“Ministry is not
something we “do” to someone else. It is a holy way of living toward God and
toward one another.”- Kenda Creasy Dean, The Godbearing Life
The ministry of Pastoral Care is that “holy and
compassionate way of living toward” the young people in our care that Kenda
Creasy Dean describes above. It is being present for the young people and their
families when they are in need. It is keeping them in our prayers, asking them
how they are coping with a known problem, programming events that help them
through the difficult years of adolescence, and finding them help when they
have nowhere else to turn.
However, Pastoral
Care is not counseling (unless you are a licensed counselor):
“All youth ministers need to be pastoral caregivers; those who are
professionally trained can also be counselors. There is an incredible
difference. Pastoral care demands integrating sound theological principles with
good interpersonal skills and programming. (It is not appropriate for untrained
youth ministers to) make interventions or diagnoses, or to hang out a shingle
that says ‘counselor.’ Pastoral Care requires strong self-knowledge, an
understanding of the adolescent experience and family systems, and a caring
stance toward the feelings of young people. Pastoral care provides support,
guidance, confrontation when necessary, information, and tools for
empowerment.”
-Sharon Reed and John Roberto, Pastoral Care Resource Manual: Connecting Pastoral Care and Youth
Ministry, New Rochelle, NY: Don Bosco Multimedia, 1994. P. vii.