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Three Sins of the Mainline: Pastoral Care for Insiders — 1 Comment

  1. If a ‘pastor’ is the ‘shepherd’ of a ‘flock’, is it not their role to provide for the well-being and guidance of the individuals in their care, many of whom might be feeling particularly “uncomfortable” at present as a result of the disruption in the normal practices of Christian community life? Our inability to congregate for worship and mutual support makes pastoral care that is “inwardly focused” not a matter of self-centeredness, but one of self-preservation. This is not to deprecate outreach to those most vulnerable in our community, but rather to encourage church leadership to ensure that pastoral care needs are addressed in such a way as to empower the congregation to minister to the wider community.