Pastoral care has its roots in Christianity but it has been adapted and adjusted to meet other faith traditions.  In Unitarian Universalism, pastoral care is the process where a person, or persons listen actively to what another person is experiencing, affirms their presence in that experience, and encourages them to continue the journey with hope.

To offer pastoral care is to be 100% present to the person and their experience in the hopes of understanding their perspective and listening for where grace and hope may intervene.

Pastoral care is not mental health counseling.  While there may be similarities in practice, pastoral care is not designed to be a substitute for therapeutic intervention for mental health issues. The minister providing pastoral counseling has resources to refer a person for mental health counseling.

When might a person need pastoral care?

• When there is a hospitalization.  Being in the hospital can be a scary time for any of us. The pastor can be a resource for you to help you ask the questions needing to be asked in order to receive the best medical care. The pastor can also be the bridge to the congregation to bring updates or news to the members.  And if there is a need for recovery support, the pastor can ensure that support happens.
• When someone is dying or has died. The pastor can assist in the grieving process, assist in the funeral arrangements to make sure that the service is one that meets your needs and reflects the life of the person.  See Memorials under Worship for more information.
• Before getting married.  Marriage is an important covenant in our life and the pastor can help you explore and define the areas that might need examining before this covenant is made. The pastor is especially trained in insuring a wedding ceremony that will be personal to mark this momentous occasion. See Weddings under worship for more information.
• When you have a decision to make. It is always good to run difficult decisions by another person. A pastor is trained to listen non-judgmentally. They may be able to offer other options to consider.
• When you are going to be away or have been away.  Pastors want to know what is going on in the life of the members of the congregation. How might they be of help?  How might they help to keep you connected to a loving community?
• When you are in need of assistance. There are resources that can be found to help when in need.  The minister has a discretion fund to help with emergency situations.
• When you are in trouble or in need of help.  This could be any kind of trouble—issues that arise in a marriage that are not resolved quickly, problems at work, family issues. Pastors might not have all of the answers but sometimes talking about a situation with a person who will hold confidences may be a means to resolve the issue.
• When you have questions about Unitarian Universalism.  The pastor is especially willing and able to answer your questions about this faith.
• When you want to connect.  Having someone who is affirming your life experiences over coffee or tea is always helpful in our journey.