DUTY THREE: PROVIDES PASTORAL CARE AND PRESENCE
One of the primary roles in ministry is to listen; to, as Nelle Morton once phrased it, “hear one into speech”. A vital aspect of listening in ministry includes confidentiality. As minister, I agree to the role of spiritual companioning, cheer leading, and authenticity. This occurs in individual counselling, suggesting resources, allowing for pastoral ritual, praying together, hospital and home visitation and empowering a lay care program to accompany the work. It is important to cultivate a lay care committee that is responsive to the pastoral needs of the congregation. This calls for regular meetings, sharing of expertise and continued education through local and denominational workshops. It is also important to generate consistent communication with the congregation about pastoral availability.. |
At times the pastoral work is congregation-wide (A message sent to congregants on e-mail and Facebook 25 November, 2014):
From Rev. Lisa:
Hello Dear Members and Friends of UUFHC:
I send this note to you on the wake of the grand jury decision in Ferguson, Missouri to not indict Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown. This is a complex situation which brings up many varied perspectives and emotions, contributing to the narrative of distrust and dis-ease in our criminal justice system and law enforcement.
Regardless of the immediate details of the case, this incident and its aftermath have brought to the surface the urgent work that still needs to be done in addressing systemic racism, lethal measures in law enforcement, broken systems of enforcement due to mutual distrust, bias and lack of respect, and the simple understanding that we are all in this engagement of society together.
Yes, Black lives matter as all lives matter. Yes, there are irrational dimensions to pain which are being played out this day, causing more violence, confusion and loss of hope. There are also prayer vigils, peaceful protests and demonstrations lifting up our ability to find better ways of being (visit www.uulmmd.org for one in Baltimore this afternoon). Let us address the pain and seek wholeness with and for each other. Let us honor the deep yearning for trustworthy justice; calling for accountability, while holding all involved in our hearts. Let us find a way to reconcile the divisions amongst us and come to the integrity of all lives around us.
At times our pastoral reach includes public witness: (Published in the Washington Blade, 2 August 2012)
The full listing of the petition to challenge the Civil Marriage Protection Act is now public record. You may find the signatures of friends, family or colleagues on this petition. You may wonder how they are willing to vote to deny you rights, to dismiss your full being in society and still consider you friend, family or colleague. It can feel like a kick in the gut, or a wave of dread that things are not as they seem. You may feel the shock of realization that you are not as safe as you had thought, nor as seen as you had hoped.
The work of transformation — which is what we are doing in our advocacy — is neither smooth, nor logical. There are levels of acceptance, degrees of courage and a varied willingness to understand. But know this: you are held in a vast network of advocates who recognize your beauty, who see your mutual worth, and who know that equality is vital to us all. You are held. You are not alone. God be with you.
—Rev. Lisa Ward, Maryland Faith For Equality & UULM-MD
And sometimes it calls for Denominational affirmation: (UULM-MD note on website 11/2012)
For seven years, through court cases and near misses, in testimonies and joyful rallies: you stood, you sang, you debated, you witnessed, you convinced, you wrote, you donated. Conversation by conversation -- on the phone, at the polls, at doorsteps, in grocery stores and waiting rooms, in legislative halls and public forums -- you showed up, you persevered, you lifted the weary. This is how history is made! What beauty you all are! With admiration and love, we salute you.
-- Rev. Lisa Ward and Rev. Diane Teichert, co-chairs LGBT task force.