Bereavement and Crisis Care Procedure

Summary

This procedure outlines the steps to be followed when a church member or a family member of a church member passes away.

Scope

This policy applies to the Care Coordinator.

Responsibilities

• Care Coordinator: Oversees and executes the procedure outlined below.

Definitions

• Bereavement: A period of mourning following the death of a loved one.
• Crisis Care: Immediate support provided during unforeseen emergencies (e.g., sudden death, fire, flood, job loss). Our team is available to help individuals understand that God is present with them during these difficult times.

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Procedure

Step 1: Initiate Bereavement Process

• Action: When any staff member learns of a death involving a church member or their family, they must either:
• Place the individual’s information into the bereavement process queue, or
• Email the designated Care Coordinator.

Step 2: Immediate Follow-Up

The Care Coordinator will assign the following tasks to the appropriate pastors:

1. Pastor Contact: Assign a pastor to make a follow-up phone call to the bereaved family.
2. Condolence Card: Ensure a condolence card is sent to all affected members.
3. Social Media Announcement: Create a Facebook post regarding the individual’s passing, including any links to information about upcoming services.

Step 3: Ongoing Follow-Up

1. Record Keeping: Update all notes in the database with details of completed activities.
2. Funeral Arrangements: If additional pastoral support is required for funeral arrangements, the Care Coordinator will:

• Coordinate with the building team, experience team, and the designated pastor to organize the service.

1. Database Update: Update the Greif Share database for future reference (to be used within 12 months).

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This policy is designed to ensure that we provide compassionate and timely support during times of loss.