Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care is

Pastoral Care is not

Pastoral Care helps:

Benefits for those involved in Pastoral care


Membership
Support
Certification
Training


WHAT DOES ACC MEAN BY PASTORAL CARE?

Most people have a caring attitude towards others. However there is a special calling to some to practise this caring in a more significant way, both within and beyond the church, and this we understand as Pastoral Care. The term is also being used in education, personnel management and the caring professions.

HandPastoral Care is an integral part of the whole ministry of the church to the world and will have a great variety of expressions. ACC acknowledges that this, perforce, means that Pastoral Care, like counselling, should be offered on a 'no strings attached' basis, focussed appropriately on the needs of individuals and social groups within the local church and wider community.

Caring or befriending at Christian worship and gatherings, and between Christians, should be seen as a normal activity of every Christian. When on a more formal or approved basis, however, Pastoral Care undertaken on behalf of a church or the Christian community should be under the authority and supervision of a church leader. Many of those with appropriate skills and who have experience in practising care, formally or informally, in the church setting, will also have opportunities to exercise care in the community beyond the church. Whether this is in paid or voluntary work, it is important that proper lines of accountability and/or supervision are in place for such work in the community, in addition to any oversight and support which may be available from the Church.

Those in the Pastoral Care membership of the ACC who have not received training as counsellors (probably the majority) will use many of the counselling skills but they should not give the person the impression that they are counsellors. They should clearly understand the distinction between Pastoral Care and counselling, and when it is appropriate for a referral to be made from one to the other, or to some other source of help. Also, it must be recognised that the need for confidentiality is paramount throughout.


WHY CHOOSE PASTORAL CARE MEMBERSHIP?

Best FriendsMany will choose Pastoral Care membership simply because they seek support and resources for the expression of a natural caring attitude to others in their church or at work. Others may have a special interest, such as prison or sick visiting, bereavement support or the healing ministry and some may have had training with a specialist organisation or in a specific model of Pastoral Care or counselling. Similarly, Pastoral Care membership may also be attractive to those who have particular pastoral responsibilities, whether ordained or in lay leadership or chaplaincy.

WHAT DOES ACC OFFER FOR PASTORAL CARE MEMBERS?

Through a special section in our magazine accord, and in other publications, ACC will progressively seek to provide encouragement and education in the many facets of Pastoral Care, and set standards for the development of responsibility, accountability and cover in the practice of Pastoral Care. We shall publish details of ACC approved basic courses and other training opportunities, items on contemporary issues, book reviews, insurance recommendations, conferences, etc.

Local, regional and national gatherings of special interest to Pastoral Care members will be arranged, sometimes providing opportunities for Pastoral Care and Counsellor members to explore common interests and themes. Through all this, ACC will endeavour to reinforce the quality of care available in, through and beyond the churches, by Christians who are "called to care".

BENEFITS OF PASTORAL CARE MEMBERSHIP

TYPES OF PASTORAL CARE MEMBERSHIP

There are two different types of Pastoral Care Membership.

Basic Pastoral Care Membership
This type of membership is for those who befriend and care for people, either in the context of a church fellowship or in the wider community. Applicants are required to sign that they agree with and will abide by the ACC's “Ethics and Practice" for Pastoral Care and that they agree with the ACC's “Statement of Faith”. Individual Pastoral Care Membership is also available under the Affiliated Church Membership scheme.

Certificated Pastoral Care Membership
Having joined as a member, Pastoral Carers are encouraged to become Certificated.

Certificated Pastoral care requirements