Learn From the Caring Ministry of Desmond Tutu
Tips for Pastors From One of the World’s Greatest Carers
Nov 26, 2008
Archbishop Desmond Tutu is not just an outspoken advocate for peace and justice. He is first and foremost a caring pastor. During his ministry as a priest, bishop, and archbishop, he practiced several techniques that ensured that the people in his care felt loved and appreciated.
Anyone in the ministry can use these techniques to deepen the bonds between leadership and congregation.
Visit Your Congregation at Home
When Archbishop Desmond arrived in the Cape Town Diocese as newly appointed Archbishop, one of the first things he did was to visit all his clergy in their homes. This was not a quick pop in, but a long relaxed visit, where he engaged with the children, and spent time getting to know the priest and spouse. He would ask about problems, and listen to their needs. Although he was experiencing many personal challenges at the time because of his opposition to the apartheid government, he did not mention this and expect the clergy to support and encourage him. The visit was focused on the family.
Taking time to visit properly gave the clergy family a sense that they were truly cared for and important to the Archbishop.
Keep a Scrap Book to Pray for your Congregation
To reinforce his commitment to the people in his care, he started a prayer scrapbook. At the beginning of each year every priest and Diocesan worker was asked to send in a photograph of themselves and their family. These were labelled and pasted into a scrapbook, spread out over 30 days. Every day the Archbishop prayed by name for the families on that day.
The results were remarkable. In a crowded cathedral or at a Diocesan Christmas party he would be able to pick out by name each clergy child.
His attention to the families made them extremely loyal to him. Instead of being a remote, frightening figure as many bishops are, he became a friend to the children, who revered and loved him. And as any parent knows, it is easy to love someone who loves your children.
Write Personal Letters and Thank You Notes
The Archbishop sent handwritten cards to every priest and spouse thanking them for their ministry, on birthdays and wedding anniversaries. Gifts were always acknowledged with a handwritten thank you card. In times of trouble, he sent flowers with a note, telephoned, and sometimes visited.
Taking the trouble to hand write a postcard endeared him to his clergy. During his ministry he was extremely busy not only running a large active Diocese, but was also one of the leaders in the struggle for freedom from apartheid. He was hard pressed for time, and was persecuted by the apartheid government. Through it all he kept his clergy and their families as a priority, never being too busy to pastor them.
His pastoral care drew his staff into a unity and closeness that had enduring results for the ministry in the diocese. Adopting his techniques can only strengthen the bonds between pastors and their congregations.
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