BeFriender Ministry is not so much "doing" but rather
"being" - a ministry of presence, of quiet listening.
Mission Statement
BeFriender Ministry is an ecumenical program at the University of St. Thomas,
which exists to expand the pastoral care extended by the church. It
develops and equips leadership teams to train lay people to respond in the
name of the church to the emotional and spiritual needs of individuals by
bringing a caring presence and a living reminder of God's love.
BeFriender Ministry began at the University of St. Thomas in 1981. It
has a strong history as a pioneer in the empowerment of the laity in pastoral
care. Its voice continues to be prophetic because it is dedicated to
ongoing discernment through prayer, education and mutual dialogue with the people
served as well as with leaders in ministry.
Laity and clergy involved in BeFriender Ministry bring a diversity of faith
traditions and lived experiences representing a variety of age, educational, and
economic backgrounds. What unites them is their deep sense of call to a
ministry of listening presence and their commitment to support and challenge one
another as, together, they discover and grow in the ministry of lay pastoral
care.
BeFrienders seek to minister with a focus on gospel values. In their
commitment to reach out to others, they are also conscious of the nourishment
they receive from the gifts of the Spirit present in the lives of the people
they serve. This sense of mutual ministry, as well as an awareness of the
need for a balance of prayer, family study, reflection, work and play, helps
BeFrienders mature in their ministry of care.
It is our belief that, because of the presence of the BeFriender Ministry in
a church or agency, a ripple effect will be felt by community members empowering
them to discover and respond to their own particular gifts and to be open to the
gifts of others. As members of the church live out their interdependence
as the Body of Christ, they will gain greater intimacy with God and one another,
helping to uncover the reign of God present in the world.
