Stephen Ministry
What is Stephen Ministry?
Stephen Ministry is a caring ministry in which trained laypersons provide confidential, one-to-one, Christ-centered care to members of the congregation struggling with a crisis such as grief, divorce, illness, hospitalization, unemployment, relocation, loneliness, or similar experiences.
Who is involved in Stephen Ministry?
Stephen Leaders are members of our congregation who oversee and direct our Stephen Ministry. They recruit, select, train, organize, and supervise our Stephen Ministers and match people in need of care with Stephen Ministers. The All Souls Stephen Leaders are Betsy Dixon, Emily Lyon, Sharon Roberts, and Phoebe Tussey.
Stephen Ministers are parishioners who are trained as care givers. They complete over 50 hours of training in Christian care giving; the training topics include listening, feelings, boundaries, confidentiality, assertiveness, and using Christian resources in care giving. Additionally, Stephen Ministers are trained to provide care in specialized situations such divorce, hospitalization, bereavement, and aging.
But, Stephen Ministers are not counselors; they are trained lay care givers whose role is to be present, to listen and to care. Those who receive Stephen Ministers’ care are members of our parish who are experiencing difficulties such as those listed above. Stephen Ministers usually meet with their care receivers once a week for about an hour for as long as the care receiver will benefit from the relationship. The relationship is completely confidential.
