I believe that Pastoral Care is one of the most important roles of a minister, being able to deeply listen and respond to the needs of others. My most profound experiences of pastoral care came in the context of my Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) training at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, NY. I found myself assigned to the Neuro ICU unit. I was confronted almost daily with patients and their families whose lives had been drastically changed, sometimes literally, overnight. I learned to respond to acute trauma and to sit with those who were making life altering decisions. I learned to sit with death, both literally and figuratively, exploring my own mortality while helping others cope with theirs.
In the congregational setting, sitting with and deeply listening to the concerns and challenges of individual members allows me to cultivate meaningful connections and relationships. Visiting, sending emails, cards and flowers, having phone conversations and texts are some of the ways I mark connection with my congregants who need extra care
