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In my prior Executive Director reflection, I quoted from the foreword of Rachel Naomi Remen, MD, to the book, Making Healthcare Whole: Integrating Spirituality Into Patient Care, by Christina Puchalski, MD, and Betty Ferrell, RN, PhD. Sister Remen related a story by Joseph Campbell about a dancing Shiva to note our challenges to be being aware of the spiritual reality in our midst. I did receive an e-mail from a member, originally from India, who raised questions about the interpretation. He noted that our western minds can sometimes be too simplistic in our interpretation of eastern thought and philosophy. He offered that the "Dancing Shiva" is not about materialism nor is the figure of a man about any man, but Paramasura who represents ego (Anu), illusion (Maya), and karma (action-evil). This image is best understood within Advaida philosophy that is neither non-dualistic nor monistic. He understands the scene “not as God dancing on a man's back holding a leaf, but as spiritual, and the only, reality that God exists, not on someone's back or in the backyard, but in him. You are the God whom you seek (tatvam asi).”
I appreciated very much this member’s response for two reasons. One, it helps me (and us) to always cautiously and respectfully seek to understand, articulate, and learn from traditions other than our own. As an adjunct instructor for the College of Business and Management for Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, I offer a course on Non-Western Religions. The course title limps, but does raise a caution flag, as it signals that these religions grew and exist within a culture other than ours. As each of us ministers with and to those of other faiths, we realize we so often have such little knowledge and understanding, yet we want to reverence the traditions and aid the associate, patient and/or families to share with us and find strength in their traditions. Secondly, this person points to the ultimate truth that God exists in each of us. Our spatial/temporal language always stumbles when we try to speak of God’s presence, such as when St. Paul writes about the One in whom we live, and move, and have our being. Such is the great mystery that each tradition tries to speak of through images, metaphors, stories, and symbols! Perhaps, we most know of this One in the moments of shared silence with those to whom and with whom we minister. Amen.
It is good for us, as members, then to be invited to read The Faith Club, by Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver, and Priscilla Warner, that is about three women of Muslim, Jewish, and Christian faith who seek to learn of each other’s faiths, for our One Book, One Association selection for 2010.
What are your thoughts?
Appreciatively,
David Lichter, D.Min.
Executive Director
We continue to receive generous gifts to our NACC annual member support campaign. Thank you! The last two years our member participation increased 66 percent. Can you please participate again or for the first time? Thank you in advance for your support! With questions, please contact David Lichter.
NACC Office Summer HoursThe NACC Office will again this summer, starting June 1st, be open Monday-Thursday, 8:30-5:00 p.m., CDT, and Friday’s 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. CDT. Thank you.
Friends vs. fans: interacting with the NACC via FacebookSince the NACC created a Facebook page, we have had many email requests from NACC members to add them as friends, to view their photos, play games, etc. We are not ignoring your requests – we have no way of responding to them because we have a Facebook page, not a profile. There are several differences between an individual user’s account (a Facebook profile) and an organization’s account (a Facebook page). One of the differences is that the NACC cannot “add you as a friend” – that function requires a personal profile. However, if you are a user of FB, you can visit our page and click the “Like” button (formerly the “become a fan” button). You will then be connected to the NACC’s page. To do so, click below to get started.
We are deeply grateful to all our NACC members who served as ITE’s, site hosts, and interviewers for our certification interviews that were conducted May 1-2, 2010. Click here and say a prayer of thanks for these generous volunteers.
New positions for NACC membersJust a reminder to you, please let us know if you have accepted a new position/responsibility. E-mail Cindy Bridges (cbridges@nacc.org). We want to congratulate you and let others know, too. Below is our current list of updates from members:
Jim Retzner, OSA
After leaving hospital chaplaincy for a parish assignment for three years I have been blessed to return to fulltime chaplaincy at Children’s Hospital – Los Angeles. An all pediatrics ministry is going to be a different ministry than general hospital chaplaincy. Please keep me in your prayers.
Rev. Peter Gelfer, OH, BCC
I will be moving to Ojai, California on June 1st to take up my new assignments as Chaplain, Vocation Promoter, Initial Spiritual Formation.
Sr. Ruth Brings
On May 3, 2010, I began a new position at Nativity of Mary Parish in Janesville, WI. The new position is Director of Pastoral Outreach.
In the past two NACC Now’s we asked who might have experience where hospitals changed their coverage from 24/7 to Monday through Friday, first shift only, with no on-call second and third shifts or weekends. We are getting some responses and many who asked to learn more. Therefore, we will plan to hold a conference call in early June for those interested. Please email Susanne at schaw@nacc.org if you are interested in sharing information and participating in the conference call and have not contacted her yet.
2010 One Book, One Association SelectionWe are excited to introduce our One Book, One Association selection for 2010 – The Faith Club by Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver, and Priscilla Warner. 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.
Request: What questions are hospitals asking patients upon admission?NACC member William Kramer is seeking to learn what questions systems/hospitals are using at admissions that are having patients responding affirmatively about the desire to see a chaplain upon their admission. Some find "Would you like to see a chaplain?" not proving to be very beneficial. Perhaps a better question might be, "Have you had any changes in your life that you might benefit from talking to a chaplain about?" What questions are being used? William will share the responses with those who contact him. Please contact him at wkramer@reshealthcare.org.
Request: tools/methods to increase patient satisfaction scores?Are any systems (other than Trinity Health) using Press Ganey as a tool for patient satisfaction that includes a question about spiritual care? If so would you be willing to share how the question was worded? Also I am looking for suggestions as to how to increase patient satisfaction scores. Is there anything you have done or used which has been helpful that you would be willing to share? Please contact Michelle Lemiesz, System Director, Mount Carmel Health System, Columbus, OH at mlemiesz@mchs.com. Thank you for your help.
Pastoral Care Week - October 24-30, 2010This year's theme is Healing Presence. Pastoral Care Week gives opportunities for organizations and institutions of all kinds and types to recognize the spiritual caregivers in their midst and the ministry which the caregivers provide. For PCW resources, including ways to celebrate, prayers, press releases, posters, merchandise, the history of Pastoral Care Week, and more, visit the official website at www.pastoralcareweek.org.
APC webinarsHave you visited the APC site to learn about their webinars? You can review and sign up for them by going to this link.
Are you planning to give any presentations on chaplaincy?We continue to encourage members to promote the chaplaincy profession. Please remember that the NACC office staff want to make sure you have resources to share. If you are planning to do a presentation, please contact Cindy Bridges (cbridges@nacc.org) so that she can send you brochures. Also we remind you that you can access on our NACC website the Chaplaincy Ministry video (or order one – see below) as well as two PowerPoint slideshows to use as a basis for the presentation at www.nacc.org/advancing/promo.asp.
Order your video promoting the chaplaincy professionOur video on Chaplaincy, both a recruitment version (that begins and ends with “Is God Calling You?”), and a version without this question, is available in DVD format. The charge is just $6.00, the cost of production and shipping. You may preview the video at this link. To order copies please email Cindy Bridges for instructions.
May-June audio conference starts this week!Our first NACC audio conference series is scheduled for this Thursday, May 27, and the following Thursday, June 3, 2010, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Central Time. It will be “Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services Directive 58: What Does the Revision Mean For Us?” by John Paul Slosar, PhD, Senior Director of Ethics, Ascension Health. To register, click here.
Watch for upcoming NACC audio conferencesIn the next NACC Now we will alert you to the audio conferences we have planned for July through September. Please watch for this information. We will continue to hold these on Thursdays so as not to conflict with the Champion Series that are held on Wednesdays. For questions about our audio conferences, please contact Jeanine Annunziato.
Local/regional event datesMore local gatherings are being set. Please review the list below, and mark your calendars. More details of events will be in future NACC Now's.
Here are other events for our members. For a complete listing of events, go to www.nacc.org/resources/edops.asp.
Please let us know if you would like our membership to pray for your health and healing. We continue to pray for: Tom Regan’s granddaughter, Kathryn Rose in NICU (born prematurely, weighs 3 lbs. 15 oz. with many developmental issues), Sr. John Marie Stack, OSF (lymphoma cancer), Mary Pawicz (recovering from shoulder surgery), Gloria Troxler (preventive chemotherapy after ovarian surgery), Fr. Kevin Ikpah (eye troubles), Sr. Micheletta McGee, RSM (pancreatic cancer), Lourdes B. Ruta (wife of Peter Ruta, in recovery), Fr. Bob Nee, BCC, LICSW, CT (intractable epilepsy), Kelly Elizabeth Sexton (cancer: daughter of NACC member Melyssa Sexton), Joyce Fink (heart attack/recovery from open 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).
Recent Job PostingsThe following positions have been posted in the last two weeks. Please go to www.nacc.org/positions/available.asp for more information.
PRIEST CHAPLAIN
Palos Heights, IL - Palos Community Hospital
MAYO CLINIC CPE
Rochester, MN - Mayo Clinic
CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATOR
Columbus, OH - Mount Carmel
CHIEF MISSION LEADER
Columbus, OH - Mount Carmel
HOSPITAL CHAPLAIN
Bakersfield, CA - Mercy Hospitals of Bakersfield
CHAPLAIN - FULL-TIME
Fort Smith, AR - St. Edward Mercy Health Systems
PRIEST/CHAPLAIN (temporary)
Baltimore, MD - University of Maryland Medical Center
DIRECTOR, PASTORAL CARE
Riverdale, NY - Schervier Nursing Care Center
CHAPLAIN
Lorain, OH - Community Health Partners
CHAPLAIN
Madison, WI - St. Mary's
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.