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Subject: Announcements
Date: Sat, 30 Oct 1999 16:48:07 -0400
From: Kurt/Carol Jensen
To: uucf-info
[...]
Joys & Concerns Book is located on the slanted shelf under the vase in
the commons area. Please add your own Joys &
Concerns to share with others.
[...]
Subject: Pastoral care
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2000 06:57:40 -0400
From: Jim Nelson
To: [UUCF Chat]
Dear Friends,
There seems to be some real confusion about pastoral care at UUCF and allow me to clarify what Bill and I try to provide.
We, of course, are available to members for counseling, and, contrary to some claims, neither Bill nor I have ever refused to be available to anyone when asked. I am usually in the office on Tues. and Wed. and am available by appointment. I also talk with a great number of people by phone. Bill has office days, too, and I know he is often on the phone as well. Both Bill and I try and visit people when they are in the hospital and the illness is grave, and, when there is a death, we respond to the family.
My policy is to never see a person more than six times - by then, and usually before, it is a therapeutic issue and I give referrals. And I try to focus on religious issues - this is, after all, what pastoral counseling is about.
I am sorry some people don't feel they could approach either Bill or me, but I would ask anyone to make the effort. We have over a 1000 people - 600+ adults, 100+ friends, 300+ children. Even if Bill and I divided our community, that is over 500 souls apiece to care for. And we still have other duties. In a congregation this size, it is just a fact that members have to take the initiative in this, and to realize that most of the caring is done, and done well, by members for each other.
Sometimes we will miss with people and sometimes we will be mis-heard or mis-understood - we are all human, after all, but that does not mean that both of us are not available and able.
I believe that the pastoral care of the congregation is in quite good shape, and that Bill and I, the Caring Committee and the various informal networks, respond very well to both crisis and the on-going issues in people's lives. I have received so many kind notes from people I have talked with over the years and I have seen people respond so warmly to Bill as well.
Just remember - this is all of our responsibility. Our mission says we will support each other. And that means all of us.
Rev Jim Nelson