This page is designed for Lay Pastoral Assistants and all offering pastoral care in the diocese. It also contains links that we hope you will find useful for your pastoral ministry.
Becoming a Lay Pastoral Assistant
See the Lay Pastoral Assistants Ministry Page for information.
Bereavement and grief
- Marie Curie Page on stages of grief
- NHS Page on dealing with grief
- Cruse Bereavement Care and Somerset branch
Church of England resources
Church of England Worship Resources. There is a lot here including services for pastoral occasions.
Hospital visiting
NHS Guide to hospital visiting
Illness, healing and well-being
- Diocesan Healing Forum and Healing Wells
- MIND – the mental health charity
Listening Skills
Acorn Ministries have training resources for Listening and Healing Ministries.
Further Reading
Bibliography of relevant books and resources is available in the downloads section below.
Publicity
Do let people know about LPA ministry and refer them to the Lay Pastoral Assistants Ministry page for more details.
Diocesan resources
Please follow the link to how local ministry is discerned and resourced Lay Ministry Pathway.
Incumbents or other Licenced Ministers wishing to run a course or to further resource LPAs are asked to contact the Ministry Training Team for a course and accompanying slides.
To suggest further links or resources you have found useful, or to notify of any broken links, please contact Charmain Gilmour, Ministry Training Team Administrator.
Safeguarding notice
All those who go on to exercise ministry on behalf of the church are safely recruited following DBS checks and safeguarding training.
Who to contact
Charmain Gilmour, Training and Ministry Administrator