[NOTE: The rector returns from sabbatical on Aug. 19.]

Dear Friends,

In this issue of Cross Roads highlighting pastoral ministries, I'd like to use this space to introduce a new concept for meeting some of the pastoral needs of the parish: care teams.

Actually, the idea behind care teams is as old as human communities: friends and neighbors helping each other in times of need. The particular model for care teams that I'd like to implement as part of the pastoral care program in our parish was developed by the Care Team Network, from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Originally, the Care Team Network arose out of the need to address the AIDS crisis. In fact, the Chapel of the Cross has had an AIDS care team for a number of years that has supported persons with HIV disease. The Care Team Model, however, may be applied to much broader pastoral applications, basically to any substantial care need. It is extremely flexible and adaptable for numerous situations. For instance, care teams are one way of addressing the Elder Ministry goal of supporting frail elderly persons living alone, or assisting persons undergoing cancer treatment or stricken with a terminal illness, offering support to families caring for a loved-one with Alzheimer's, helping a person with a permanent disability, or even joyful circumstances such as offering support to a family after the birth of triplets. Care teams may be formed to help parishioners or people outside the parish, such as in the case of our AIDS care team. What any one care team does varies according to the needs of the person or family needing care, as well as the abilities and interests of the care team members themselves. The goal is to match caregivers' interests and abilities with the needs of the care recipients.

What I have found particularly appealing is the completely voluntary nature of the Care Team Network Model. Time constraints are respected. For instance, monthly meetings of the care team are limited to 59 minutes! People are asked to serve only as long as they are able; there are no service term requirements. Members may leave the care team at any time with the understanding that they say their good-byes to both care recipient and other team members. The members of the care team do what they love to do, and give what they are able to give. Interests and gifts are matched with needs. The team members support one another so that no one person is over-burdened. Knowing that the care team members are serving in ways they truly want to serve, makes it much easier for the care recipients to receive the care. The care recipient's fear of over-burdening others is in that way alleviated. It is a win-win situation for everyone.

Parishioner Bob Comey and I attended a workshop in late May taught by the developers of the Care Team Network. The workshop was sponsored by a local organization, Project Compassion. As a result, the parish is now a part of a local network coordinated by Project Compassion that gives us access to local trainers, a speakers' bureau to educate care teams on the various issues that may arise, as well as communication with other area care teams so that ideas and suggestions may be exchanged.

If you know of anyone who may benefit from a care team, tell them about the concept and ask them if I may call them. If you would be interested in serving on a care team, please notify me and plan to attend the Discovery Event, which will be set in late August, to learn more about care teams. If you have access to the Internet, I encourage you to look up the Care Team Network web site.

I'm very excited about the potential for strengthening and expanding the pastoral care of our parish that care teams will facilitate. The organization and structure is already provided. All we have to do is implement it in the spirit of the Good Shepherd who cares for us all.

Peace,

Vicky Jamieson-Drake