Compasspoint Nonprofit Services

Compasspoint Nonprofit Services

Compasspoint Nonprofit Services

In order to determine whether or not pastoral care services are appropriate for an organization’s clients, it is necessary to define and describe such services. Otherwise, there is a tendency for many people to assume that these are religious outreach programs, and immediately respond that they are not necessary.

What is Pastoral Care?

The Multi-Faith Centre of Canberra University in Australia uses this description of what their staff do: ‘they aim to assist individuals find meaning in life and hope for their future, without determining a particular path or outcome, and are patient in allowing individuals to choose how and when they share the nature of their issues.’

This means that, yes, religious outreach might be a component of pastoral care. However, it is much more than that.