Guidelines Adopted on 06/9/2021 and will be reviewed Q1 2023 – Revision 1.1
1. Guidelines Statement
As members of this church, we commit ourselves to the nurturing, protection and safekeeping of those connected to Revive Church. We are a safe place is a core value in our Code that supports this commitment. Our aim is to offer empowering pastoral care with integrity and in a way that honours God and all those involved. Pastoral care is a person-centred, holistic approach to care that complements the care offered by other helping disciplines while paying particular attention to spiritual care.
Any time pastoral care is mentioned in this document, it is referring to Christian Pastoral Care.
It is the responsibility of each one of us to care for one another and to seek to help others when they are experiencing hardship or problems that, at least for the moment, seem beyond their ability to cope.
We recognise that this people-helping is the responsibility of the whole church.
The church is also committed to supporting, resourcing, training and supervising those who minister specifically within the area of Pastoral Care.
The church is committed to following the Guidelines for Good Practice in Pastoral Care provided by the Association of Christian Counsellors & Thirtyone:eight. These have been incorporated into this guidance. Each carer must agree to observe the guidelines and policies in this booklet.
If a carer asks a volunteer to assist in providing Pastoral Care, then that carer is responsible for ensuring that the volunteer understands and complies with the parts of these guidelines that are relevant to the care that they are being asked to provide.
2. Reason for Guidelines
These guidelines are to support pastoral carers in offering safe pastoral care in all settings at Revive Church, and minimize risk to all parties through clear boundaries, safeguarding and procedures.
3. Who Should Read this Guidance
The person/s ultimately responsible for the implementation of these guidelines are the Senior Pastors.
Everyone with a formal Pastoral role within Revive (Pastoral Carers) have the responsibility for pastoral care. These formal roles include:
- CARE+ Team
- Community Groups Guides & Stewards (All ages)
These formal roles will receive appropriate training.
CARE+
CARE+ is designed to help support people who may have complex pastoral needs that cannot be supported by their Community Group. These are needs such as mental ill health, serious illness, relationship breakdown, trauma, addiction and sometimes grief. A Needs Analysis is completed to understand what the person needs and requests from Revive, find out which other organisations are already supporting the individual. We will empower them through sign posting to an external professional or agency approved by Revive Church as needed.
No carer should provide pastoral care and professional care to the same person, or to their close relations of this person, because this could be a conflict of interest.
Community Groups
Community Group guides exercise pastoral care for their group members in shared ownership with the rest of the group. Most prayer and practical needs will be met through being in authentic community with our church members in a Community Group.
The Community Group Stewards have oversight of the Community Group guides on matters of pastoral care.
4. Resources
This section lists resources including links to related church policy documents and other related documents.
- Church documents such as policies, guidelines, working practices, contracts, etc. The most up to date information is found on the The Way We Work – https://twww.revivechurch.uk
- Contact information for relevant subject matter experts Thirtyone:eight (https://thirtyoneeight.org/)
5. The Guidelines
a) Biblical Values for Pastoral Care
Pastoral Carers are called to value each person as created uniquely in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), with purpose, potential and capacity to live life to the full (John 10:10).
Pastoral Care that is inspired and enabled by Christ will contribute towards:
- the equipping of God’s people so they can do His work, so that the Church, the Body of Christ, can be built up, until we come to unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son, that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord so that the whole Body is healthy and growing and full of love (e.g. Ephesians 4:11-16);
- the mission work of the Church (e.g. John 17:20-23; Acts 2:44-47; Acts 6:1-7).
Pastoral Carers are called to love others through Christ-like love (John 13:34-35, Romans 12:10; Romans 13:8), led and living by the Holy Spirit, manifesting the fruit of the Holy Spirit and informed by the indwelling Word of God (Galatians 5:13-26 and Colossians 3:12-17). The Revive Church Code embodies these principles – We Look Beyond Ourselves & Above All Else We Love.
Pastoral Carers are called to be burden bearers and burden sharers with and for others, whilst not creating dependency or denying the person their responsibilities and capabilities (Galatians 6:1–5).
Pastoral Carers are called to relate to others, with an emphasis more on listening than speaking, being careful of the words that they speak (James 1:19–27; Proverbs 18:19).
Pastoral Carers are called to exercise confidentiality and discretion (Proverbs 11:13; Proverbs 20:19).
b) Definition of Christian Pastoral Care
A Christian Pastoral Carer is someone who either formally as part of the CARE+ team or informally as part of their community group, offers care and support to another, in the knowledge of being loved themselves by God and in the hope of sharing that love with others.
Christian pastoral care is the activity which flows from the attitude and commitment to love one another because we ourselves are first loved by God.
Christian pastoral care is ultimately concerned with developing quality relationships and enabling one another to recognise, follow and become more like Jesus.
Christian pastoral care participates in God’s missional activity to reconcile the world to Himself.
Christian pastoral care embraces a wide range of activity in support of one another, in and beyond the Church, i.e. both when we are gathered together and when we are not.
Christian pastoral care might involve sustaining others through prolonged difficulty or immediate need, enabling the journey of healing and wholeness, considering the process of reconciliation with God, self and others, offering guidance about other resources and enabling different perspectives.
Christian pastoral care might take the form of: listening, encouraging, visiting, hospitality, advocacy, mentoring, befriending, celebrating, practically helping, prayer, comforting, or enabling; walking alongside the individual whatever situation they find themselves in.
Christian pastoral care might take place formally through CARE+ or informally through community groups.
Christian pastoral care is not rescuing an individual from a situation or taking their choices away from them. It is empathetic, non-judgmental, inclusive, safe understanding care, carried out with consent, that supports an individual in alignment with these guidelines.
Pastoral Care / Counselling – Christian pastoral care is not professional counselling and Revive Church do not offer counselling services.
There is a difference between counselling and listening / pastoral care. All are of value and often work alongside each other, but it is important that counselling is left to those who are appropriately qualified. Problems can arise when boundaries are not respected, and well-meaning but inexperienced individuals work outside their skillset. Those assuming a counselling role without the appropriate qualifications can cause more harm than good and leave the individual in a worse state. Please refer to section i, on referrals for Pastoral Carers, to refer people to outside support and help from professional counsellors.
In addition, in line with thirtyone:eight’s recommendations, Pastoral Carers DO NOT undertake counselling with members of the church, to ensure roles are separate.
c) Ethical Values for Pastoral Care
Pastoral Carers will be careful to respect the rights and dignity of every person as a unique individual, equal with them in the sight of God and regardless of race, religion, nationality, language, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, size, employment, income, disability, health, abode, or criminal record.
Pastoral Carers will seek to accept and not judge a person and to allow them the safety, freedom and space to express themselves and to make their own decisions without force or manipulation, even when they disagree with the person’s thinking, actions and lifestyle.
Pastoral Carers will be careful to ensure that they do not misuse or abuse the trust that is bestowed upon them by others.
Pastoral Carers will not subject any person to physical, psychological, verbal or spiritual harassment and will not tolerate such behaviour by others. Harassment can include physical, psychological, emotional, sexual or spiritual abuse including insults, unwelcome sexual behaviour, language or jokes, display of offensive materials, words, pictures, symbols, behaviour, gestures, or signals.
Pastoral Carers will avoid invading people’s personal space, and will always ask permission before physical contact. Physical contact must always be appropriate (see section g).
Pastoral Carers will not exploit the people they are helping – financially, sexually, emotionally, or in any other way.
Pastoral Carers will be careful not to create unhealthy dependencies for either themselves or the persons to whom they are offering pastoral care.
Pastoral Carers will maintain confidentiality, understanding that confidentiality does not necessarily mean secrecy (see section e).
Pastoral Carers will ensure that the person is safeguarded as far as is practically reasonable and that appropriate steps are taken to seek appropriate medical, legal or other professional assistance where required.
Pastoral Carers will seek to be honest and open and act with integrity.
Pastoral Carers will seek to hold appropriate boundaries (see section f) and be confidently assertive when required, but without aggression.
d) Dual Relationships
There are times when Pastoral Carers may hold another relationship with the person that they are caring for, for example a Pastoral Carer might also be a health care professional for that person.
In such cases, the boundary of this professional relationship needs to be preserved by arranging for another Pastoral Carer to be involved.
e) Confidentiality
Confidentiality is a critical boundary which protects the privacy of the person and the integrity of pastoral care in our church. Pastoral Carers should only disclose information on a need to know basis.
Confidentiality ensures the information a person reveals to us is not disclosed to anyone else, without the person’s prior knowledge and consent, apart from exceptional circumstances where safeguarding is necessary.
Exceptions to confidentiality include:
- when the Pastoral Carer has been required by legislation or a Court of Law to disclose certain information either to the Police or the Court;
- when the Pastoral Carer has reason to believe that others, particularly a child or vulnerable person, are or maybe, at risk of harm or injury;
- when the Pastoral Carer has reason to believe that the person is at risk of harming themselves.
Confidentiality establishes trust and a safe space for a person and for God to work.
Confidentiality, however, does not need to be confused with secrecy (i.e. concealing information when concealment could be significantly harmful to others) or collusion (i.e. explicitly or inherently cooperating with illegal or unethical behaviour).
Pastoral Carers need to make a person aware of the boundaries of confidentiality and limitations of the working relationship from the onset of any care or support offered.
Pastoral Care offered informally via Community Groups, needs to assume that what is spoken by the person is to be kept confidential. Where there is any doubt, the Pastoral Carer needs to assume responsibility for clarifying this e.g. would the person like their situation to be kept confidential, to be prayed for by a group of intercessors who would keep their details confidential or do they want it communicated to the prayer chain.
Confidentiality also extends to any written or electronic records and the safeguarding of these to protect the privacy of the person. Written or electronic records should only be kept for the specific purpose and time needed. They need to be accurate, up to date, adequate, relevant and not excessive in relation to the purpose for which they are intended and where appropriate without any identifiable information.
Care should be taken about access to and use of shared computers, backup systems and emails, iPads, mobile phones, social networks, photocopying, and shredding. It can be, for instance, a breach of confidentiality to copy others into certain emails when the person has not given their permission for you to do so and where the emails contain personal content, or to leave a letter inadvertently in the photocopier, or to leave a thank you card visible to others that gives away information about a person cared for.
The desire to uphold others in prayer must not be used to excuse the obligation of confidentiality.
It is recognised that the Operations Team may need to discuss issues raised with them for the purposes of supervision or seeking advice on how to proceed, but an individual is not to be named or readily identified by the details revealed.
f) Boundaries and Self-care
Boundaries are necessary. There are many aspects of a Pastoral Care relationship around which we may draw boundaries. Pastoral Carers should not enter any situation which they are not comfortable with. They need to be clear within their own mind what their boundaries are and to ensure that these boundaries still permit a viable relationship with the person they are seeking to help. Any concern in this area should be discussed with the Care+ Coordinator or the Operations Team.
Pastoral Carers should ensure they are taking care of their own health and well-being as they offer care to others. This includes ensuring they are obtaining enough rest, exercise and sleep, and that they are looking after their own relationships. It also includes ensuring they have regular space to grow in relationship with God, to mature in faith and to develop self-awareness themselves through reflective practice.
Pastoral Carers should ensure that they are working within their abilities and competencies and that they are prepared to refer or signpost a person to others when needed (see section i). This should ensure that they are not working out of their depth in a detrimental way to themselves or the person being cared for.
Pastoral Carers should feel safe themselves, and therefore they have a right to decline offering care and or seeing someone on their own e.g. when dealing with a person who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs or who is ‘acting out’ aggressively.
Pastoral Carers should not offer care to a person when their own functioning is impaired due to personal or emotional difficulties, illness, medications or for any other reason. Pastoral Carers in this situation should inform the Care+ Coordinator.
Pastoral Carers should ensure the person for whom they are caring is aware they are not offering counselling and need to be prepared to refer a person to a counsellor where needed and desired.
Pastoral Carers should take responsibility for ensuring they are identifying and undertaking training which is relevant to their ministry and must attend stipulated training ie safeguarding.
g) Touch
It is important to take the issue of touch seriously.
It is vital to be sensitive and if the Pastoral Carer thinks the person would, for example, appreciate a hug or an arm around them they should check this with them first and only proceed with consent.
Although wanting to physically comfort someone who is upset is a natural response, it is worth bearing in mind that unless used appropriately it may actually interrupt or detract from the person expressing what they are thinking or feeling.
Touch should be related to the person’s needs, not the Pastoral Carer’s.
All individuals are entitled to personal privacy and the right to decide how much physical contact they have with others, except in circumstances such as a medical emergency.
Keep everything public. A hug in the context of a group is very different from a hug behind closed doors.
Pastoral Carers should have appropriate boundaries regarding touch. If they have concerns, that an individual is not respecting those boundaries they should explain gently why such contact is not appropriate in the relationship and pass their concerns onto the Safeguarding Lead.
h) Prayer
All Pastoral Carers are encouraged to pray for the people they are seeking to help, not only privately but also when they meet together, within the boundaries of confidentiality.
Praying with the people they are seeking to help must only be carried out with their permission, and then in a sensitive way, giving due consideration to their spiritual maturity and church background.
The church recognises that in this area of people-helping, carers act only as God’s assistants; it is only He who achieves change and healing in someone.
i) Referral
An important aspect of Pastoral Care is that workers must not offer help beyond their competence or ability. If the issues presented by an individual are beyond their ability to help, then they must refer the individual to Care+ to undertake a Needs Analysis.
The Pastoral Care of children and young people (those under 18) should be referred to the Family Ops Lead or the Safeguarding Lead.
At the discretion of the Board of Trustees the church may agree to offer financial support to a person who is referred by the church to an independent counsellor. The counsellor at all times takes responsibility for their counselling. This is requested via the Fund Request form on The Way We Work webpage – https://twww.revivechurch.uk.
j) Recruitment and Training
The church will exercise reasonable care and diligence in the selection, appointment and supervision of those undertaking pastoral care on behalf of the church.
The church will only consider people to be Pastoral Carers on an individual basis after due reflection on their gifting in this area.
As those ministering in Pastoral Care may well be involved with those who are vulnerable to abuse, it is the church’s policy that those members of the following groups obtain clearance from the Disclosure and Barring Service via our Safer Recruitment process:
- Care+ Team
- Community Group Guides
For those regularly involved in Pastoral Care, training is important. As a guide, a Listening Skills course would normally be required along with mandatory Safeguarding Training for vulnerable adults.
k) Support and Supervision for the Formal Pastoral Roles
The Community and Care+ Operations Team will provide support for those specifically involved in Pastoral Care through regular contact with those carers. Additionally, help and support may be sought from Safeguarding Coordinator or Senior Leaders. In some circumstances the church leadership may recommend support from a person or organisation outside the church. Community and Care+ Operations Team will have formal supervision.