“Pastoral care is seen as everyone's responsibility in the Methodist Way of Life”
In this week’s chaplaincy blog, Kate Ellis shares her experience as Anna Chaplain in the Lincolnshire Methodist District.
29 July 2025
What is it that you do as Anna Chaplain?
In a nutshell, my role is one of pastoral presence - being with whoever needs me, wherever that may be, for however long and for whatever reason. I listen, I talk, I offer to pray with. The attached poster tells more of my Anna Chaplain role - this was used at the festival.
Why did you feel called to chaplaincy?
I wrote about my call on the Anna Chaplaincy blog Anna Chaplain for the home town of John and Charles Wesley - Epworth, Lincolnshire
What is it about Methodism that is different from other faiths and approaches to chaplaincy?
There are few Methodist Anna Chaplains, I am the only one in Lincolnshire. I think that this is because pastoral care is seen as everyone's responsibility in the Methodist Way of Life. Churches having pastoral visitors and in some cases pastoral workers who are paid or unpaid, means that they are doing the role of chaplaincy just without the title.
Tell me about one person you have met where you’ve had an impact on their lives.
Chaplaincy is relational – the people I am privileged to be alongside impact my life as much, if not more than me impacting theirs. Being with those who face health challenges and near death is a privilege, the sharing of stories and insights helps me understand more about them, and how God has creatively woven their life in ways unique to them, as I mention in the blog. Looking back the threads of a person's life can be seen coming together to make the bigger picture.
One person I visit lives with dementia. Our time together includes remembering hymns and singing together, as well as chatting about a thought for the day which I share from daily notes such as The Upper Room, and prayer. Each visit reminds me of the preciousness of being 'in the moment' and how you leave someone feeling is more important than what you say. The person I visit is unable to recall anything of what we have shared to their family, but always tells them how much they have enjoyed the visit. Within the time together, it is God who ministers to them, and to me, being the first rather than third strand, which holds all things together.