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Dennis Neenan and Bill Fisher, Directors of Pastoral
Care, plan their next "road trip" |
WHAT IS PASTORAL CARE?
In June of 1980, a full time Pastoral Care Ministry was initiated
within Wesley Senior Ministries communities. Two full time
pastors and nine pastors serving churches close to Wesley
properties outside of Shelby County offer a traditional parish
ministry of preaching, Bible Study, prayer services, sacraments,
home and hospital visitation, counseling, education, and fellowship
to Wesley residents.
The Pastoral Care Ministry provides an ecumenical communion
of many church traditions and several faiths intended to supplement
Wesley residents’ church home or faith communities’
outreach. For neighbors more confined or forgotten, we may
become the primary providers of ministry. Through listening
to prayer requests, being proactive, and working with management,
the Pastoral Care Ministry responds to a vast array of integrated
spiritual, emotional, and everyday needs. Being involved in
these life journeys continually reminds us that aging is both
an individual and a family affair. Wesley neighbors are ministers
to each other, to staff, and to families, offering their spiritual
gifts and their time.
Wesley Senior Ministries has two full-time pastors. Dennis
Neenan has 23 years of pastoral care experience, and has been
with Wesley since 1980. Bill Fisher served 25 years in local
and regional churches before coming to Wesley in 2004. Neenan
and Fisher believe that their job description would state
that they are circuit riders (a John Wesley tradition) who
are involved in parish ministry in a non-traditional setting.
They provide ministry to residents, their families, and staff
in Wesley communities through preaching, Bible study, prayer
services, sacraments, home and hospital visitation, counseling
and fellowship. These full-time pastors serve the Shelby County
communities themselves. They supervise the following United
Methodist pastors who serve the 11 communities outside of
Shelby County:
Rev. Deborah Webb
Wesley at Adamsville
and Oakhaven Village,
Adamsville, Tennessee
Rev. Dan Tilly
Wesley Hills and Wesley
Homes, Dyersburg, Tennessee
Rev. Alan Trull
Wesley Pine Ridge, and
Wesley Pine Meadow, Paris, Tennessee
Rev. Marita Burkeen and Rev. John Holcomb
Wesley Apartments
- Lake County, Tiptonville, Tennessee
Rev. Eugene Nichols
Wesley Park Meadows,
Halls, Tennessee
Rev. Dan Tilly
Wesley at Dyersburg
Nursing Care
and Canterbury Place,
Dyersburg, Tennessee
Rev. Judd Mowery
Wesley at Martin, Martin,
Tennessee
Rev. S. Mark Earheart
Wesley at Murray, Murray,
Kentucky
The Pastoral Care department of Wesley Senior Ministries
is charged with keeping the "ministry" focus in
"Ministries." It is a consuming challenge and a
real blessing for all concerned. Reverend Fisher says, "I've
never been welcomed with as many smiles and thank yous as
I have received from our Wesley residents for their pastoral
care. He and Reverend Neenan agree that they are the ones
who are thankful for the opportunity to serve the Wesley residents.
They believe that listening and responding to feelings is
their most Holy task.
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