Description
When someone in our congregation is sick, we often want to help but don’t know how. Sometimes, our casseroles and well-meaning words are not enough. We may unintentionally bypass someone’s pain, minimize their grief, or flood the moment with toxic positivity.
This workshop invites Christian educators and ministry leaders to reflect on individual caregiving moments and how we cultivate a congregational culture of care. Grounded in Matthew 25:36—”I was sick, and you looked after me”—we’ll explore the difference between showing up out of habit and showing up with presence and purpose.
Drawing on insights from Susan Halpern’s The Etiquette of Illness and the real-world experiences of hospice chaplaincy and pastoral care, participants will:
1. Reflect on their own caregiving instincts, habits, and discomforts
2. Practice what to say (and what not to say) in moments of vulnerability.
3. Explore role-play scenarios to build confidence in offering meaningful care.
4. Learn practical strategies to train and equip caregiving teams.
This session blends presentation with conversation, role play, and personal reflection. It’s designed for those who want to build sustainable caregiving ministries that embody compassion and connection.
Aligned with APCE’s commitment to nurturing grace-filled faith communities, this workshop invites us to be fully present to suffering—our own and others’—without spiritual shortcuts. Together, we’ll explore how congregations can practice the care that heals, honors, and sustains.
Workshop Leader: Zeena Regis
Zeena Regis is Managing Director of Community Engagement at Compassion & Choices and an instructor for the Columbia Theological Seminary older adult ministry certificate program. A former hospice chaplain and grief care coordinator, she is passionate about end-of-life equity, spiritual care, and equipping communities to navigate illness, aging, and loss with compassion and dignity.
Co-Leader: