Care Team Ministries

212th General Assembly (2000)

The Book of Order (G-6.0401 and 6.0402), concerning the duties of the Board of Deacons, states:

The office of deacons as set forth in Scripture is one of sympathy, witness, and service after the example of Jesus Christ. Persons of spiritual character, honest repute, of exemplary lives, brotherly and sisterly love, warm sympathies, and sound judgment should for chosen for this office.

It is the duty of deacons, first of all, to minister to those who are in need, to the sick, to the friendless, and to any who may be in distress both within and beyond the community of faith.

Presbyterian AIDS Network, a leadership team of the Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association, in its service to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has developed programs and materials for advocacy and education concerning the church's understanding and support of people living with HIV/AIDS and their families and friends.

Presbyterian AIDS Network, in pursuit of this task, has implemented the ministry of Care Teams. Care Teams are from six to twelve laypeople who assist someone with life-challenging disease—e.g., HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer's, cancer, Parkinson's—with household chores and transportation to doctor's visits, drugstore, grocery store, and other needs. The Care Team offer the care and love experienced by the grace of God in Jesus Christ they do not provide medical care; they do not proselytize. Care Teams offer a helping hand as extended family.

Presbyterian AIDS Network, recognizing the unique success of this lay Care Team ministry in serving those who are in need—the sick, the friendless, and any one who may be in distress both within and beyond the community of faith-has sought ways to grow the Care Team ministry.

Presbyterian AIDS Network (in partnership with other denominations), our own Presbyterian Health Ministry office of the National Ministries Division, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta have sponsored a very successful conference in Atlanta for more than two hundred participants for the purpose of training new leaders for Care Teams development in the fall of 1997.

Presbyterian AIDS Network is committed to expanding this lay team ministry throughout the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

The 212th General Assembly (2000) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.):

1. Appropriates up to $90,000 over three years to be used exclusively for programs and not for administrative costs for the national Office of Health Ministries to conduct Regional Care Team Conferences to educate, train, and empower deacons and interested church members in organized Care Teams to reclaim the ministry of health to those affected by life-challenging disease, as set forth in Scripture as "one of the sympathy, witness, and service after the example of Jesus Christ" and "to minister to those who are in need, to the sick, to the friendless, and to any who may be in distress within and beyond the community of faith" (Book of Order, G-6.0401, G-6.0402).
2. Directs the General Assembly Council to advise the Congregational Ministries Division and the National Ministries Division, Health Ministries office, through their appropriate existing departments and staff to:
   1. confer with the leadership team of Presbyterian AIDS Network and other caring organizations of the PCUSA concerning their direct experience with the development of Care Teams ministries;
   2. having identified Care Team models that are effective, work with the Presbyterian AIDS Network in sharing this model of ministry through synods and presbyteries, in order that local churches and their Board of Deacons (or other such organizations with similar duties) might enlist their consideration and participation in the development of the Care Team ministries in all churches;
   3. ensure that these processes are carried out over the next three years and prepare a report that will be made to the 215th General Assembly (2003) concerning the results of this effort on behalf of individuals and families having experienced Care Team support in the midst of life-challenging diseases; and
   4. make available bilingual personnel and offer materials in different languages (Spanish, Korean, English, and others) in accordance with demographics of each location.

[Derived from Overture 00-61, from the Presbytery of Northern New York, Overtures 00-33, from the Presbytery of the Redwoods, and 00-96, from the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta, also addressed this subject.]