Pastoral Assistants

PASTORAL ASSISTANTS are those in whom the Church has discerned special gifts for ‘pastoral care in the church and wider community’.

They are not people who know all the answers. But they are men and women of prayer; people who reflect on the dilemmas of modern life in the light of the Bible and Christian tradition; and people who want to communicate to others the message of Christ through caring action. They are people who are willing to develop creatively their abilities in teamwork, leadership, listening and caring. Pastoral Assistants are those with pastoral gifts who will exercise a leadership role in this ministry, acting as an example and encouraging others to use their gifts.

The ministry of the Pastoral Assistant

Pastoral Assistants may have a variety of roles including:

• healing & wholeness
• supporting the sick & bereaved
• hospital, prison, industrial & other chaplaincies
• working with caring agencies in the wider community
• assisting with occasional offices
• co-ordinating a pastoral care team
• collaborating with clergy and other ministers
• pastoral visiting & support

The calling and recognition of the Pastoral Assistant’s ministry will come from the local context. The Diocese will provide training and support for the ministry. Permission to minister will come from the parish incumbent and Parochial Church Council on behalf of the parish through a local commissioning service. The Pastoral Assistants may find themselves working as part of a Ministry Leadership Team, in the wider community or in a chaplaincy.

Pastoral Assistants 2006 

How do I become a Pastoral Assistant?

The Course in Christian Studies is the normal way to begin training as a Pastoral Assistant. This is a two year foundation course and covers the Bible, Church history, creeds, sacraments, spirituality, discipleship and ethics.

The Pastoral Assistant's course lasts one year following completion of CCS.

If you think that God is calling you to this ministry begin by praying about it and discussing it with your parish minister and the local Vocations Adviser. Application for selection for training is made by the candidate and his/her parish or chaplaincy during, or on completion of, CCS.

The Diocesan Pastoral Assistants Training Co-ordinator is:

Revd Brigid Main
Diocesan Office, 53 New Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1AT
Tel: 01245 294455 Email: bmain@chelmsford.anglican.org

The Diocesan Pastoral Assistants Training Programme

The course is designed:

• To equip and develop those with a calling to be Pastoral Assistants in their own ministry.
• To help them to encourage and enable the ministry of others in their local context.

The first term will be an Introduction to Pastoral Care and Pastoral Visiting. This will consist of an introductory session and 4 Saturdays and is designed to value the experience the candidate brings to training and to build on it. Candidates will undertake some assessable work at the end of this first term.

The second term will be a practical placement outside of the candidates’ usual context in one of the pastoral chaplaincies (prison, hospital etc). This will be supported by two sessions of theological reflection on pastoral care and its context.

The third term will involve the candidate in a practical project based in their own parish or context. Again supported by sessions for theological reflection and encouragement of good practice.

The course will include other training days on specific topics during the year.

If you are interested in the ministry of Pastoral Assistant and would like further information or an initial application form please contact:

Mrs Christine Reed
Diocesan Office, 53 New Street, Chelmsford, CM1 1AT
Tel: 01245 294455 Email: creed@chelmsford.anglican.org

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