Pastoral Lead
As Christians we are all called to care for one another but some of us also do pastoral care in a group setting as group leaders. Pastoral care can be a gift or it can be a learnt skill. The pastoral lead equips and empowers pastoral care, in its many settings. He is particularly involved with supporting the leadership and those who are in a pastoral care role. Shepherding is often used to describe pastoral care.
So what do I see as the role of Pastoral Lead?
I’ve been asked if I would expand on this brief statement to introduce myself and my role. Essentially the Pastoral Lead supports the eldership and others in their caring roles, under the authority of the elders. The pastoral model at Hope is an eldership of 3 men (in which Tony is the Pastor) and a wider leadership team. I see my role as assisting and supporting the eldership and the leadership team. How might that look? I imagine it could involve some fellowshipping/working alongside; there might be some teaching or coaching, and generally mucking in where wanted. I expect it is likely to be varied from being available for a chat to organising training seminars, with no necessity to be on the leadership team but being available as a sounding board. We aim to have 3 Sunday messages a year that are pastoral and input to leadership group meetings.
A little of my background
- Top of the list – married to Sue for 45 years, 5 children, 8 grand children and (as a wider family) 4 dogs!
- 15 years in teaching
- 40 years pastoral work (home group leader, elder, pastor) in 4 different churches
- Youth leader, preparing the children’s and youth work for Bible weeks, leading the musicians and choir
- Taking part in a Leadership Training Course in England and Ireland.
- Over 15 years in prison (as a Chaplain!)
- Serious Illnesses/challenges. I believe suffering has played a major part in my training and shaping
- A love of creativity – painting, wood carving etc, music and country walks
The resources we have as a community for pastoral care are mainly in the people who care and/or have a caring role. Firstly, the Life Group leaders who have a pastoral role and inspire the care within their group. Then there is care given by many others in different settings inside and outside the church community, such as Open House or Language groups. There are support groups such as ‘Freedom In Christ’, Alpha, Trauma Action Group (TAG) and PTSD/PTG seminars, Marriage support or grief and loss of a child support. We also are aware of local organisations and charities. But the first line of pastoral care for most is found in the Life Groups which meet at different times in the week. The pastoral lead, with the leadership team, supports these group leaders.
I thank God to be part of a church who has its heart in Jesus, its hands out to one another and both its feet in the community in a variety of ways. We often say that no church is perfect. We know that we are not(!), and enjoy doing what the Lord has given us to do by His strength. For some that is pastoral care, alongside us all who are called to care for one another (Gal. 6:2, 1Pet.1:22, Eph.4:32).
Robert Lightowler
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