A presentation of certain authors within the book "Images of Pastoral Care."

1. IMAGES OF PASTORAL
CARE
THE LIVING HUMAN DOCUMENT

2. HER TEARS OF GRIEF WERE SCREAMING OUT … WHILE HE
WEPT
PATIENT MS, FROM HER SOLITARY PAIN, BEGAN TO SHARE WITH ME, HER STORY; BUT SHE WAS NOT
VIOLENT IN MY PRESENCE … . “ PATIENT KH TELLS ME, “I BELIEVE GOD IS HOLDING ME IN HIS ARMS,
BUT BECAUSE OF THE SCREAMS OF INSANITY, I CAN’T HEAR GOD NOW. I CAN’T ESCAPE THE ABUSE OF
MY PAST. NOBODY EVER HAD TO ACCOUNT FOR IT. I HOPE GOD WILL HAVE JUSTICE.”

3. HAS THIS YOUNG LADY (MY PATIENT)
ANYTHING TO LIVE FOR?
IT IS WORTH NOTING HERE THAT
“BOISEN’S IMAGE OF THE LIVING
HUMAN DOCUMENT PLACES A GREATER
DEGREE OF EMPHASIS ON THE PERSON
WHO IS THE OBJECT OF PASTORAL
CONCERN, THAN ON THE MINISTER OR
CAREGIVER.”
HEARING THE PATIENT’S STORY IS PRIORITY #1.
(SHOW THE MUSIC VIDEO “YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL” BY MERCY ME.)
YET, WHAT COMES AFTER EMPATHIC
LISTENING …?
Robert C. Dykstra (editor), Images of Pastoral Care: classic readings. p.21, Chalice Press,
www.chalicepress.com.

4. LISTENER OR INTERPRETER?
GERKIN WOULD SAY… THE WAY A PERSON
TELLS THEIR STORY, MATTERS. “INDIVIDUALS
SEEK [A CHAPLAIN’S LISTENING EAR] WHEN
THEIR USUAL WAYS [OF COPING] BECOME
SOMEHOW CONFUSED, GARBLED, OR
OTHERWISE INSUFFICIENT TO PROVIDE IDENTITY
AND MEANING.” AFTER I’VE HEARD THEIR
STORY AND PAIN OF THEIR UNMANAGEABLE
AND TRAGIC DESTINY, I BECOME AN AGENT OF
HOPE. “THEY CRY OUT, [LOOKING FOR THE
CHAPLAIN], FOR A FRESH READING AND
INFUSION OF HOPE.” A TYPE OF LONGING [FOR
LOVE, ACCEPTANCE] THROUGH THE FENCE OF
ONE’S OWN MENTAL ILLNESS.
Robert C. Dykstra (editor), Images of Pastoral Care: classic readings. p.30, Chalice Press,
www.chalicepress.com.

5. YOU CHOOSE

6. THE LIVING HUMAN WEB
DESIRING TO REFASHION PASTORAL THEOLOGY FOR AN INCREASINGLY INTERCONNECTED
WORLD, MILLER-MCLEMORE STRESSES THE DELICATE INTERWEAVING OF MULTIPLE PERSONAL, SOCIAL
AND POLITICAL STRANDS THAT COMPRISE EVERY PROBLEMATIC SITUATION AND CARING ACT.
INFORMED BY OTHER FEMINIST AND LIBERATION THEOLOGIES, MILLER-MCLEMORE BECOMES
INSPIRED BY A SPIDER’S ABILITY TO REPAIR ITS BROKEN WEB, “SPINNING ONENESS OUT OF MANY AND
WEAVING THE ONE BACK INTO THE MANY. SOCIAL AND COMMUNAL TIES, SHE CLAIMS, HAVE TOO
LONG BEEN NEGLECTED AND TORN.” (AS DEPICTED IN OUR LAST SLIDE OF PICS)
SIMILARLY, GEORGE FITCHETT DESCRIBES SUCH A WEB AS A PERSON’S MEDICAL / BIOLOGICAL
DIMENSION; PSYCHOLOGICAL, FAMILY SYSTEMS AND PSYCHO-SOCIAL DIMENSION; ETHNIC, RACIAL,
CULTURAL; SOCIAL ISSUES AND A COMPREHENSIVE SPIRITUAL DIMENSION. UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE
REQUIRES BECOMING FAMILIAR WITH THE WEB OF THEIR EXPERIENCES W/O GETTING CAUGHT IN IT!?
Robert C. Dykstra (editor), Images of Pastoral Care: classic readings. p.42, Chalice Press,
www.chalicepress.com
George Fitchett, Assessing Spiritual Needs, A Guide for Caregivers. Academic Press ed. 2002, lima, OH,
pp. 42-50.

7. MY WEB IS DARK, DANGEROUS AND DEATH
AWAITS ME …
“EVEN THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF
THE SHADOW OF DEATH
I WILL FEAR NO EVIL FOR YOU ARE WITH ME.” (PSALM 23:4)
SHEPHERDING AND HEALING
SEWARD HILTNER
JESUS, YOU ARE WITH ME LOVING AND TEACHING
ME IN MY DARK TRIALS.
ENTER INTO THE PICTURE, VERSE, AND PRAYER.
WHAT DO YOU FEEL?
FOR YOU OR FOR YOUR PATIENT … WHAT IS THE
TRIAL THAT YOU NEED JESUS TO HELP YOU WITH
TODAY … COURAGE?
ROBERT C. DYKSTRA (EDITOR), IMAGES OF PASTORAL CARE: CLASSIC READINGS. P.50, CHALICE PRESS, WWW.CHALICEPRESS.COM
COURAGE

8. COURAGE: A MUCH NEGLECTED
QUALITY
LOVE IS THE GREATEST OF ALL RISKS … ALASTAIR V.
CAMPBELL WOULD SAY, “THOSE WHO HAVE ENTERED INTO
THE [WEB OF] DARKNESS OF ANOTHER’S PAIN, LOSS,
BEWILDERMENT, CONFUSION, ETC. AND HAVE DONE SO
WITHOUT THE DEFENSES OF A DETACHED
PROFESSIONALISM WILL SOMETIMES EXPERIENCE THE
FEELING OF WANTING TO ESCAPE, OR WISHING THEY HAD
NOT BECOME INVOLVED. CARING IS COSTLY, UNSETTLING,
EVEN DISTASTEFUL AT TIMES. “THE VALLEY OF DEEP
SHADOWS IN ANOTHER PERSON’S LIFE FRIGHTENS US TOO,
AND WE LACK THE COURAGE AND CONSTANCY TO ENTER
IT.” YET, TO EXERCISE THE COURAGE TO RISK ONE’S OWN
LIFE (NEEDS AND INTERESTS) FOR THE SAKE OF ANOTHER
IS THE GOAL OF PASTORAL INTERVENTION . . . WHY?
BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT LOVE IS. KNOW THIS: TO LOVE
AND TO BE LOVED REQUIRES COURAGE SOMETIMES.
THE ROLE OF THE CHAPLAIN

9. THE SAMARITAN
MOESSNER MIGHT ASK THE QUESTION: HOW
DOES YOUR LIFE MODEL SELF-LOVE? THE
SAMARITAN DID NOT GIVE EVERYTHING AWAY.
HE DID NOT INJURE, HURT, OR NEGLECT THE
SELF. HE LOVED HIMSELF AND HE LOVED HIS
NEIGHBOR. IN STOPPING TO BIND THE INJURED
MAN’S WOUNDS, IN RELYING ON THE INN, AND
IN COMPLETING HIS OWN JOURNEY, THE
SAMARITAN REFLECTS NOT ONLY THE ABSOLUTE
VALUE OF ANOTHER’S LIFE, BUT THE INFINITE
WORTH OF HIS OWN. THE PARABLE IMPLIES,
THEN, THAT LOVING NEIGHBOR AND LOVING
SELF TOGETHER EXEMPLIFY THE PATHWAY TO
LOVING GOD. THE GREATER CHALLENGE IS TO
LOVE WHEN HURT SEEMS TO REIGN SUPREME …

10. RESTORED AT THE INN
PATIENT A’S EXPERIENCE, AS TOLD BY MOESSNER,
IS NOT UNLIKE THE EXPERIENCE OF MANY OF
OUR PATIENTS AND / OR THEIR VICTIMS. “… AND
“A”, ONCE HALF BEATEN, WILL GO BACK
EVENTUALLY TO A HELPING PROFESSION AND
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS IN LOVE OF NEIGHBOR,
STRONGER FOR HAVING BEEN RESTORED AT THE
“INN”, FOR HAVING LEARNED TO LOVE HERSELF
ON THE JOURNEY, FOR EXPERIENCING THE
TOUCH OF THE CRAFTER’S HAND.”
ROBERT C. DYKSTRA (EDITOR), IMAGES OF PASTORAL CARE: CLASSIC READINGS. P68, JEANNE
STEVENSON MOESSNER CHALICE PRESS, WWW.CHALICEPRESS.COM

11. THE WOUNDED
HEALER
ACCEPTING OUR WOUNDS “AS AN INTEGRAL PART” OF
OURSELVES, LEADS US, BY THE HAND AS IT WERE, TO
EFFECTIVELY SHARE IN THE WOUNDS OF OTHERS. I CALL
THIS TYPE OF “SHARING-IN” THE SUFFERINGS OF OTHERS
… COMPASSION. AS A MEASURE OF PASTORAL
COMPETENCE: IT IS MY WORK TO CREATE THE SPACE
FOR THE STORY OF THE OTHER TO BE TOLD. NOUWEN
“CALLS THIS SHARING-IN PROCESS THE SOURCE OF
HOSPITALITY, WHEREBY GROWING COMFORTABLE IN
ONE’S OWN HOUSE [PERSON] ALLOWS FOR OPENING
THAT HOUSE TO STRANGERS, “PAYING ATTENTION
WITHOUT INTENTION.” “BY WITHDRAWING INTO
OURSELVES, NOT OUT OF SELF-PITY BUT OUT OF
HUMILITY, WE CREATE THE SPACE FOR ANOTHER TO BE
HIS OR HER SELF AND TO COME TO US ON THEIR OWN
TERMS.” NOUWEN WOULD SAY, “… THAT HOSPITALITY
ASKS FOR THE CREATION OF AN EMPTY SPACE WHERE
THE GUEST CAN FIND THEIR OWN SOUL.”

12. THE FOOLISHNESS OF GOD
I DID NOT RESONATE WITH FABER'S ASPECT OF THE “CIRCUS CLOWN.” I CAN ONLY THINK OF MY PEER JB
AND HIS SOMETIMES UNRULY SENSE OF HUMOR … . HOWEVER, WITHIN THIS CHAPTER FABER POINTS UP
SCRIPTURE THAT I CAN RESONATE WITH. PAUL TEACHES THE CORINTHIAN BELIEVERS, “… THE FOOLISHNESS
OF GOD IS WISER THAN MEN, AND THE WEAKNESS OF GOD IS STRONGER THAN MEN” HE MAKES THE
ADDITIONAL OBSERVATION THAT, “GOD CHOSE WHAT IS FOOLISH IN THE WORLD TO SHAME THE WISE”
(1COR 1:25-27ARSV.)
ARE YOU AND I IDENTIFIED HERE? BELIEVERS ARE INCLUSIVE OF ALL PEOPLES OF THE EARTH …
PEOPLE ARE FOOLISH SOMETIMES, SLIGHTLY ANTISOCIAL; ARE SOMETIMES EXPRESSIVELY OPEN AND
VERBAL IN THEIR NEED FOR LOVE AND BELONGING; HAVE A FEEL FOR THE FRINGES OF HUMAN LIFE;
EXERCISE A KIND OF IRRESPONSIBILITY, CARELESSNESS AND INNER FREEDOM THAT MAY GET THEM INTO
TROUBLE; YET MAINTAIN THEIR ABILITY TO SHARE IN THE SUFFERINGS OF OTHERS … I CALL IT
COMPASSION: HOWEVER, UNIQUELY HUMOROUS (LIKE MY FRIEND JB) BELIEVERS ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO
BE PATIENT AND WISE. THESE ARE NOT NORMAL HUMAN QUALITIES BECAUSE THEY ARE SPIRIT.
PARADOXICALLY, THESE ARE SOME OF THE SAME QUALITIES THAT OUR PATIENTS POSSESS! YES, TIME TO
SMILE AND AFFIRM TO THE TRUTH … . HOW MUCH DIFFERENT, IF AT ALL, ARE WE FROM OUR PATIENTS?
ROBERT C. DYKSTRA (EDITOR), IMAGES OF PASTORAL CARE: CLASSIC READINGS. PP.85-93, CHALICE PRESS, WWW.CHALICEPRESS.COM

13. THE WISE FOOL
SO IT WAS WHEN PAUL DEBATED THE
EPICUREANS AND STOIC PHILOSOPHERS IN
ATHENS, SOME OF THEM SAID
CONTEMPTUOUSLY, “DOES THIS PARROT
KNOW WHAT HE IS TALKING ABOUT?” (ACTS
17:18, JB.) SIMILARLY, FESTUS, THE ROMAN
GOVERNOR OF CAESAREA, SHOUTS OUT TO
PAUL. “PAUL, YOU ARE RAVING; TOO MUCH
STUDY IS DRIVING YOU MAD” (ACTS 26:24,
NEB.) SUCH REACTIONS AND OTHERS
ILLUSTRATE WELL PAUL’S OWN DESCRIPTION
OF THE EFFECT [THAT] HIS PREACHING HAD:
“WE PROCLAIM THE CRUCIFIED CHRIST, A
MESSAGE THAT IS OFFENSIVE TO THE JEWS
AND NONSENSE TO THE GENTILES” (1COR. 1:23, TEV.)
CAMPBELL EMPHASIZES HOW PAUL’S
CONTINUED PASTORAL ADVICE TO THE
CORINTHIAN CHURCH EFFECTIVELY
DISMISSES WORLDLY WISDOM AS A
GUIDELINE FOR CHRISTIANS. IF
ANYONE AMONG YOU THINKS HE IS
WISE BY THIS WORLD’S STANDARDS, HE
SHOULD BECOME A FOOL, IN ORDER
TO BECOME REALLY WISE (1COR.3:18, TEV.)
“THE FOOL IS ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE
TO THOSE WHO HOLD EARTHLY
POWER: EASILY DERIDED AND
EXPLOITED, USED AS A SCAPEGOAT,
TREATED” (AS PAUL SAYS IN
DESCRIBING HIS OWN “FOLLY FOR
CHRIST’S SAKE”) AS THE “OFFAL OF THE
WORLD … THE SCUM OF THE EARTH” (1

14. ERASMUS BORN OCTOBER 27, 1469,
ROTTERDAM, HOLLAND [NOW IN THE
NETHERLANDS]—DIED JULY 12, 1536, ...
CAMPBELL REFERENCES ERASMUS CONCERNING HIS
THOUGHTS (AND WOULD BE CONSIDERED
DEPLORABLY SEXIST AND AGEIST IN 2014) ON “THE
FOLLY OF CHRISTIANITY.” ERASMUS IS PREPARED TO
DESCRIBE JESUS AS “SOMETHING AS A FOOL.”
“CHRIST, TOO, THOUGH HE IS THE WISDOM OF
THE FATHER, WAS MADE SOMETHING OF A FOOL
HIMSELF IN ORDER TO HELP THE FOLLY OF MANKIND,
WHEN HE ASSUMED THE NATURE OF MAN AND WAS
SEEN IN MAN’S FORM.” CAMPBELL RESPONDS, “NOW
WE ARE CLOSER TO THE “FOLLY OF THE CROSS” (1 COR.
1:18), FOR HOW ARE WE TO DISTINGUISH THE NAIVETÉ
AND INTELLECTUAL INCOMPETENCE OF “LITTLE
CHILDREN LK. 18:17) ” OR OF THE MENTALLY [ILL] FROM
NONSENSE?”
ROBERT C. DYKSTRA (EDITOR), IMAGES OF PASTORAL CARE: CLASSIC READINGS. PP. 96-97, CHALICE PRESS,
WWW.CHALICEPRESS.COM
“I DOUBT IF A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL COULD
BE FOUND FROM THE WHOLE OF
MANKIND FREE FROM SOME FORM OF
INSANITY. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS ONE
OF DEGREE. A MAN WHO SEES A GOURD
[OR ANY UNNATURAL AFFECTION] AND
TAKES IT FOR HIS WIFE IS CALLED INSANE
BECAUSE THIS HAPPENS TO VERY FEW
PEOPLE.” HOWEVER, IN OUR DAY,
ERASMUS’ RESOLVE WOULD REDEFINE HIS
UNDERSTANDING OF INSANITY: FOR
EXAMPLE, LOT’S WIFE WOULD BECOME A
SALT BLOCK FOR ANYONE TO LICK OR
CHEW ON ACCORDING TO THEIR UNAS-
S-HAMED PUBLIC [PUBIC] DISPLAY OF
THEIR SEXUAL DEVI-L-ANCE. (R0M.
1:18-32)
READ MORE AT

15. “CPE” REFRAMED
SOME CRITICS OF CPE HAVE CLAIMED
THAT “IT” IS VIRTUALLY BANKRUPT, THAT
THE MOVEMENT HAS OVEREMPHASIZED
THE SECULAR PSYCHOTHERAPIES AND
PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND HAS
NEGLECTED THE THEOLOGICAL SCIENCES.
SOME HAVE CHARGED THAT THE [THIS B-
--L] MOVEMENT HAS BROUGHT INTO IT
[GROSS EVIL TOLERANCES] AND THE
[PSYCHO]-THERAPEUTIC CULTURE AND
HAS GIVEN THE FAITH COMMUNITY VERY
SHORT SHRIFT, SO MUCH SO THAT IT HAS
SUBSCRIBED TO THE [CORRUPT] VALUES
OF CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY, AND HAS
FAILED TO GIVE ADEQUATE ATTENTION
[TO SAY THE LEAST] TO CHRISTIAN
ETHICAL AND MORAL PRINCIPLES.

16. A FOOL’S LOYALTY THAT’S THE PROBLEM!! THE FOOL’S LOYALTY IS
SOMETIMES VIEWED AS INSANE: ISAIAH WENT NAKED
FOR THREE YEARS TO WARN OF THE IMPENDING
HUMILIATION AND SUBSEQUENT CAPTIVITY; HOSEA,
MARRIED A PROSTITUTE AND GAVE OMINOUS NAMES TO
HIS CHILDREN; JEREMIAH, WALKED AROUND WITH A YOKE
ON HIS BACK. IT IS NO WONDER THAT HOSEA WAS
ACCUSED OF BEING AN INSANE FOOL, OR THAT JEREMIAH
WAS IN DANGER OF BEING LOCKED UP AS A MADMAN.
JESUS’ OWN PROPHETIC ACTS, CLEANSING THE TEMPLE,
TRIUMPHANT ENTRY AND MORE, EVOKED PUBLIC
JUDGMENT THAT HE WAS AN INSANE FOOL ALSO.
IS THE INSANITY OF CPE WARRANTED FOR GODLY OR
UNGODLY REASONS? DOES IT ENJOY PUBLIC NOTORIETY?
IS IT CONSIDERED A GODLY OR UNGODLY STRANGER?
ROBERT C. DYKSTRA (EDITOR), IMAGES OF PASTORAL CARE: CLASSIC READINGS. P.119, CHALICE PRESS,
WWW.CHALICEPRESS.COM
SOME [KEY WORD SOME] OF THIS
CRITICISM OF THE [CPE] MOVEMENT
IS UNFAIR AND OVERDRAWN, BASED
ON A SOMEWHAT INACCURATE
PICTURE OF WHAT WAS ACTUALLY
WRITTEN AND PRACTICED … . MUCH
OF IT [KEY WORD MUCH] HOWEVER,
IS WARRANTED AND WELCOMED.
ARE WE AGREED? THE ENTERPRISE OF
[CPE] IS CURRENTLY [AS CURRENT AS
2012 - 2016] EXPERIENCING AN
[OLYMPIC] RENAISSANCE, AND
PROMISING NEW [OLYMPIC]
DIRECTIONS ARE BEING CHARTED. IN
SPITE OF THESE “NEW
DEVELOPMENTS,” NOTHING NEW HAS
EMERGED AT THE BASIC [ROOT] LEVEL.

17. THE INTIMATE STRANGER
THE CHAPLAIN [AS STRANGER] IN CRISIS
HOW HAVE I … HOW HAVE YOU PROVIDED COMFORT TO OTHERS [AS AN INTIMATE
STRANGER] IN THEIR TIME OF CRISIS? IF I LEARNED ANYTHING DURING MY LAW
ENFORCEMENT CHAPLAINCY DAYS … I WOULD COME PREPARED TO COMFORT
THOSE CLOSELY INVOLVED IN THE “CALL.” ONE WAY I PREPARED WAS TO FILL THE
BACK OF MY RIG WITH STUFFED ANIMALS, OF ALL SORTS. I NEVER KNEW WHEN I
WOULD ENCOUNTER CHILDREN OR AN OCCASIONAL ADULT. THE CATASTROPHIC
NATURE OF THE EVENT OF SUDDEN TRAUMATIC LOSS, EVEN HERE AT OSH,
CHARACTERIZES THE MEETING OF “STRANGERS” AT 00:DARK THIRTY SOMETIMES IN
AWKWARD AND EMBARRASSING WAYS. NEVERTHELESS, BEING ABLE TO COMFORT
OTHERS WHEN CALLED UPON IS COMPASSION’S REWARD FOR THE CHAPLAIN. OFTEN
AN “ACTIVE SILENCE” MAY BE ALL THE CHAPLAIN [AS STRANGER] CAN HOPE TO
OFFER; OR SOMETIMES A TYPE OF “MINISTRY OF ABSENCE” … IN A TIMELY, SENSITIVE
FASHION IS WHAT PROVIDES COMFORT. HOWEVER COMFORT COMES IN THE FACE
OF “TRAUMATIC LOSS” INTIMATE MINISTRY OF PRESENCE, OFTEN BETWEEN
STRANGERS, IS EXPERIENCED AND THE STRANGER MAY BE ONE’S OWN SELF.
ROBERT C. DYKSTRA (EDITOR), IMAGES OF PASTORAL CARE: CLASSIC READINGS. PP.123-136, CHALICE PRESS, WWW.CHALICEPRESS.COM

18. FIERCELY MONASTIC
CPE HAS HELPED ME TO REALIZE THE [CONTINUED] COST OF
“VOCATIONAL ASCETICISM” IN SERVICE TO “WITNESSING” THE
LIFE OF OSH STAFF AND PATIENT AS IS, A “RARE AND
STRENUOUS GIFT” THAT SENDS BOTH CHAPLAIN AND “OTHER”
ALIKE INTO UNCHARTED WATERS DEVOID OF “EXPECTATIONS,
DEMANDS, PERFORMANCES, CHECKLISTS [AND MORE],” AND
ELICITING INSTEAD THE “OTHER’S” UNCALCULATED,
UNMEASURED, EVEN RECKLESS TRUST.” PUT ANOTHER WAY,
SUCCESSFUL CHAPLAIN (PASTORAL) MINISTRY IS ICONIC AS
IT BECOMES “CRUCIFORM ART OF WITHDRAWING ONESELF, OF
MAKING ONESELF LESS, FOR THE SAKE OF MAKING SPACE
FOR OTHERS, FOR ENABLING THEM TO BECOME SOMETHING
MORE.” IT IS MY WORK TO CREATE THE SPACE FOR THE STORY
OF THE OTHER TO BE TOLD, AS IS, AS A LIVING DOCUMENT.
WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THIS MOST
INFLUENTIAL VOCATION … AND WHERE DO YOU PLACE
YOURSELF?
ROBERT C. DYKSTRA (EDITOR), IMAGES OF PASTORAL CARE: CLASSIC READINGS. PP.137-150,
CHALICE PRESS, WWW.CHALICEPRESS.COM

19. THE DIAGNOSTICIAN
CLERICAL DIAGNOSING … GRAPPLING WITH THINGS AS
THEY REALLY ARE? PRUYSER WOULD SAY, AND I
WOULD AGREE, “ … THAT THE FIRST DUTY OF ANY
PROFESSIONAL IS TO ACHIEVE CLARITY ABOUT THE
PROBLEMS [CHALLENGES AND MORE] BROUGHT BEFORE
HIM FOR THE SAKE OF GUIDING THE INTERVENTION …
.” MY CONCERN IS WITH THE RESULTS OF SUCH
PASTORAL DIAGNOSTIC WORK. WHY SUCH CONCERN?
BECAUSE THE IDT MEMBERS ARE RELYING ON EVIDENCE
BASED PATIENT EXPERIENCED INFORMATION THAT
ONLY THE CHAPLAIN CAN DISCOVER. THIS SPECIFIC
CHAPLAIN INITIATED DATA NEEDS TO COME TO LIGHT
BECAUSE EACH IDT DISCIPLINE IS UNIQUE AND HAS IT’S
OWN INTEGRAL PLACE WITHIN OUR PATIENT’S IDT.
THE QUESTION OFTEN ASKED THE CHAPLAIN IS: WHAT
ARE THE SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF THE PATIENT AND WHAT
MEASURE OF SUPPORT DOES THEIR BELIEF SYSTEM
PROVIDE FOR THEM?

20. GUIDING TOWARDS PERSONAL AUTONOMY
FACILITATIVE NOT DIRECTIVE / CHALLENGES NOT
PROBLEMS
THE IDEA HERE IS ONE OF RESPECT FOR A PERSON’S
AUTONOMY. THE CHAPLAIN GUIDES IN A
FACILITATIVE MANNER WITH AN UNDERSTANDING
OF THE PERSON’S NEEDS AND STRENGTHS. REALLY
WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THE CHAPLAIN WILL GUIDE
THE HAND OF THE PATIENT INTO THE HAND OF
GOD WHERE THEY CAN FIND (TOGETHER WITH GOD)
AVENUES OF POSSIBILITY TO OVERCOME THEIR
CHALLENGES. THE CHAPLAIN LEARNS TO
FACILITATE WHAT ONE HAS LEARNED FROM THE
PATIENT TO HELP GUIDE THE PATIENT TOWARDS
PERSONAL COURAGE AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
NOYCE WOULD SAY, “WE MUST WORK WITH PEOPLE,
RATHER THAN ABOVE THEM..
THE RESULT OF MUTUAL PRAYER DRAWS ONE

21. STORY-LISTENING
STORY-LISTENING INVOLVES EMPATHETICALLY HEARING THE
STORY OF THE PATIENT. BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE THAT THE
PERSON IN NEED IS CARED FOR AND UNDERSTOOD IS A RESULT OF
ATTENDING TO THE STORY OF THE PATIENT AS HE OR SHE TALKS.
EMPATHY MEANS THAT WE ATTEND TO THE PERSON WITH OUR
PRESENCE, BODY POSTURE, AND NON-VERBAL RESPONSES. IT
ALSO MEANS USING VERBAL RESPONSES TO COMMUNICATE THAT
WE HAVE UNDERSTOOD AND ARE SEEKING TO UNDERSTAND THE
PERSON’S STORY AS IT IS UNFOLDING. THE CHAPLAIN ALSO GIVES
ATTENTION TO AND ACKNOWLEDGES THE SIGNIFICANT FEELINGS
OF THE PERSON AS THEY ARE EXPRESSED IN THE TELLING OF THE
STORY. IT IS ONLY WHEN THE STORY HAS BEEN FULLY EXPRESSED
AND THE CHAPLAIN HAS ATTENDED TO IT WITH EMPATHY THAT
THE FOUNDATION IS LAID FOR THE UTILIZATION OF THE PATIENT’S
STORY. THE EMPHASIS MUST BE ON STORY-LISTENING TO AVOID
THE TRAP OF SHIFTING THE FOCUS AWAY FROM THE NEEDS OF THE
PERSON FACING LIFE STRUGGLES, REMEMBER, BE PRESENT TO
LISTEN AND TO SERVE.

22. CHAPLAIN AS AN AGENT OF HOPE
WHAT MAKES THE CHAPLAIN UNIQUE AMONG PROFESSIONALS IS
THAT HE/SHE IS FUNDAMENTALLY AN AGENT OR BEARER OF HOPE.
OTHER PROFESSIONALS OFFER AND SUPPORT HOPE, BUT THEY DO
THIS AS A PART OF OR ASPECT OF OTHER THINGS THEY DO.
CHAPLAINS ARE CALLED TO BRING HOPE AS A PRIMARY NOT
TERTIARY SERVICE. CHAPLAINS ARE INTUITIVELY AWARE THAT
THEY ARE AGENTS OF HOPE, BUT OFTEN FEEL VULNERABLE THAT
THEY HAVE NOTHING OTHER THAN HOPE TO OFFER, AND HOPE
MAY SEEM AN INTANGIBLE THING TO SOME … PATIENT INCLUDED.
HOPE DEFERRED MAKES THE HEART SICK, BUT A DESIRE
FULFILLED IS A TREE OF LIFE. (PRO 13:12 ESV)
HOPE WHEN CONTEXTUALIZED WITHIN A PASTORAL CARE PLAN
CAN ALLOW FOR PATIENT INITIATED HOPE, ONE APPROPRIATE
DESIRE AT A TIME.
THE IDEA HERE AS CAPPS WOULD SAY SUPPORTS SCRIPTURE: HOPING IS “THE
PERCEPTION THAT WHAT ONE WANTS TO HAPPEN WILL
HAPPEN, A PERCEPTION THAT IS FUELED BY DESIRE AND IN
RESPONSE TO FELT DEPRIVATION.” HOWEVER, DANGER COMES WITH
IDEALIZING HOPE AND FACING FAILURE, SOMETHING TRUE FOR ALL OF US.

23. CHAPLAIN AS MIDWIFE
DON’T WORRY … WE’RE NOT GOING “OLYMPIC”
HERE. HANSON CONCLUDES HER BIBLICALLY
BASED MIDWIFERY MINISTRY BY “AFFIRMING TO
THE FACT THAT [CHAPLAINS] BECOME SPIRITUAL
MIDWIVES WHO ASSIST IN [AND FACILITATE] THE
PROCESS OF BIRTHING NEW LIFE ESPECIALLY
WHEN THEY CAN RECOGNIZE, STAND FAST IN THE
FACE OF, AND HELP OTHERS IN NAMING THEIR
TRAVAILS. AS CHAPLAINS WE SEE THE SICK AND
THE SUFFERING AS WHOLE PERSONS AND STAND
WITH THEM” IN THEIR TIME OF GREATEST NEED
AND TIMES OF THEIR GREATEST SUCCESSES.
“OUR CALLING NECESSITATES THAT THE
[CHAPLAIN] BE PERSON-CENTERED.” A CHAPLAIN
IS CALLED TO ASSIST GOD IN BIRTHING NEW LIFE
IN PEOPLE AND IN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH
SELF, OTHERS, THE WORLD AND GOD. A PERSON
IS SOMEONE IN RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMEONE
AND SOMETHINGS THAT CHARACTERIZE THEIR
LIFE EXPERIENCES … .

24. CHAPLAIN AS GARDENER
“A GARDENER, [LIKE AN OSH CHAPLAIN], HAS A TWOFOLD TASK. A
GARDENER MUST TEND TO THE GROUND AS WELL AS CULTIVATE
THE PLANTS GROWING IN THE GROUND. THE GARDENER DOES
NOT MAKE THE PLANTS GROW, GOD DOES. THE GARDENER
ATTENDS TO THEIR GROWTH AS THE PLANTS BECOME WHAT THEY
ARE MEANT TO BE.” CHAPLAINS ARE LIKE GARDENERS WHEN OUR
CARE AND COUNSEL GROW OUT OF OUR PARTICIPATION WITH
OTHERS IN THEIR NATURAL EVENTS OF LIFE. “A CHAPLAIN’S CARE
AND COUNSEL ALSO OCCUR WHEN LIFE GOES AWRY. THEN WE
MUST FIND WAYS TO HELP PEOPLE DEAL WITH THE
EXTRAORDINARY. WE MAY FEEL INEFFECTIVE, ONLY TO LEARN
THAT IN CARING, A SEED WAS PLANTED THAT MUCH LATER BORE
FRUIT.” A CHAPLAIN MUST RESPECT AUTONOMY HOWEVER,
“HELPING OTHERS DEVELOP THEIR OWN POTENTIAL FOR
SUPPORTING LIFE. OUR WORK AS CHAPLAINS IS TO BE WITH THOSE
WHO ARE FINDING THEIR PATH.” TO BE WITH OUR PATIENTS “WE
ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BE GENIUSES.” HOWEVER, “WE ARE
REQUIRED TO BE AUTHENTICALLY OURSELVES AS WE ARE CAPABLE
OF BEING” AT THAT MOMENT. “WHEN THE CHAPLAIN HAS
CREATED AN HOSPITABLE PLACE THROUGH THEIR AVAILABILITY,
THE PATIENT WILL BE MORE ABLE TO TELL THEIR STORY AND TO

25. VOICE AND SILENCE
“SPEAKING UP,” “SPEAKING OUT,” “BEING SILENCED,” “NOT
BEING HEARD,” REALLY LISTENING,” “REALLY TALKING,”
“WORDS AS WEAPONS,’ “FEELING DEAF AND DUMB,” “HAVING
NO WORDS,” “SAYING WHAT YOU MEAN,” “LISTENING TO BE
HEARD,” AND SO ON IN AN ENDLESS VARIETY OF
CONNOTATIONS ALL HAVING TO DO WITH SENSE OF MIND,
SELF-WORTH AND FEELINGS OF ISOLATION FROM OUR
CONNECTION TO OTHERS. I HAVE FOUND THAT WOMEN
REPEATEDLY USE THE METAPHOR OF VOICE TO DEPICT THEIR
INTELLECTUAL AND ETHICAL DEVELOPMENT; AND THAT
DEVELOPMENT OF A SENSE OF VOICE, MIND, AND SELF ARE
INTRICATELY INTERTWINED.” “WHEN WOMEN CANNOT VOICE
THEIR OWN NEEDS, EXPERIENCES, AND FEELINGS, THEIR
HEART AND MIND BECOME CONSTRICTED. ONLY THROUGH
SPEAKING AND LISTENING DOES ONE DEVELOP THE CAPACITY
TO TALK AND THINK THINGS THROUGH.” RESEARCH STUDIES
SHOW A CONNECTION BETWEEN A GREATER INCIDENCE OF
CLINICAL DEPRESSION AND LEARNED HELPLESSNESS AMONG
WOMEN AND THE CURTAILMENT OF VOICE.”