling & Caring?
What is a "Calling/Caring Visitor"?
The mission of the Visiting Ministry program is to reach out to fellow parishioners to ensure that each person among us is known, loved, and cared for. This is especially true of those who, temporarily or for long periods, cannot get out to enjoy the church community. |
What is a “Faith Community Nurse"?
Faith Community Nurses are licensed, registered nurses who practice holistic health for self, individuals and the community using nursing knowledge combined with spiritual care. They function in paid and unpaid positions as members of the pastoral team in a variety of religious faiths, cultures, and countries. The focus of their work is on the intentional care of the spirit, assisting members of the faith community and other faith-based organizations to maintain and/or regain wholeness in body, mind, and spirit. FCN’s have a scope of practice defined by the American Nurses Association. The care receiver or client, is an individual in time of need who receives care from a licensed nursing professional. For example they support them by offering coaching, referral, and educational support. Plymouth has one FCN and another about to be trained. |
What is a "Stephen Minister"?
Stephen Ministry offers a proven and effective way to organize, equip, and supervise a team of congregation members—called Stephen Ministers--to provide high-quality, one-to-one, Christ-centered care to people in the congregation and the community experiencing life difficulties. Terminology associated with Stephen Ministry:
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FAQ
What about the pastoral staff?
Pastors are involved and active in all aspects of the calling and caring ministries. Pastors still make visits and conduct pastoral care. With the new structure, pastors will not be doing less; the congregation will be served to a greater extent.
Pastors are involved and active in all aspects of the calling and caring ministries. Pastors still make visits and conduct pastoral care. With the new structure, pastors will not be doing less; the congregation will be served to a greater extent.
How can I become a part of the Calling and Caring Ministry Team?
There are several opportunities to be a part of the Calling and Caring Ministry Team with varying levels of time commitment.
There are several opportunities to be a part of the Calling and Caring Ministry Team with varying levels of time commitment.
- Visiting Ministry (VM): Time and training commitment varies depending on hospitalizations and folks in long-term care situations. It is likely this will be a once a week visit (phone call or in-person visit) with semi-regular training.
- Faith Community Nursing (FCN): Time and training commitment varies depending on the number of medical situations requiring the assistance of the FCN and the training requirements from the local FCN network. To become a FCN you must have an active and unencumbered registered nurse license.
- Stephen Ministry (SM): Stephen Ministry is an ecumenical international program that develops a volunteer training and coordinating ministry program for the church. SM has program requirements that involves meeting as a team twice a month. In addition, when a SM has a care receiver (someone assigned for care) it will entail another hour per week. To become a SM requires 50 hours of up front training.
When will the Stephen Ministry Program be available?
Stephen Ministers were commissioned at the 10 a.m. service on May 16, 2021. (Read more here.) If you would like trained Stephen Ministry care due to a personal crisis or illness in your life or the life of a loved one, contact Hal for a pastoral visit and referral.
Stephen Ministers were commissioned at the 10 a.m. service on May 16, 2021. (Read more here.) If you would like trained Stephen Ministry care due to a personal crisis or illness in your life or the life of a loved one, contact Hal for a pastoral visit and referral.