The BeFriender Ministry Program at St. Paul's follows the guidelines and training plan developed by BeFriender Ministry's national office, located at the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN. Training, Continuing Education opportunities, and regional support services are offered through the national office, a regional convener system, and parish staff/volunteers.

The path to becoming a BeFriender Minister at St. Paul's includes approximately 50 hours of training in a group (6-10) setting, offered by trained program coordinators. This is a time of discernment in an environment of mutuality. We learn about various issues from each other and we spend time in an internship after which we reflect on our life as ministers. Once training is completed, each individual meets with the program coordinator(s) involved in their training to discern their continued call to this ministry. If commissioning as a BeFriender Minister is the result, supervision and self-care are provided through twice-monthly gatherings when participants reflect together on various aspects of their ministries.

For additional information, please contact:
The Rev. Barb Hauck
Program Director, BeFriender Ministry
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
724-3535, extension 21