The mission of Congregational Care Ministry is to nurture the spiritual, emotional, and physical wellness of individuals of all ages within our community.
Who We Are
At Los Altos United Methodist Church, the Congregational Care Ministry (CCM) stands at the core of our mission to embrace and heal the hearts and lives of those in our community. Congregational Care Ministry is a network of dedicated lay ministers partnering with clergy to provide the compassionate presence of God’s care. Through various sub-ministries, we offer support encompassing spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being for individuals across all age groups.
What We Do
Congregational Care Ministers provide one-on-one emotional and spiritual support for individuals facing difficult times.
How to request Congregational Care
To request congregational care for yourself or for a loved one, please call the church office at 650-948-1083.
How to Become a Congregational Care Minister
Training for new Congregational Care Ministers is offered about every other year. If you would like more information, we would be happy to speak with you. Please contact the Church Office at 650-948-1083.
Congregational Care Ministers meet monthly to discuss the congregations needs, and to plan for Congregational Care programs. Ongoing training for existing Congregational Care Ministers is offered annually.
History of Congregational Care Ministry
The idea of Congregational Care Ministry started with Adam Hamilton, founding pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. Caregiving at Church of the Resurrection initially consisted of Pastor Hamilton and a few volunteers. The group of caregivers grew, including associate pastors and numerous volunteers. Eventually, Karen Lampe, Executive Pastor of Congregational Care at Church of the Resurrection, the church staff and the care ministers created and implemented the formal Congregation Care Ministry platform. The model that they developed teaches church leaders a team approach to ministry based on a scalable model for churches of all sizes.
In 2018, Karen Lampe retired from Church of the Resurrection and established The Caring Congregation, LLC to provide this model of care for churches of all sizes.
LAUMC formally adopted the Caring Congregation method in 2016 and uses the model as we care for our congregation.