*Click here for a sample of the introduction and implementation chapters.

The Pastoral Partner Program offers a step-by-step guide to recruiting, training, and sustaining a congregational caregiving network. It helps establish an atmosphere of nurture and support and provides a systematic method of ensuring that pastoral care happens for each member of the community.

How does the program work? The Pastoral Partner Program begins with an assumption that every congregation has formal and informal networks. The program suggests that a coordinator or lay or ordained work with a leadership team to identify people in the congregation who will be responsible for a small number of congregation members. These pastoral partners are asked to do just four things:

1 Keep informal contact with the members of her or his cluster.
2 Pray for them.
3 Refer any needs or difficulties to the pastoral team.
4 Attend training and support meetings.

The Program is deliberately low key to encourage people to offer natural support in a simple way. Because most people feel able to achieve these goals, they are likely to help establish and participate in the caregiving network. By attending the initial training and ongoing support meetings, they quickly become effective in the task and can offer an excellent level of care.

The Starter Kit contains each element of the program: 8 1/2" x 11" notebook Coordinator's Manual Pastoral Partners Guide 12 care cards 12 bookmarks 1 Tranquility CD