 Job
Description
Stephen
Ministers are members of Blessed John XXIII University Parish
who are recruited, selected, trained, and commissioned to provide
one-to-one lay caring ministry to persons in crisis or with other
needs for care. They participate in Peer Supervision Group twice
a month. They initially commit to serve for two years including
training and may renew their commitment.
What
Stephen Ministers Do
A defined cluster of activities make up a Stephen Minister’s
job description.
Pray
Stephen Ministers pray daily for their care receivers and strive
to worship God always in word and deed. They reveal the love of
God to those who most need to see it.
Care
for the Care Receiver
Stephen Ministers are assigned to care receivers—people
in crisis who need caring support. Stephen Ministers care for
those in moderate difficulties. The Stephen Minister’s care
helps the care receiver resolve the difficulty and achieve growth.
Most
Stephen Ministers meet once a week with their care receivers for
about an hour at a time. They may also check in with the care
receiver by telephone, particularly when the care receiver is
going through a difficult time.
Stephen
Ministers use special skills to care for their care receivers.
Among the most important are the following:
Listening. Most care receivers need someone simply
to listen—really listen—as the talk through their
difficulties.
Dealing
with feelings. Stephen Ministers reflect the care receiver’s
content, feelings, and ideas and ask open-ended questions to help
the care receiver recognize, express, and accept his or her feelings.
Sharing
distinctively Christian caring resources. Stephen Ministers
may share a prayer, a Bible verse or story, or other caring gestures
that the care receiver would welcome.
Remaining
process-oriented. Stephen Ministers do not try to fix
the care receiver of his or her problems; they focus on the process
of caregiving and rely on God to achieve results.
Relating assertively. Stephen Ministers respect
both the needs of the care receiver and their own needs as well.
Maintaining
boundaries. Stephen Ministers set appropriate boundaries
in the caring relationship, helping the care receiver remain as
independent as possible while being there for the care receiver
as needed.
Recommending
professional care when necessary. Stephen Ministers are
not trained to care for those who are suicidal, severely depressed,
abusive, or homicidal, or who are abusing drugs or alcohol. If
Stephen Ministers recognize that their care receiver’s needs
exceed the care they are able to provide, they see that the care
receiver receivers professional care.
Maintain
Confidentiality
Stephen Ministers understand that confidentiality is
crucial in any caring relationship. The care receiver needs to
know that what he or she says to the Stephen Minister will remain
in confidence. Stephen Ministers maintain confidentiality and
encourage other Stephen Ministers to do the same.
Help Identify People in Need of Stephen Ministry
Stephen Ministers act as ministers of referral, helping
to find people who would benefit form the care of a Stephen Minister.
Participate
in Twice-Monthly Supervision and Continuing Education Sessions
Stephen Ministers participate faithfully in Small Group
Peer Supervision and continuing education, coming prepared to
every supervision session unless illness or emergency makes attendance
impossible. Supervision provides Stephen Ministers with support,
guidance, and accountability for their caring relationships. There
are no unsupervised Stephen Ministers.
Help
the Congregation Understand and Appreciate Stephen Ministry
Through their service, Stephen Ministers help the congregation
appreciate Stephen Ministry and encourage members to become ministers
of referral who help those in crisis receive the care they need.
How
Blessed John XXIII University Parish Supports the Stephen Minister
The Stephen Minister has responsibilities and so does
the parish.
Training
Through its trained Stephen Leaders, the parish supplies
Stephen Ministers 50 hours of training for this ministry before
they are assigned a care receiver, and further supplies continuing
education twice monthly as long as the Stephen Ministers serve.
The training is comprehensive, and Stephen Ministers can feel
confident in their skills for this ministry.
Commissioning
Blessed John XXIII University Parish formally commissions
Stephen Ministers at one or more Masses. This allows the community
to recognize their efforts, affirm and support their ministry,
and pray for them as they begin their caring ministry.
Supervision
Small Group Peer Supervision provides Stephen Ministers
with encouragement and assures that no Stephen Minister will ever
have to carry the responsibility for his or her care receiver
all alone.
Prayers
Stephen Ministers rely on the prayers of the parish for
keeping God’s presence foremost in their caring ministry.
Sometimes the going will be tough for both caregivers and care
receivers; the Stephen Ministers will need the additional support
of knowing that others are lifting their needs as caregivers to
God in prayer.
Stephen
Leaders
By accepting Stephen Ministry as part of its overall
ministry, Blessed John XXIII University Parish agrees to supply
the resources that allow for the training of Stephen Leaders.
These Stephen Leaders in turn provide guidance for Stephen Ministers.
They train them and ensure that the Supervision and continuing
education sessions progress smoothly. They are available to consult
with Stephen Ministers when they have questions, face challenges,
or suspect that the care receiver’s needs exceed the care
they are able to give. Stephen Leaders offer support, advice,
and affirmation to the Stephen Ministers and ensure the smooth
operation of Stephen Ministry in the congregation.
Recognition
and Appreciation
Blessed John XXIII University Parish recognizes and appreciates
Stephen Ministers for the service they give the parish and community.
Copyright
©2000 by Stephen Ministries, St. Louis.
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