Pastoral Care Ministries are ministries within Knox that focus on the spiritual care of the congregation. The group is comprised of a variety of ministries, each with a specific purpose, to provide care and counseling to those of the congregation in need.
Stephen Ministry
Knox is a Stephen Ministry church, with members trained in Christian caregiving. Currently Knox has five Stephen Ministers who are available to provide one-to-one Christian care and support to people in the congregation and community who are experiencing a difficult period in their lives. Some of the issues that Stephen Ministers provide counseling for are grief, illness and loneliness. Stephen Ministries services are available as long as an individual requires them.
Friendship Visitors
This ministry has a simple purpose: to arrange visits to elderly members, of the congregation, who can no longer get to church, particularly for those who do not often see family or friends. These arrangements are informal and are made by agreement between the friendship visitor and the member visited. Generally each visit lasts for one hour each week.
The Caring Team
The Caring Team was established in the early nineties and is comprised of a dedicated group of people who co ordinate receptions and luncheons held within the church. This includes funeral receptions, milestone event receptions, induction services and the Seniors’ Communion and Luncheon. Our mission is to extend Gods Love and Friendship, through the ministry of hospitality, at times of need or celebration for those in our congregation.
Leading with Care
Knox Oakville is a Leading with Care Church. It is the policy of The Presbyterian Church in Canada that all persons, and in particular all children, youth and vulnerable adults, who participate in the denomination’s programs/ministries and/or use the denomination’s facilities will be cared for with Christian compassion and will be safe.
At Knox Oakville all activities provided for our children and youth must be reviewed with and approved by the Leading with Care Team. They are required to adhere to participant / leader guidelines and an overall risk assessment.
All Leaders/Teachers working with young children and youth at Knox undergo a screening process, training, are required to submit a current Security Clearance (formerly Police Record Check) and sign a covenant of care.
For more information on Leading with Care, click here: Alternatively, a hard copy of the policy can be found in the church library.
For information on how to obtain a Security Clearance click here.
For a copy of the Knox Oakville Covenant of Care click here.
If a child or youth participant is injured, or there is an incident of concern, after the appropriate action is taken, a General Incident Report must be completed. Leading with Care reviews the incident report to ensure appropriate follow up is made and to ensure that corrective measures (if necessary) are implemented.