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1. Executive Director’s Reflection
2. Revised NACC 2008 Annual Report available on NACC website
3. Update on NACC Audio Conferences
4. Leadership Competencies from PC Summit Care Services Task Force
5. June 24, 2009, Praying…Witnessing…Gathering for Health Care for All
6. 2009 One Book, One Association Selection
7. 2010 NACC National Conference - Save the Date
8. Summit ’09 Workshop and Plenary Speaker CD’s available for loan
9. Request: CPE programs in hospice settings?
10. Paraclete Press offers NACC Chaplains a free book
11. Local/regional event dates
12. Other educational events
13. Advocating for Clinical Excellence (The ACE Project):Transdisciplinary Palliative Care Education
14. In Memoriam: Sister Sara Margaret Carter
15. Healing Tree: a request for prayers
16. Recent job postings
17. Positions Wanted

This issue comes out the day after Memorial Day and two days after the day most dioceses celebrated the feast of the Ascension. The civil holiday commemorates those who died in service of our country; our Catholic feast celebrates Christ's bodily ascension that is a foreshadowing of our own union after death with God not simply as souls but as glorified bodies, after the resurrection of the dead at the end time. Jesus’ salvific act embraced the totality of us, body, mind and spirit, and signaled the redemption and ongoing restoration of creation intended before humanity’s fall.

When I reflect on these two days side-by-side, I am struck by the power and hope of the Ascension’s mystery through which to contemplate Memorial Day that conjures for many so many scenes of the toil and toll of humankind’s struggles against one another that also left a marred and scarred earth in their wake. As we mourn the loss of loved ones whose remains were buried, burned, drowned, and evaporated in earth’s elements, we do so in the context of our belief that our origin and destiny, as well as all creation that groans for God’s grace, are in the arms of a loving, merciful God that continues the full redemption Jesus won for us. As we sit with those whose bodies seem more like enemies and strangers than the embodiment of their spirits, what does the Ascension say to us? Them?

On a professional note, I had several communications these past two weeks from members who expressed their concern, dismay, and frustration with incidents where diverse individuals are given or use the title chaplain without training or credentialing, or are granted the title of chaplain with little more than an application form and a fee from both other professional bodies or less reputable on-line sources.

These concerns are very valid, and shared by all of us. It’s certainly frustrating, and can be discouraging, for our members who have worked hard for board certification to see individuals assuming the chaplain title without having had any training or education. It’s even worse when untrained and non-credentialed individuals are given the same pay and benefits.

NACC, along with the other Spiritual Care Collaborative (SCC) participants, have worked hard to create and publicize the common standards for ethics and certification. The SCC continues to partner with The Joint Commission to position the board certified chaplain as the standard for quality spiritual care. We are not there yet, however.

We encourage all certified members to use the title Board Certified Chaplain (BCC), and to show the level of professionalism that is expected in the Chaplain role.

What we can also do and are doing with Catholic Health Association is to promote the value and benefits of board certified chaplains, and ask/encourage systems to adopt the standard to hire only certified or certifiable (already having a Master’s in a theological area and a certain number of CPE units) chaplains. Many have already adopted this policy. The most recent edition of Health Progress (May-June 2009) was dedicated to Pastoral Care and contained excellent articles. You can access these articles at www.chausa.org/Pub/MainNav/News/HP/.

As an association we are not able to police the misuse, but we can promote and advocate for the profession. We are dedicated to do so together. The SCC certainly is doing the same.

I am not sure what we can do when another professional organization writes someone not trained that we are “nominating and recommending you to become an Academy Certified Chaplain.” We as NACC or SCC may need to begin to contact and start a dialogue with those types of associations to share what has been done regarding the development and implementation of the SCC common standards for certification and ethics. This may be the route we need to take.

What are your thoughts?

David Lichter
Executive Director

It came to our attention that the financial section of the NACC 2008 Annual Report published in the May-June 2009 Vision was incomplete (lacked the left column that identified the financial categories represented by the numbers). We have corrected that mistake, and have made the revised copy of this 2008 Annual Report available on our NACC website. Please visit either of these links for this revised report:
May/June 2009 Vision (includes the Annual Report) 2008 NACC Annual Report (stand-alone document)

We’ve had many inquiries about the upcoming audio conferences. For your information, participants only need a telephone line to participate. For those participants who will have multiple participants on their one line, they will need a speaker phone. Pricing for the audio conference is per line. The NACC will provide you with a toll-free telephone number and conference pass-code in order to access the audio conferences. The number will be sent to you ahead of time along with presentation materials for review. Anyone can participate in our audio conferences. They are not limited to NACC members only. Finally, we will be recording the audio conference sessions and after assessing the quality, we will make a determination on whether they will be available in the future. Please join your colleagues on these excellent offerings.

• The Mystery of God and Human Suffering: Implications for Ministry to the Sick and Dying, Robin Ryan, CP, Thursdays, June 11, 2009 and June 18, 2009, with Optional Third Session, Thursday, June 25, 2009, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Central Time (details/registration: June 11, June 18 and June 25)
• Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services: Implications for Spiritual Care Decision-Making, Thomas A. Nairn, OFM, Ph.D. Wednesdays, July 1, 2009 and July 8, 2009, Optional Third Session, Wednesday, July 15, 2009, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Central Time (details/registration)

The Pastoral Care Summit Care Services/Staff Development Task Force has identified a list of core leadership competencies that may be developed through formal education, on-the-job training, coaching, mentoring, and other educational opportunities. These competencies are neither prescriptive nor all inclusive; rather they identify basic skills for leadership. The task force asks NACC members to share resources they have used or are using and/or name mentors/coaches who have helped them in developing these competencies. To share your resources and mentors, please e-mail dlichter@nacc.org or any other member of the Care Services/Staff Development Task Force.

Many faith-based associations are joining together to plan and hold an interfaith service of witness and prayer as an expression of support for healthcare reform now. What: An Interfaith Service of Witness and Prayer. When: 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 24, 2009. Where: Washington, D.C. (Freedom Plaza, Pennsylvania Ave. and 13th St.). As people of faith, we recognize the moral imperative of working for a healthcare future that includes everyone and works well for all of us. For more information click here to view the flyer (PDF file) or visit www.webelievetogether.org.

We are excited to introduce our One Book, One Association selection for 2009 –When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin. This NACC project has been designed to gather you, the members, together as a community by selecting one book and encouraging reading, writing, and discussion. More information will be available in the July/August issue of Vision and on the website. Be sure to start reading now! We thank all of the members who have participated in our book selection group. If you have questions or are interested in hosting a book club gathering that we can help to advertise to other members in your area, please contact Susanne at schaw@nacc.org.

Our Conference Planning Task Force is hard at work developing the schedule, speakers, and workshops for our 2010 Conference in St. Paul, Minnesota. The theme for the conference will be Winds of Change, Spirit of Promise. Please mark your calendars now for Saturday, March 20 – Tuesday, March 23, 2010. More information will soon be available at the NACC website. For a list of task force members, click here.

The NACC has purchased a set of audio CD’s of Summit ‘09’s plenary speakers and workshops. They are available “on loan” to members for use at local gatherings for just shipping and handling fees. Please contact Jeanine Annunziato for information at jannunziato@nacc.org.

Members of NACC working in hospice and palliative care settings have inquired about the availability of CPE programs in hospice settings. If you are aware of and/or involved in CPE programs in hospice settings, please let us know by e-mailing cbridges@nacc.org.

Paraclete Press is offering NACC chaplains 100 free copies of the book, Naming the Child: Hope-filled Reflections on Miscarriage, Stillbirth and Infant Death, that offers a community of love and support for bereaved parents and siblings through shared stories and practical guidance. The first 100 people to respond will receive a free book. Paraclete tells you how to:

• Place an order for the book at this link: www.paracletepress.com/naming-the-child-hope-filled-reflections-in-miscarriage-stillbirth-and-infant-death.html
• At checkout enter coupon code PRNACC* and your order total will be reduced by the cost of 1 copy of Naming the Child ($14.39). Generous quantity discounts are available for re-orders. *This offer is limited to the first 100 who respond.*
• We also invite you to browse our award winning grief books and DVDs (www.paracletepress.com/grief.html) and to sign up for our Grief Resources e-newsletter (click here) to receive other special offers on our grief materials.

If you take advantage of this offer we'd love you to tell us more about your ministry, where you work and how we can support you in the comments box at checkout.

May God bless your ministry, Paraclete Press, www.paracletepress.com.

More local gatherings are being set. Please review the list below, and mark your calendars. More details of events will be in future NACC Nows.

• Monday, June 1, 2009, Camp Hill, PA. See details/register
• Tuesday, June 2, 2009, Providence, RI, See details/register
• Tuesday, June 9, 2009, New Orleans, LA. See details/register
• Thursday, June 11, 2009, Manhasset, NY. See details/register
• Saturday, June 27, 2009, Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee. See details/register
• Thursday, July 23, 2009, Omaha, NE. Joint APC/NACC. See details/register
• Thursday, August 27, 2009, Birmingham, AL, details to come
• Thursday-Friday, September 24-25, 2009, Alexandria, MN North Central Prairie, details to come
• Friday, October 9, Buffalo, NY, details to come
• Saturday, October 17, 2009, Boston, MA, details to come

In the past two weeks we have been alerted to other educational events that you can find on the NACC website. They include:

• June 1-3, 2009, La Crosse, WI, The International Death, Grief and Bereavement Conference, “Grieving: Cross Cultural”
• June 5, 2009, Trenton, NJ, Day of Reflection for those who Care for the Sick & Dying, “Pastoral Care through the Eyes of Saints Francis and Clare”
• June 12-13, 2009, Sacramento, CA, Health Ministries Association 20th Anniversary Western Regional Conference
• June 23-24, 2009, San Antonio, TX, “The Heart of Multiculturalism: Challenges and Implications for Clinical Pastoral Ministry”

The ACE Project is an NCI-funded study that seeks to enhance the advocacy and leadership skills of competitively-selected psychologists, social workers and spiritual care professionals through an innovative transdisciplinary educational experience. Four annual courses with 75 new participants per course will be held followed by a Reunion Conference in October 2010 that reunites all past 300 participants and faculty to disseminate findings, share lessons learned and strengthen participant change efforts. They invite your application to this important endeavor to improve the care of those who are seriously ill, the dying and the bereaved. Substantial financial assistance will be provided to ACE attendees. Final Annual Course! They're especially interested in applicants from the following states: AK, DE, ME, MS, NM, ND, OK, WV, WY. Go to www.cityofhope.org/aceproject for more information about Course 4: October 13-16, 2009, Pasadena and the application process (due June 20!) or contact Maren Spolum at (626) 256-4673 Ext. 63941 or via email at ACEproject@coh.org

Sister Sara Margaret Carter, a member of the NACC for 22 years, passed away on May 18, 2009. Sr. Sara was a certified CPE Supervisor for many years, likely one of the earliest ones – she also wrote a chapter on Quality Assurance in the book Health Care Ministry: A Handbook for Chaplains (1990), a compilation of articles prepared by NACC members. Please remember her in your prayer. For more information click here.

Please let us know if you would like our membership to pray for your health and healing.

We continue to pray for Kelly Elizabeth Sexton (cancer: daughter of NACC member Melyssa Sexton) Raymond Kelleher (heart surgery); Fr. Bill Spacek (detached retina and other eye issues); Sr. Nancy Crane, OP (cancer treatment); Sr. Hilda Mallet, MHS (cancer treatment); Sr. Rita Rzeppa, IBVM (recovering/rehab from knee surgery), and Dennis Eldridge (Kathy's husband, for cancer treatment).

The following positions have been posted in the last two weeks. Please go to www.nacc.org/positions/available.asp for more information about them.

CHAPLAIN/SPIRITUAL CARE COORDINATOR
     Milwaukee, WI – Heartland Hospice

CHAPLAIN
     Fresno, CA – Saint Agnes Medical Center

CPE RESIDENT
     Rochester, MN – Mayo Clinic

CHAPLAIN
     Winona, MN – Winona Health

CATHOLIC PRIEST CHAPLAIN
     Topeka, KS – St. Francis Health Center

VICE PRESIDENT OF MISSION INTEGRATION
     Bridgeport, CT – St. Vincent's Health System

In this time of change and uncertainty it is more important than ever to use every resource available. If you have lost your job recently, if you’re just seeking a new or better position, or if you are an employer seeking a chaplain for your organization, be sure to visit our Positions Wanted webpage. NACC members can take advantage of this free service by placing a job-seeking ad, for free, which will run for 60 days. To see the ads, visit www.nacc.org/positions/wanted.asp

To place your own ad, send an email to Phil Paradowski: pparadowski@nacc.org.