PURPOSE: The Deacon of Special Ministries shall develop and implement programs that serve the spiritual needs of members and friends in the community with special physical, emotional, economic, family, or distance needs.

OBJECTIVES:
Develop and maintain a visitation ministry to the ill, elderly home bound, bereaved, etc.

Develop and maintain a program of family ministry for the congregation including counseling and support groups

Develop and maintain ministry addressing the specific worship, education and fellowship needs of anyone with special needs

Develop and maintain an active contact ministry with “distant” members

Partner in developing a ministry of nurture and outreach to the institutionalized of our parish area

Oversee the congregation’s efforts to provide transportation and access to church activities to any who would desire it

Develop and oversee a plan for providing childcare during ministry events

Oversee all social concern programs of the congregation which are focused on those in material need

RESPONSIBILITIES:
 Serve as, or recruit and supervise, the chair of the Visitation Committee defined by Bylaw Article 8(j)

 Ensure the recruitment, training and supervisions of volunteers in a systematic program of visitation and assistance (including a parish nursing/hospice effort) for the ill, disabled and elderly home-bound, the bereaved and other members/friends in such need

 Oversee the congregation’s welfare work among the sick and the needy, and shall see to it that pastor(s) and the
congregation not neglect their duties toward such persons

 Actively advocate, develop and administrate ministry efforts that engage and edify the developmentally disabled, sight and hearing impaired, handicapped, elderly and all other members and friends having special needs including transportation to and physical access to all ministry events

 Develop and implement a plan for “on-site” individual and family counseling, support group, and intervention ministry

 Facilitate the development, direction and implementation of all nursery/child care efforts for all congregational events requiring them so that parents may participate without concern for their children

 Recruit, train and oversee volunteers in maintaining a mail, CD/DVD and internet ministry with members required to live at a distance including those in the military, away at college, working abroad and others in such need

 Partner with the Deacon of Evangelism in developing and maintaining an effort of nurture and outreach with members and the un-churched confined in area facilities

 Recruit, train and oversee volunteers in maintaining a prayer ministry

 Facilitate a process of policy development and compliance for all elements of ministry under his responsibility bringing forward all policy proposals he deems appropriate to the Parish Council for discussion and approval

 Lead the annual process of ministry and budget planning for special ministries

 Furnish, when requested, all necessary records for the audit committee

 Prepare quarterly update reports for the Parish Council

 Prepare and present an annual report of activities to the Presiding Elder and the Presiding Elder’s Committee