When people need help
It’s 2am, and you’re awoken by someone banging frantically at the rectory door. When you open up and peer outside, you are confronted with someone who is obviously distressed and looking for assistance. Their behaviour is a little erratic. What do you do?
This was just one of the questions addressed at a workshop for clergy and parish representatives from all over the South Sydney region run by ANGLICARE this week.
‘When people need help’ was the first of five regional workshops to be held over July and August.
The half-day short courses offer information and guidance to enhance caring ministries in parishes designed to assist people in practical ways who come to the parish or rectory for help.
“ANGLICARE is not able to set up Emergency Relief professional satellite services in all parishes”, says Jenni Sawyer, from ANGLICARE’s Parish Partnerships team.
“But we can help parishes to connect with people by offering care and support in simple and practical ways.
“Through giving them a meal or referring them for more specialised help can be a way for parishes to have meaningful and significant contact with people in the name of Christ”.
The first half of the workshop looked at the various issues that people might present with from poverty and homelessness, to addiction and mental health issues as well as analysing some of the attitudes we might bring to such an encounter.
Cath Clarke, from St. Matthews on the Corso in Manly, got in early and attended the South Sydney workshop. She says the interactive section on attitudes was helpful and challenging.
“It’s good to try and understand what people are going through from their perspective. We can’t be more aware unless we are challenged. And in the end it’s really about being more like Jesus”.
The second half of the workshop focused on skills and strategies for addressing the complex needs of people in crisis including communications strategies, establishing appropriate boundaries and developing parish action plans.
Attendees left the session feeling better equipped to address some of the more complex needs they are challenged by in their ministries.
Jenni Sawyer says she has been encouraged about the feedback she has received from the course and will continue to incorporate case studies, examples and feedback from the frontlines of ministry experience.
“At the end of the day, we just want to be able to give glory to God in all the activities that we do, in the ministry of the word and in ministries of mercy.
“This mercy comes from Jesus and points to him. That is why it is important to be aware in all situations about how we share our faith and provide an answer for the hope we profess when someone asks us why we care.”
Workshops for the Northern, Western, Georges River and Wollongong regions will be held over the next two months.
For more information about upcoming workshops, call ANGLICARE’s Parish Partnership team on (02) 9895 8000.
