Developing a network of lay pastoral care workers in a local church

Peter C Hogeterp

Etd

Developing a network of lay pastoral care workers in a local church

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MLA citation style (9th ed.)

Peter C Hogeterp. Developing a Network of Lay Pastoral Care Workers In a Local Church. Trinity Evangelical Divinity School of Trinity International University. rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/84b3208e-c27a-49a1-8216-940b1b65775a.

APA citation style (7th ed.)

P. C. Hogeterp. Developing a network of lay pastoral care workers in a local church. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/84b3208e-c27a-49a1-8216-940b1b65775a

Chicago citation style (CMOS 17, author-date)

Peter C Hogeterp. Developing a Network of Lay Pastoral Care Workers In a Local Church. Trinity Evangelical Divinity School of Trinity International University. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/84b3208e-c27a-49a1-8216-940b1b65775a.

Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.

Creator

Peter C Hogeterp

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In Copyright

Abstract

The modern, large, urban church needs to develop a more comprehensive plan of meeting the spiritual care needs of its members than the Church Order of the Christian Reformed Church envisioned by allowing only those in the ordained offices to perform their ministry. This paper examines the biblical and theological foundation of 'pastoral care,' then traces the development of the pastoral care worker system developed at First Christian Reformed Church in London, Ontario. The writer interviewed a random sampling of both pastoral care workers and members of the congregation to determine to what degree the pastoral care given and received was accepted. A 'Training Manual for Pastoral Care Workers' was developed and is included in the paper. The study determines that the pastoral care system developed at First Christian reformed Church in London respects the traditional understanding of the Office of Elder as accepted in reformed churches, but expands the options for ministry by involving others who have spiritual gifts for pastoral care ministry. The writer used a specific strategy of introducing innovations that helped the congregation accept this non-traditional pastoral care delivery system. The weaknesses in the system include: greater development of pastoral care in specific need situations, further training, and better management of the delivery system.

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