The Truth About Stephen Ministers

It’s very important for anyone facing deep personal difficulties to have a good understanding of exactly what a Stephen Minister is and how a Stephen Minister provides support and encouragement in the midst of troubling situations.  Please read the information on this page to learn the truth about Stephen Ministers.  You may discover that having a trained, caring Christian friend to walk with you through stressful, lonely, or confusing times is a pathway to the strength and peace you are searching for.
  
 
What is The Meaning of The Name "Stephen Ministry"?

Stephen Ministry was named in honor of Stephen who was one of the first lay church members called to help those in need.  According to Acts 6-8, the apostles commissioned seven people, one of whom was Stephen, to provide caring ministry for the church when needs for care arose beyond which the apostles were able to meet on their own.  In a sense, Stephen was one of the first Stephen Ministers, a lay person commissioned by church leaders to provide caring ministry.
 

What does a Stephen Minister do?
 
A Stephen Minister provides one-on-one, lay Christian care.
  • One-on-one:    Stephen Ministers meet privately with one care receiver of the same gender typically an average of once per week.
  • Lay:    Stephen Ministers are supervised lay volunteer members of the congregation who have been formally trained to provide Christ-centered support and encouragement.  Stephen Ministers are not problem-solvers, counselors, therapists, pastors, physicians, or periodic visitors.  Consequently, Stephen Ministers are not authorized to give legal, medical, financial, or any other personal advice.

  • Christian:   Stephen Ministers are Christians who provide care in the name of Christ.  They are open and willing to talk about spiritual issues but are sensitive to avoid imposing these issues on others.

  • Care:    Stephen Ministers care by listening, supporting, encouraging, praying, being honest, dependable and trustworthy, and by maintaining confidentiality in their caregiving relationships.

 
Confidentiality

Upon commissioning to serve, each Stephen Minister agrees to uphold a Convenant-to-Care which includes the commitment to ensure that all personal information regarding each care receiver and caring relationship is kept confidential at all times.  Therefore, care receivers can freely share with Stephen Ministers without fear of others knowing about it.  The three pastors at SUMC (Rev. Julie Schendel, Dr. Richard Hunter, Rev. Walter Jones) may have knowledge of who is receiving Stephen Ministry care.  Otherwise, Stephen Ministers are obligated to share confidential information only on rare occasions involving either suicide, homicide, or abuse.
     
Small Group Peer Supervision

To ensure the highest quality of Christian care, Stephen Ministers meet twice each month in small groups to receive peer supervision for support, encouragement, and help in caring for those who are facing personal difficulties.  In supervision, Stephen Ministers talk about their caring relationships and express their own feelings about caregiving.  They may disclose small, incidental amounts of information about their care receivers but strictly avoid mentioning any information that would reveal the care receiver’s identity including but not limited to the name of the care receiver.  The same guidelines are applicable for individual supervision administered by either a Stephen Leader or pastor.
 
Professional Consultation

For uncommon situations, a Stephen Minister, in consultation with a Stephen Leader or pastor, may decide that the best way to help a care receiver is to consult with a mental health professional.  Confidentiality is strictly maintained in all cases.
 
Referral to a Professional

Some care receivers need professional care which is beyond the knowledge and skills of a Stephen Minister.  When a Stephen Minister has determined either through peer supervision or confidential consultation with a Stephen Leader or pastor that professional care is necessary, the Stephen Minister or a Stephen Leader will inform the care receiver and assist him or her in obtaining the required care.  Depending upon the circumstances, the caring relationship with the Stephen Minister may have to be interrupted or terminated to allow for effective care by a professional.  When professional care is required, the relationship with the Stephen Minister may only resume after the care receiver has met with the professional and has received permission from the professional for the Stephen Ministry relationship to continue.
 
Stephen Ministers:  An Expanding Group of Global Care Givers
Since the beginning of Stephen Ministry in 1975, more than 450,000 church members have been trained as Stephen Ministers to serve in the Christian caring ministry which is now active in more than 9,000 congregations from more than 100 Christian denominations, in all 50 states, in nine Canadian provinces, and in 21 other countries.  More than a million people have received care from Stephen Ministers in a formal one-on-one caring relationship. 
Have Questions?

If you have specific questions or would like to know more about Stephen Ministry, please contact one of our Referral Coordinators:  Mary Ann Kinlaw - 770.979.3939 or Rev. Julie Schendel (Associate Pastor) - 678.430.6024, who are prepared to speak with you confidentially.