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Pastoral Care
.
. . the Ministry of Presence
“God’s
greatest glory is human beings fully alive.”
---Ireneaus
To be fully
alive each of us needs to know that we matter . . .
really matter . . .
to
God,
to
others,
and
even to ourselves.
So often persons living with a physical and/or developmental disability
are left wondering about their own worth and value. They find themselves
facing losses and isolation that most say cause far more suffering
than does their actual disability. Many feel that not only are they
not welcome in their communities, but they feel like strangers even
in their own churches.
Responding to
this need that is so common among the 21% of our community that
has disabilities is the role of the chaplains at Bridge Ministries.
Through pastoral care we build relationships of respect by being
fully present to the persons we serve. We listen carefully as persons
engage their struggles and questions, hopes and dreams. We take
their concerns very seriously and in so-doing reflect back to them
their beauty, goodness and capacity to grow. Thus, persons feel
affirmed and valued, able to appreciate their own God-given dignity
and to engage their world in life-affirming ways. They discover
that they “matter” far more than they can imagine. In
this way we honor the persons we serve and affirm their essential
role in the life of church and society. We also recognize that to
the extent that persons with disabilities are missing from our communities,
we all suffer from their absence and the wisdom they have to share.
Whom
We Serve
- Adults, ages
18-70 (pre-geriatric), in Washington state’s Puget Sound
area, who are experiencing long term disabling physical and/or
developmental conditions as a result of birth, illness or accident
and who desire to explore new options for their lives.
- Church communities
and their members in their relationships with
persons with disabilities.
- Members
of the community at large in their relationships with
persons with disabilities (e.g. family members, caregivers, friends,
volunteers, etc.).
Services
We Offer
- Visiting
persons with disabilities in their homes, rehabilitation centers
or hospital rooms
- Listening
with care and compassion
- Supporting
individuals in reflecting on the meaning of their life experiences
in the context of their faith tradition
- Seeking
hope in the midst of loss
- Promoting
relationships with others to enhance their quality of life
- Joining with
them in problem-solving
- Bridging
to resources in the community
A Word
About Our Chaplains
The Bridge Chaplains
minister to persons we serve regardless of their religious affiliation.
Our role is to support persons as they seek wholeness in their lives.
- For more
information about Rev. Emery, please visit Rev.
Dr. David Emery, who is the Interim Chaplain of Personal Enrichment.
- For more
information about Donna, please visit Donna
Whitmore, who is the Chaplain for Volunteer Ministries and
is an ordained Presbyterian minister.
Our
ultimate vision for
persons with disabilities through the Pastoral Care Program will
have been realized:
- When persons
with disabilities feel valued and are taken seriously
- When their
gifts are recognized and utilized
- When persons
with disabilities are included in the total life of their churches
and their communities, to the extent that they are able to and/or
choose to participate
- When there
is a clear understanding that all of us participate in “brokenness”
by virtue of our very humanity
- When there
is an embrace of that brokenness
- When there
is the recognition that all human beings are created in God’s
image
For
more information about Pastoral Care:
There
is no charge for services, although donations are welcome. For more
information, please visit Donate.
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