+ A Stephen Minister meets regularly with a person to listen, care, encourage, and provide confidential emotional and spiritual support.

+ The Stephen Leaders will meet with the person first to make sure Stephen Ministry is a good fit for their situation. If the needs of the person are beyond what Stephen Ministry can provide, the Stephen Leaders will make every effort to connect that person to another resource that could be of help.

+ A Stephen Minister is paired with a care receiver and will meet with that person once a week for about an hour. Males are paired with males, and females with females.

+  Stephen Ministers do not see couples, families, or children.

+ Where meetings take place is something that the Stephen Minister and care receiver will determine. Possibilities include the care receiver’s home, a space in Bernadette Hall, some public place that allows for sufficient privacy such as a park or outdoor eatery. The main considerations are privacy and confidentiality.

+  Confidentiality is a key component – only the Stephen Leaders and, at times, the Pastor know who the care receivers are. A Stephen Minister does not reveal who they are seeing to anyone, not even other Stephen Ministers.

+  Stephen Ministers are well-trained lay people and do not provide professional counseling. They also are not able to provide other assistance such as transportation, child care, or other household tasks.

+  Stephen Ministers meet twice monthly for Group Supervision where they process how the caring relationship is going, without revealing any identifying information. This is done to support the Stephen Ministers in providing the best possible care.

+ The length of the caring relationship will vary with circumstances but ending the relationship will always be done in consultation with the care receiver.

If you are interested in having a Stephen Minister, or if you would like additional information, please feel free to contact one of the Stephen Leaders:
 

• Pat Mackin at 554-0884, or
• Joyce Dilleshaw at 993-8592.

All contacts remain confidential.