Pastoral care is being present to someone during a time of need in their lives. The Allen Avenue Unitarian Universalist Church’s Pastoral Care Team is a group of church members who have some training or experience in compassionate listening, and are available to other members who are experiencing illness, bereavement, or other stressful challenges.

At A2U2, much of this compassionate listening happens informally between members and friends, or in the context of other church groups. But the Pastoral Care Team is able to respond more intentionally to help our church live out its mission of caring. Pastoral care is not psychological analysis or therapy—it doesn’t try to solve problems, give advice, or save anyone from the struggles of their own life journey. Pastoral care is compassionate listening.