The Parish of St. Barnabas is recognized as a Shared Ministry Parish. This means that the responsibility for the Church’s ministry is shared by all its members, either ordained or laypersons. As part of this ministry, a visiting team was established in Autumn 2004 to care not only for members of the congregation but for the whole community. ( This team complements but does not replace the informal caring that goes on in the parish)

There are two co-ordinators and three contact people in church and the community and their role is to recognize when some form of pastoral care ought to be considered and offered.

There are eleven members, who are committed to visiting. They will call on people at home and offer friendly support to anyone going through a trying time and who would welcome that kind of support. The aim is to listen to people who are anxious in any way

From Spring 2006, five of the team have undertaken to carry out bereavement visiting, which is a follow up to the visit made by a member of the clergy before a funeral service

The visiting team has had instruction and guidance from the Diocesan Advisory Service and the Parish Priest in visiting skills and a strict code of confidentiality is practised. A team member will always make contact and seek permission to call beforehand.

The Parish Priest meets the co-ordinators fortnightly and the whole team at regular intervals ; so there is continuous appraisal of areas of concern and care.

Chris Gardiner

on behalf of the Team