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Policies for Pastoral Care and Counseling
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The Pastor, as the spiritual leader of our congregation, is entrusted with the care and guidance of church members and others in times of trouble and stress who may be emotionally fragile or vulnerable. This policy is intended to protect the basic rights of all those involved in the church, to preserve the confidence others have placed in the church and its Pastor, and to provide guidelines which define the role of the Pastor in his relationship with those who are reached by the church's ministry.
- Persons who require in-depth therapy requiring more than six (6) counseling sessions shall be referred to a professional counselor or therapist, and new counselees shall be so informed at the first session. The Pastor shall not counsel with persons already in therapy or counseling without the express consent of the therapist or counselor, and the roles of the pastor and the therapist or counselor shall be defined in writing before any such pastoral counseling begins. No counseling shall be undertaken by the Pastor with persons who are already in counseling but decline to give the Pastor permission to talk with their counselor or therapist.
- Any exception to this policy must be approved by the Board of Deacons, and the ongoing pastoral counseling relationship shall be periodically supervised or reviewed by a person formally trained in therapy or pastoral counseling or any other such person approved by the Board of Deacons. The pastor shall seek such approval only at the express request and consent of the person being counseled.
- The Pastor shall establish and maintain a listing of professional counseling services to which people can readily be referred.
- The Pastor shall maintain progress or summary notes after each session including the identification of relevant issues raised, the counseling plan, and the pastor's responses. The confidentiality of those who receive pastoral care of a personal or sensitive nature shall be carefully maintained by the Pastor, the church secretary and any church member who is familiar with the situation in an official capacity, unless authorized in writing by the person receiving counseling.
- The pastor shall not accept any payment for pastoral care or counseling, but may accept honoraria for services associated with weddings and funerals.
- Inherent in the ministerial relationship is the prestige, power and influence which comes with the authority and nurturing characteristics of the pastoral role. Those receiving the services of the Pastor shall be free from actual or perceived sexual harassment, sexual contact and any unethical, abusive or otherwise exploitative behavior.
- HUCC shall financially provide for continuing education, professional and spiritual enrichment, and, as needed, professional supervision for the Pastor. The Pastor shall, in turn, utilize these opportunities to maintain optimum spiritual and emotional health and to receive the guidance necessary to provide quality, professional pastoral care.
- Nothing in these policies is intended to restrict or prohibit the conduct of pastoral care in a person's home, in private office sessions, or with persons who are not members of the church.
- If during the course of pastoral counseling an inappropriate relationship develops, either from the Pastor's point of view or the counselee's point of view, the Pastor shall seek the guidance of a professional counselor and/or a member of the conference staff and shall follow such advice.
- Any concerns about infractions of these policies shall be addressed to the Moderator, Assistant Moderator, Chairperson of the Board of Deacons, or member of the Response Team for complaints of inappropriate behavior. HUCC's "Procedures for Handling Complaints of Inappropriate Behavior" shall then be followed.
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Rev. David Inglis, Sr. Pastor ~ Rev. Martha Koenig Stone, Associate Pastor
Email: henucc@juno.com |
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Copyright © 2001 Henrietta United Church of Christ
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