08/26/2026
There are still space available for this Iona Collaborative course! Check out the details below and register today.
Caring for One Another: Practical Pastoral Care for the Whole Congregation
Pastoral care is not only the work of clergy. Every day, lay and ordained leaders listen to people’s stories, accompany them through change and loss, and help them recognize God’s presence in their lives. When more people develop these skills, the whole congregation becomes better equipped to care for one another.
But how do we know what kind of care a particular person or situation needs?
Sometimes we are called to listen and bear witness. Sometimes we help bring something new to life. Some relationships require the patience of a gardener, while others ask us to become a bridge across cultural differences.
In this practical and reflective course, Chaplain Sarah Knoll will introduce memorable images of spiritual care—including the Ascetic Witness, Midwife, Gardener, and Cultural Broker. Participants will use these images to examine real-life pastoral situations, better understand their own caregiving instincts, and expand the ways they support people in their congregations and communities.
Through conversation, case studies, and insights from classic and postcolonial approaches to spiritual care, participants will gain practical tools for listening, responding, and walking alongside others with greater wisdom, humility, and compassion.
This course is for lay and ordained leaders—and for anyone who wants to help create a more caring congregation. No formal pastoral-care experience is required.
Instructor: Chaplain Sarah Knoll, CPE Educator
Mondays, 6:00–7:30 p.m. CT
September 14–November 9
