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Many professional organizations publish "Standards of Care" as guidelines for their members. Often clergy feel frustrated or discouraged because they do not live up to the standards of pastoral care that they would like to give. Setting reasonable targets for yourself, your community, and the resources of your parish may be a good step to a new sense of freedom and accomplishment. If you are going to write a document for your parish, what would it look like? Here is a sample of some of the items that might be included.
1. A bi-annual visit for all active parish households and a tri-annual visit for all inactive households.
2. An annual flyer to all households in your neighbourhood giving service times, social activities, and detailed contact information, inviting all Anglican families and others who may not have a church connection.
3. A visit within two weeks to all newcomers with quarterly newcomers' gatherings.
4. A home visit prior to each funeral and two follow-up visits.
5. Weekly rounds to the hospitals in your area and on-call visits for hospitalized parishioners.
6. Fixed preparation programs for baptism, first communion, confirmation, and marriage, involving other trained leaders and teams.
7. Follow-up home visits six months after baptisms and weddings.
8 . A monthly opportunity for the healing sacraments before or during services.
9. The maintenance of good links with the local counselling agency for referrals following first-aid by the rector for marriage counselling, addictions problems, parenting crises, etc.
Setting realistic goals for yourself will help you stretch your ministry towards important targets, while at the same time giving you a sense of quietude and achievement. The work of ministry is often very intangible. Days off will be so much more enjoyable when you know that your own reasonable, professional goals have been met.
Item XXX
©2000 Ronald C. Ferris
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