This is the second part of my assessment of Mountainview after one year as pastor. I would like to make a few comments and a proposal with respect to how pastoral care happens.

Let me begin by saying that Mountainview as a community does a very good job of caring for each other. Those who are elders and deacons and care workers make a point of connecting with the people in their neighbourhoods (our name for what other churches call districts, zones, or wards). Elders and deacons work together and one of them is usually the point person when there are people who are sick or otherwise in need. Beyond the formal care system, this congregation is full of people with caring hearts and a network of connections so that most people receive good contact and care.

Because care at Mountainview is happening well, I want to suggest that we don’t need to hire another pastor of pastoral care. This is definitely not because any deficiency in the way Pastor Fred or any others in that role handled things. My sense is that they were deeply appreciated.

My reasoning is rather simple, I think. It is time that Mountainview owns the value of a healthy body of believers. This body, as I said above, has healthy dynamics of mutual care. The only step yet needed is to come to state and believe and live out of the understanding that any visit and care given by any Mountainview member is pastoral care. The biblical mandate is to love one another. We are doing that. If we are ready to accept that visits by the lead pastor are no more important or effective than those done by other members, then we are all set.

We seem to be well aware that there are far too many people who are part of Mountainview for me to be the one visiting everyone. I have been enjoying getting to know the congregation and will continue to do so. However, by my math it will take years before I have visited everyone. So by that same math there is no way I can be the pastoral care giver to all, or even half the congregation. But it isn’t just because of numbers. It is a very healthy thing for a community to be engaged in mutual ministry. My task is to make sure systems are in place to support and empower those who are giving care. Between the small group support system and the pastoral elder and deacon ministries, those systems are here.

Now, I suspect that some of you may have questions or concerns about this plan. Rest assured that I am very open to hearing from you. I don’t think this change will be without bumps or challenges, but I stand convicted that this is the healthiest way for us to move forward.

Again, thanks to all who do great work in caring for one another and let me know your thoughts and feelings about this proposed way forward.

Pastor Erick Schuringa

Pastoral Care - January 19, 2022