Winnipeg, Man.
Mennonite Church Manitoba is pleased that its Spiritual Care Volunteers Program, a hospital visitation ministry, is alive and well. Peter J. Dyck, a member of the Bethel Mennonite Church here, has accepted the role of coordinating this program on a voluntary basis.
"After a time of loss and uncertainty, we are delighted to be able to share a new level of commitment and excitement for this ministry," said John Klassen, director of Leadership Ministries for MC Manitoba.
The conference cut the visitation program from its budget in October 2002.
"Cutting a care-giving ministry with such a loyal volunteer base was difficult. However, we were forced to choose between many excellent ministries," said Klassen.
While initial plans were to invite congregations to pick up this program, it quickly became apparent that this was not the best alternative.
"Numerous appeals from directors of spiritual care in the hospitals we served and from our volunteers encouraged us to seek to find a new way of maintaining a denominational focus," said Klassen. Unfortunately, it was still necessary to cut a part-time chaplaincy position.
Dyck, who will coordinate the hospital volunteers, is a retired teacher whose idea of retirement was to finish a master of divinity degree, including clinical pastoral education. All the spiritual care volunteers--Kay Klassen, Greti Peters, Ben Sawatzky, Linda Wiebe, Orletta Wiebe and David Winter--have agreed to continue their visitations.
"Without a salaried chaplain and coordinator we will undoubtedly require more volunteers to offer similar ministry, but we feel confident that people will step forward to receive the necessary training to serve in this role," said Klassen.
In late May, Klassen and Dyck met with the spiritual care volunteers to review the vision, to renew their commitment and to set priorities for the future of the program.--From MC Manitoba release
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