Quaker Eldership and Pastoral Care: Residential Course

Over the weekend we will explore the heart of Quaker eldership and pastoral care, what it is and why we do it, with an invitation to reflect on how to apply our individual gifts in our service to our Quaker communities. We will refer to our Book of Discipline and other texts as well as each other’s experiences. We will do this through group discussions, individual reflection and practical tasks.

The residential nature of this course supports spacious reflection and further dialogue over time and within both formal and informal contexts with Friends who have a wide range of experiences. It may therefore benefit you if you are newly appointed, returning to the role or considering the nomination or wishing to feel refreshed in your existing role.

Sessions will be facilitated by a team of tutors with experience of eldership and pastoral care across a variety of contexts. Over the course of the weekend, they will be seeking to create a sense of community and foster a Friendly space where all can learn from one another as well as from the tutors about these core areas of Quaker practice and tradition and to find effective means of supporting our meetings and each other.

Participants who have attended a previous Spiritual Nurture and Pastoral Care in a Nutshell course may find this weekend course a helpful further exploration.