Stephen Ministers
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St. Columba’s uses the Stephen Ministry program to train and equip members of the parish to provide care to those who have experienced a loss or difficult transition. Stephen Ministers receive 50 hours of training and are available to provide regular visits with people who are experiencing a loss, crisis or difficult life transition. If you would like to learn more about the Stephen Ministry program or request the help of a Stephen Minister, contact Rob Boulter (pastoral@columba.org).
What Does a Stephen Minister Do?
A Stephen Minister gives one-to-one, lay Christian care.
One-to-one: Stephen Ministers meet privately with one care receiver, generally of the same gender.
Lay: Stephen Ministers are trained and supervised lay volunteers, not professional counselors or therapists, clergy or physicians.
Christian: Stephen Ministers are Christians who care in the name of Christ. They are willing to talk about spiritual issues but won't force them.
Care: Stephen Ministers care by listening, supporting and encouraging, praying, being dependable and trustworthy, and maintaining confidentiality in their caregiving.
Stephen Ministers Are Not . . .
Stephen Ministers are not counselors and do not give legal, financial, medical or any other kind of advice. Stephen Ministers do not replace the pastoral care provided by the clergy but rather extend and support its reach.
Confidentiality
Stephen Ministers keep personal information strictly confidential.
Small Group Peer Supervision
Stephen Ministers meet twice a month in small groups to give and receive peer supervision, which is necessary to help them provide quality care and grow as caregivers. In supervision Stephen Ministers talk about their caring relationships and their own feelings about caregiving. They may share small amounts of information about their care receivers, but they never tell the care receiver's name and they do not share information that would reveal the care-receiver’s identity.
Professional Consultation
On rare occasions a Stephen Minister, in consultation with a Stephen Leader or priest may decide that the best way to help a care receiver is to consult with a mental health professional. In such cases confidentiality is strictly maintained.
Professional Referrals
Some care receivers also need professional care. In such a case, a Stephen Minister or Stephen Leader will talk with the care receiver and help him or her obtain the care he or she needs. That may mean that the caring relationship with the Stephen Minister will be interrupted or even have to end. When a care receiver needs professional care, the relationship with the Stephen Minister may continue only after the care receiver has met with the professional and the professional has given permission for the Stephen Ministry relationship to continue.
To Receive Care from a Stephen Minister
If you would like to receive care from a Stephen Minister, contact the Rev. Rob Boulter.
To Inquire about Becoming a Stephen Minister
Stephen Minister training sessions are held at least once a year and consist of 50 hours of training, conducted on consecutive Tuesday evenings and once a month on Saturday mornings. If you would like to learn more about becoming a Stephen Minister, contact the Rev. Rob Boulter (pastoral@columba.org).
For more on this ministry, watch this video from Religion and Ethics NewsWeekly.
Download Stephen Minister Resources
Click here to access tracking forms used by Stephen Ministers to record visits and track contact with their care receivers.
