Often the person being called upon by the Deacon is content with a visit from someone from the Church, and the Pastor's presence is not needed. However, if someone asks for the Pastor, the Deacons make sure that the Pastor knows it. You can expect your Pastor to call on you in the hospital if the Pastor knows about it. Please, as a courtesy to the Body of Christ to which you belong, call, or have someone in your family call the church to let the Pastor know. Likewise, if you or someone in your family is ill, and wants to talk to the Pastor, do call and let the Pastor know.
Pastors are often the first one families in trouble turn to.
This is a valid expectation on your part. As a general rule, most Pastors are not trained therapists, and are cautioned through our ministerial ethics not to see our parishioners for long term counseling. Many Pastors have had to give up the regular visiting that was done in parishioners homes. This is because the tasks of the Church are done less and less by the congregation, requiring more management and administrative skills than were needed before the 1960's. Our Church is in the process of providing for this, however, in a proposal that is to come to you with the annual budget at our January meeting that would provide for an Associate Pastor who would provide opportunities for spreading out the work of our congregation.