Called to Care

There are many ways to define congregational care, but Associate Pastor for Congregational Care and Missions Jill Williams appreciates best how the PC (USA) Book of Order spells it out: All Christians are called to care for one another in daily living, sharing joys and sorrows, supporting in times of stress and need, offering mutual forgiveness and reconciliation.

Jill explained, “It’s a common misperception that only pastors care for the congregation. That’s laughable. Our only hope for true congregational care is that we all care for one another well, carrying each other’s burdens and loving one another sacrificially.”

Jill believes that Covenant has a good scriptural vision of how to do caring ministries. “The congregation cares for the congregation. I do direct care; but more so, I invest in others who are doing the care. I spend a lot of time with teams, such as the Deacons, the hospital visitation team, the career transitions team and others.”

Kay Austin works with Jill on Congregational Care issues. The two receive hundreds of requests to reach out to members, to celebrate joys and deal with sorrows. Jill said that their focus is more frequently on seasons of challenge and transition. “I often intersect with people who have lost a job, are having trouble with family, or are experiencing the death of a loved one–times when they are sensitive and aware of the need for Christ.”

Kay, who is a Stephen Minister, receives much information about members in need. “I hear about people in the hospital, about births and deaths; I even hear about family pets and sometimes people worried that they haven’t seen a member at church for two months. My job involves huge amounts of email correspondence with the Deacons.” Kay

added that “being able to connect members of the congregation and their Deacon in the time of need or in the midst of a wonderful event is rewarding.”

Walking the Walk

Kay, herself, has participated in the Prayer Shawl Ministry and Walking the Mourner’s Path. “Wrapping someone in Christ’s love with the prayer shawls, the tangible reminder of Christ’s love, is huge,” she said. Kay also appreciates the group’s camaraderie. “The women are so connected and giving; 100 percent of the program is their donation of time and money. It’s a funny group; there’s lots of laughing and sharing. It’s a fabulous experience.”

Kay enrolled in Walking the Mourner’s Path shortly after starting her job five years ago, thinking it would make her more effective in her role. Though her father had died several years back, she was able to resolve some grief issues dealing with her father’s death. “Walking the Mourner’s Path meets people at such a tender time in their lives,” Kay said. “Group participants don’t know what to expect; they just start sharing. It’s safe and they can let go. Because of the shared experience, everybody knows what they’re talking about. “Jill is a fabulous clergy for Walking the Mourner’s Path,” Kay continued. “It’s wonderful to see how she connects to people individually. Each person feels that she really knows their story.”

It’s that sharing of experiences and stories that brings people to Covenant groups and to the church. In fact, it was the aspect of community that attracted Jill to Covenant. “Yes, we worship, spend time reading God’s word, and serve and love our neighbors, but we do it as a community. If someone is hurting, we care for one another, we bandage each other’s wounds and we share the joy of Christ.

Jill likes many things about her job, but being able to lend a hand in God’s work and feeling His presence in so many different settings with people in need make her feel fortunate. “I love watching God work,” Jill said. “I marvel and appreciate the invitation to participate in what God is doing in some small way.”

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