The Sessions of Presbyterian Churches are responsible for leadership, oversight and pastoral care of its members. Unfortunately, the term "pastoral care" seems to have faded from the public consciousness. Pastoral Care evokes the image of a shepherd tending the flock, drawing from the images of Jesus as "the Good Shepherd." At its core, it means that we take the steps and the time to help nurture people in their faith; to walk with them in times of crisis, and to celebrate with them in times of joy. All the while, we help our people discern where and how God is present in their lives. In essence, we are caring for the soul, so "spiritual care" seems to be a more descriptive term.

In the context of Clarkson Road Presbyterian Church, Spiritual Care comes in two parts. Every member is a part of an "Elder's District," where one of the elders on Session is responsible for the spiritual care of a smaller number of people within the congregation. The Elders are expected to foster a relationship with those in their district, building up a relationship and trust so that the care of the soul can take place. The minister's role is to be present in times of crisis, and often it is the elders in the congregation that alert the minister to pastoral concerns that they might have. In turn, for effective spiritual care to take place in the congregation, we encourage our members to take the time to develop the relationship and trust with their elders.