Real-life "Good Samaritans"
Some people never give serious thought to eternal things until a crisis erupts in their lives that require hospitalization, whether serious illness or accident. Hospitals work around the clock with teams of professionals dedicated to addressing the physical needs of their clientele, but many have recognized the contribution of chaplains—physicians of souls—in the overall healing process. Really astute healthcare managers realize that chaplains are part of the hospital's healing team.
This lens is designed to provide a more focused look at the role of healthcare chaplains around the world. Please let us know how this site could be improved for those interested in this specialized chaplaincy field. We really want this to the best site possible for everyeone.
"I couldn't have said it better . . . "
Read what the prestigious Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston says about their chaplains! What an encouraging word!
"MGH chaplains provide religious ministry and spiritual support to patients and their families; a ministry for, and consultation to, hospital staff; and serve as liaisons between the hospital and visiting clergy, seminarians, and lay visitors. Pastoral care of patients, families, and staff helps people faced with illness and hospitalization remember that they belong to God and their community. Chaplains sustain, support, guide, and help people in their search for meaning in illness and for reconciliation in relationships.
Pastoral care is shared by trained professional Chaplains, trained and supervised lay persons, clergy and seminary students as well as other MGH health care professionals. Chaplains respond to members of their own as well as other's religious traditions in ways connected with the religious traditions of the persons seeking ministry. Chaplains offer consultation and counsel regarding spiritual, emotional and ethical matters. They support by listening without judging, sharing without preaching, and offering the resources of tradition, sacraments, scripture, ritual, and personal presence.
. . .
Spiritual care responds to spiritual needs such as faith, hope, love, trust, forgiveness, and meaning, as well as to religious ritual needs. Using the language and framework of meaning of the other person, whether religious or secular, the Chaplain seeks to enable the person to identify and draw on her/his own spiritual strengths in facing present circumstances. Spiritual care of patients/families is always done in collaboration with the multidisciplinary care team. Chaplains frequently offer spiritual care to staff members around stressful patient care situations and personal life events."
-Excerpt from MGH website
Pastoral care is shared by trained professional Chaplains, trained and supervised lay persons, clergy and seminary students as well as other MGH health care professionals. Chaplains respond to members of their own as well as other's religious traditions in ways connected with the religious traditions of the persons seeking ministry. Chaplains offer consultation and counsel regarding spiritual, emotional and ethical matters. They support by listening without judging, sharing without preaching, and offering the resources of tradition, sacraments, scripture, ritual, and personal presence.
. . .
Spiritual care responds to spiritual needs such as faith, hope, love, trust, forgiveness, and meaning, as well as to religious ritual needs. Using the language and framework of meaning of the other person, whether religious or secular, the Chaplain seeks to enable the person to identify and draw on her/his own spiritual strengths in facing present circumstances. Spiritual care of patients/families is always done in collaboration with the multidisciplinary care team. Chaplains frequently offer spiritual care to staff members around stressful patient care situations and personal life events."
-Excerpt from MGH website
Healthcare Chaplains Job Opportunities
- The Chaplaincy Job Network (USA)
- This site provides daily updates for chaplaincy job openings for every state in the USA.
- National Health Service (NHS) Jobs :: United Kingdom
- You will need to click on the above link and enter "chaplain" in the keywords search box. There are typically less than a dozen chaplaincy openings throughout the NHS in England and Wales on any given day.
Please rate this site and offer your feedback!
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WarrenAllanJohnson
Very nice lens. Looks like a good selection of resources. Posted July 13, 2007 |
A Day in the Life . . .
Situations where healthcare chaplains "fit the bill"
While chaplains may not be skilled in performing highly technical surgeries, there are many situations where their spiritual gifts, life experience, and theological training are welcomed by doctors, nursing staff, and hospital administrators.
- Biblical perspectives for patients, families, & staff
- Conflict mediation
- Crisis intervention
- Friendship & encouragement
- Grief and loss care
- Liaison with local churches & clergy
- Ministry of presence, "just being there"
- Pastoral care
- Prayer support
- Spiritual assessment
- Stress management
For further study
Ministry In The Spiritual And Cultural Diversity Of Healthcare: Increasing The Competency Of Chaplains
Amazon Price: $95.00 (as of 10/07/2008)
Health Care Chaplaincy Volunteers Handbook (Healthcare Chaplaincy)
Amazon Price: (as of 10/07/2008)
Hospital Ministry: The Role of the Chaplain Today
Amazon Price: $26.00 (as of 10/07/2008)
Handbook for Chaplains: Comfort My People
Amazon Price: $8.95 (as of 10/07/2008)
Ethics and Spiritual Care: A Guide for Pastors, Chaplains, and Spiritual Directors
Amazon Price: $13.60 (as of 10/07/2008)
Healthcare Chaplains Links :: United States
- Association of Professional Chaplains
- An interfaith professional pastoral care association of providers of pastoral care endorsed by faith groups to serve persons in physical, spiritual, or mental need in diverse settings throughout the world.
- College of Heathcare Chaplains
- The College of Health Care Chaplains is a multi-faith, interdenominational, professional organisation, which is open to all recognised health care Chaplaincy staff, both paid and voluntary, and to those with an interest in health care Chaplaincy.
- Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Association (HCMA)
- HCMA is the Hospital Chaplains Ministry of America. An in-depth, one-year training program prepares individuals to minister as hospital chaplains.
- National Chaplain Association - Become a Certified Christian Chaplain.
- The NCA is dedicated to practical Christianity, where the Bible is the main textbook of life and ministry.
Healthcare Chaplains Links :: Europe
- European Network of Health Care Chaplaincy
- A network for those who organise health care and hospital chaplaincy in Europe.
- The College of Healthcare Chaplains (UK)
- The College of Health Care Chaplains is a multi-faith, interdenominational, professional organisation, which is open to all recognised health care Chaplaincy staff, both paid and voluntary, and to those with an interest in health care Chaplaincy.
The College exists to promote the professional standing health care Chaplaincy and that of its members both nationally and within health and social care organisations.
More good reading material
A Practical Guide to Hospital Ministry: Healing Ways (Haworth Religion and Mental Health.) (Haworth Religion and Mental Health.)
Amazon Price: $69.35 (as of 10/07/2008)
No Small Miracles: Heartwarming, Humorous, and Hopefilled Stories from a Pediatric Chaplain
Amazon Price: $9.91 (as of 10/07/2008)
Professional Chaplaincy: What Is Happening to It During Health Care Reform?
Amazon Price: $60.00 (as of 10/07/2008)
The Christ Chaplain: The Way to a Deeper, More Effective Hospital Ministry
Amazon Price: $75.05 (as of 10/07/2008)
Ministry of Hospital Chaplains: Patient Satisfaction (Health Care Chaplaincy Series) (Health Care Chaplaincy Series)
Amazon Price: $69.35 (as of 10/07/2008)
Chaplaincy Departments of Hospitals
See for yourself! Hospitals really DO value the work of chaplains.
The Top 5 hospitals in America, plus the Royal London Hospital in the UK, have made significant investments in the work of chaplains.
- #1 - John Hopkins Hospital :: Baltimore, MD (USA)
- Full-time chaplains, support staff, chaplain interns and residents, as well as a network of community clergy and lay people from a variety of religions, are available to provide patients and families of all faiths pastoral and spiritual care, sacramental ministries, advanced directive consultation and other support services.
- #2 - Mayo Clinic and Hospitals :: Rochester, Minnesota (USA)
- Mayo Clinic and its hospitals - Saint Marys Hospital and Rochester Methodist Hospital - offer the services of a chaplain for patients and visitors. Chaplains are available:
* To listen and offer spiritual and emotional support
* To accompany those in crisis or grief
* To share prayer and sacraments and to lead worship
* To reflect and consult on ethical concerns and decisions
Chaplains are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. - #3 - Cleveland Clinic - Pastoral Care
- The Cleveland Clinic Foundation is committed to providing pastoral and spiritual counseling to its staff and employees with the same degree of expertise as it does to patients and their families.
The Department of Pastoral Care consists of Chaplains of various faith groups. The Department is interdenominational in its composition and fosters the spiritual values of all faith groups for healing. Without imposing their beliefs or practices, they will attend to your spiritual needs through empathetic listening and compassionate presence. All chaplains maintain confidentiality in counseling relationships. - #4 - Massachusetts General Hospital :: Boston, MA (USA)
- At Massachusetts General, we recognize that meeting spiritual and religious needs is an important part of caring for you as a whole person. To respond to these needs, the hospital offers the services of our Chaplaincy. Ministry is available to people of all faiths and to those of no religious affiliation.
- #5 - UCLA Medical Center :: Los Angeles, CA (USA)
- Interfaith Chaplains can provide spiritual care and assistance, sacramental ministries, and spiritual support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Interfaith Chaplains can also contact a religious leader of a particular faith tradition at your request.
- Royal London Hospital & St. Bart's Hospital :: London, England, UK
- Chaplains of many faiths are available to speak to all patients, relatives and carers. The chaplaincy team welcomes everyone, whatever your faith or beliefs and whether or not you follow a religion. Information about your religious affiliation will be passed to the chaplaincy. The chaplains have links with many faith communities and will always try to get an appropriate representative when asked to do so. The service is confidential and respectful.
And a few more titles on healthcare chaplaincy
The Hospital Chaplain's Handbook
Amazon Price: $18.99 (as of 10/07/2008)
Parish Nurses, Health Care Chaplains, and Community Clergy: Navigating the Maze of Professional Relationships
Amazon Price: $69.35 (as of 10/07/2008)
Spiritual Care in a Hospital Setting (Empirical Studies in Theology)
Amazon Price: $146.00 (as of 10/07/2008)
Finding a Sacred Oasis in Illness
Amazon Price: $22.95 (as of 10/07/2008)
