Pastoral Workers
What are Pastoral Workers?
Pastoral Workers are lay people who exercise a vital ministry in the Church. They are licensed to work in pastoral ministry in a voluntary capacity. This means work in the fellowship of the Church and in the Church’s many contacts with people at important parts of their lives. That usually means involvement in pastoral care and visiting, including contacts through baptism, weddings, bereavement and illness—and in enabling others to work in these areas. It may also include taking Holy Communion to the sick or housebound.
To equip people for that ministry, the Diocese of Chester provides a course of Initial Training in pastoral knowledge and skills designed to develop you in this important Christian ministry.
Pastoral Workers are licensed by the Bishop to an area of ministry determined in that parish and agreed with the incumbent and PCC. Pastoral Workers’ ministry will vary depending on their gifts and the needs in the parish. However, the training is designed to give a grounding in a wide variety of pastoral skills and experience.
For details of this year's licensing service go to Licensing of Pastoral Workers
For information and courses for licensed Pastoral Workers click here
How can I find out more?
For more information about the training course see links below:
How long is the training course?
What's involved in training?
The course comes in two parts — the one-year Foundations for Ministry course and two years of Pastoral Worker Training.
The Foundations for Ministry (FfM) course forms the first year of training for Readers, Pastoral Workers and is also open to anyone wanting to develop their ministry for God.
You’ll be training together with others in a way that helps everyone to learn from people with different callings and gifts.
FfM consists of a one day conference, two ministry days and 24 evening sessions spread over three terms.
The three terms cover three modules:
- Term 1: Church, Faith and Action
- Term 2: Ministry, Vocation and Teamwork
- Term 3: Groups, Growth and the Gospel This covers a whole range of material on Church and Kingdom, Ministry and Mission, prayer, the Bible and working with others.
Foundations is designed to be a basic grounding for all involved in Christian Ministry. Each Foundations session runs in two venues (Chester on Mondays, Macclesfield on Tuesdays).
During this first year you will be matched up with a Pastoral Worker Mentor, who stays with you throughout the three years as a listening ear, pastoral support and someone to help you apply what you are learning to the reality of Pastoral Worker Ministry.
Link to the Foundations for Ministry course
Being There Pastoral Skills courses
Pastoral Worker Handbooks and Forms
Licensed Pastoral Workers Handbook (pdf)
PW Incumbent Feedback Form Year 3 (Word format)
PW Mentor Feedback Form Year 3 (Word format)
PW Overall Course Evaluation Form Year 3 (Word format)
Pastoral Worker Training Handbook (pdf)
Pastoral Worker Accreditation Handbook 2012-13 (pdf)
Parish Project Handbook (pdf)