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 34 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 10 communities outside of Shelby County:

Rev. Stephen 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. Craig Myrick
Wesley Apartments - Lake County, Tiptonville, Tennessee

Rev. Barbara Blackmon-Fortune
Wesley Park Meadows, Halls, Tennessee

Rev. Dan Tilly
Canterbury Place, Dyersburg, Tennessee

Rev. Judd Mowery
Wesley at Martin, Martin, Tennessee

Rev. Joe Thorn
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.