The Spiritual Care Network
In early 2002 a BC Conference needs assessment process resulted in the decision to remove ‘pastoring the pastors’ from the Conference Personnel Minister’s job description. This decision recognized the reality that one person cannot possibly respond pastorally to the needs of an entire Conference.
Conference needed to formulate an alternative response to meet the spiritual care needs of ministry personnel, and, to that end, has developed the Spiritual Care Network.
The Spiritual Care Network came into being, initially, through the gathering of a small group in Nov. 2005 to listen and respond to this need. The group decided to host a spiritual care retreat at Rivendell Retreat on Bowen Island, with each presbytery being invited to send two representatives who were:
a. passionate about this area of ministry and
b. open to contributing some time in their own region
Over the long term, the Network seeks to become a strong, supportive, and mutually sustaining Spiritual Care Network within B.C. Conference.
Responsibilities of Network Members:
· to encourage collegial connections and spiritual friendship amongst ministry colleagues on a ongoing basis.
· to be available to ensure spiritual crisis care for clergy. To know when to offer spiritual crisis care and when to actively facilitate the connection to someone else.
· to keep members of presbytery aware of the network by facilitating conversations in presbytery about spiritual care and by encouraging leadership for the provision of spiritual care in presbytery
· to maintain one’s own spiritual well being through prayer and spiritual practices.
· to know about and have available spiritual care resources’ for referral as needed.
· to develop and implement local initiatives in support of the vision of the Spiritual Care Network
