Care of the Ill - Baptist Churches

Essential Practice Point 2

• The contact details at the end of the section can be used to develop a local Baptist Church contact for ongoing dialogue and relationship building with the community.
• The person is likely to wish to see their own pastor for religious and spiritual support. It is important to clarify the name of a religious contact who can be called as necessary for support for the person and guidance for the healthcare setting. This will be particularly important in times of critical illness and death-related matters.
• Baptists, relatively speaking, place less emphasis on religious ceremony, rituals and symbols. The Sacrament of Holy Communion, a religious ceremony common to Christian traditions, may be requested and can be administered by a Baptist pastor or a chaplain/clergy from the Methodist or Presbyterian Churches. Where a chaplain or minister from another church is called, the chaplain should be made aware of what is being requested and be agreeable to fulfilling the request. Additionally, where possible, the person should be notified that a chaplain from another church is being called.

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