Healing Ministry
HEALING MINISTRY
- The Church's Ministry of
Healing is an integral part of the life of the Church. In a parish it should
be closely related to normal regular worship and to the ongoing pastoral work
of the parish.
- Congregations should receive regular teaching about
the Church's ministry of healing and the particular forms of that ministry.
Teaching helps to prepare people for services which may include the laying
on of hands, or anointing, with prayer for healing, both for those present
and for others by proxy.
- At such services everyone should be made welcome and
the congregation encouraged to support those who receive such ministry, and
those who offer it, by maintaining a prayerful atmosphere.
- It is recommended by the Archbishops' Commission on
the Church's Healing Ministry (1958) that there be no advertising of "Healing
Services" in the public press, and that care should be taken with church
notices.
- The incumbent has responsibility for the provision
of this ministry. Functions may be delegated and shared with a team of lay
and ordained people approved by the incumbent, but the incumbent retains oversight
and responsibility for team practice, preparation and after-care.
- Clergy and any teams should establish and abide by
a code of practice regarding confidentiality.
- Issues should not be raised outside prayer times with
those who have sought ministry, except at their request, or with their permission.
- People seeking prayer and healing who have obvious
emotional or psychological disturbance should be encouraged to seek medical
advice if they have not already done so. Clergy exercising such a ministry
should develop a close understanding with local doctors and statutory agencies
leading to appropriate collaboration. Situations requiring extended prayer
ministry should be referred to those with adequate training and supervision.
- Under Canon B37 only a priest may exercise the ministry
of anointing.
- It must be clearly established that prayer ministry
is not counselling. Situations requiring professional advice should be referred
by the incumbent or healing team leader.
- It is strongly recommended that no lay person be a
member of a healing team unless approved as suitable by the incumbent and
adequately trained on a Learning Healing Ministry weekend or similar training
approved by the incumbent. Incumbents are urged to take account of any comments
by the training team about the suitability of a lay person for this ministry.
- Members of prayer teams normally operate in pairs;
normally this should be a man and a woman. Where there are insufficient numbers
of trained people, or in small parishes, it may be appropriate to ask for
assistance from the Area Healing Team (if there is one), or another parish.
- A Healing Team co-ordinator or leader should be identified
and made known to the congregation. Clear lines of accountability with the
incumbent should be established.
- To help focus the team and weld it together, regular
team meetings should be held for support, mutual ministry and further training.
There should be an annual review of team membership and practice by the incumbent
or incumbent and team leader.
- Team members are encouraged to enlarge their knowledge
and understanding. They should be aware of their own spiritual journey and
be willing to receive ministry from others, and to attend Healing Network
days. They should not expect to serve on a Healing team indefinitely and are
encouraged to have interests outside the church and the healing ministry.
