“Congregational care” is increasingly used in place of “pastoral care.” It emphasizes the whole church’s shared responsibility to care for its members, rather than locating that responsibility solely with pastors. The term also helps distinguish care offered within the congregation from care specifically directed toward pastors and other ministry leaders. For those reasons, this terminology is used in the headings throughout the material below.
Congregational Care Websites
CareLeader: Strategic, Real-World Pastoral Care (many articles on various topics related to pastoral care)
5 Ways to Mobilize Your Church for Congregational Care
How an Effective Congregational Care Ministry Deepens Bonds
Association of Professional Chaplains
Congregational Care Articles: General
Pastoral Care (1): Definitions and Background
History and Foundations of Pastoral Care
Pastoral Care (in a Life Group Training Manual)
SHEPHERDING THE FLOCK: C.A.R.E. – A MODEL FOR PASTORAL MINISTRY (Doctoral Thesis)
Congregational Care: A Guide to Building a Caring and Effective Ministry
What are the 7 Functions of Pastoral Care?
7 Ideas for an Effective Care Ministry
How to Provide Better Pastoral Care for Your Church (Careleader.org)
CareLeader is a ministry of Church Initiative. Church Initiative is a nonprofit, church-equipping ministry based in Wake Forest, NC. Its mission is to equip churches to help people who are hurting.
Over the past twenty-two years, Church Initiative has created resources like DivorceCare, GriefShare, DivorceCare for Kids, Single & Parenting, and other ministry tools.
Congregational Care Articles: for Specific Groups
Congregational Care Training
Clinical Pastoral Education at Liberty University
Books on Kindle
Congregational Care: General
Professional Spiritual & Pastoral Care – Roberts et al
Care for the Dying: A Practical and Pastoral Guide – Davison et al
Pastoral Care in Times of Death and Dying – Goddard
The Dying Thoughts of Richard Baxter
Creating Moments of Joy Along the Alzheimer’s Journey – Brackey
How to Talk with Sick, Dying and Grieving People – Riecke
Pastoral Care: An Essential Guide – Patton
The Grief Recovery Handbook: The Action Program for Moving Beyond Death, Divorce, and Other Losses including Health, Career and Faith – James and Friedman
Crisis Counseling in the Congregation – Webb (sample)
Pastoral Care: The Core of Christian Ministry – Pettett
Foundations of Pastoral Care – Petersen
Congregational Care Teams
Care and Visitation Ministry: Equipping You to Serve – Outreach, Inc
Serving in Church Visitation – Stubblefield
Care Revolution: Directions for Implementing an Effective Care Ministry – Bosman
Visiting on Behalf of Your Church: A Guide for Deacons, Care Teams & Those Who Visit – Zehring
Suicide Prevention and Resources
ARTICLES
A Suicide Care Plan: One Church’s Model – Kendra Fabel (Journal of Biblical Counseling
Dealing with Suicide (Notes from Pastoral Counseling seminary course)
BOOKS IN PRINT AND ON KINDLE
The Essentials of Suicide Prevention: A Blueprint for Churches – Karen Mason
The Suicide Prevention Pocket Guidebook: How to Support Someone Who is Having Suicidal Feelings – Joy Hibbins
Rethinking Suicide: Why Prevention Fails, and How We Can Do Better – Craig J. Bryan
Preaching Hope in Darkness: Help for Pastors in Addressing Suicide from the Pulpit – Scott M. Gibson, Karen E. Mason
The Suicide Funeral (or Memorial Service): Honoring Their Memory, Comforting Their Survivors – Melinda Moore
Providing Care for Pastors*
Pastoring Pastors (PastoralCareInc.)
*The exception on this page is the website above for providing care to pastors themselves.
Mental Health Care in the Church 