Pastoral Supervision - A Ministry Masterclass

If the ongoing pandemic has taught us anything, it is surely that mental health is fragile. While the rollout of the programme of vaccination offers hope for our physical protection from COVID-19, the psychological aftermath may prove rather more complex to address. And with such limited resources available to an NHS already overstretched by the demands of the pandemic, churches may play an increasing role in the provision of pastoral care to those suffering bereavement, redundancy and long-term illness or who have found themselves struggling with loneliness, depression and anxiety.  We will need more people on the frontline of pastoral care, but we also need to ensure they are well supported in their roles.  We need effective pastoral supervision.

This masterclass will explore the purpose and principles of pastoral supervision and its potential to build a sustainable pastoral care ministry by reducing risks of compassion fatigue and burnout. The workshop will guide church leaders to identify specific challenges facing their ministry during this period of transition and to set realistic goals to implement necessary or desirable changes.

This ministry masterclass is being led by Paul Fairchild, a Professor of Preclinical Medicine at Oxford University and a Fellow of Trinity College.

Although, as a scientist, his research focusses on cancer immunotherapy, he also trained professionally as a Psychotherapist in the 1990s, is accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and is qualified as a clinical supervisor. He has over 21 years of experience working as a psychotherapist both privately and in a primary healthcare setting. As a committed Christian with many years' experience of church leadership, he often works with Christians referred to him by churches and Christian organisations.