How can we look at chaplaincy as leadership?

By David Lichter, D. Min.
Executive Director

Some thoughts about leadership and chaplaincy…. In my column in the January-February issue of Vision, I reflected on 2010 as “Leadership 2010” for NACC. I focused on NACC’s need for your leadership. This issue of Vision has several articles about chaplains and their leadership roles. Let me also offer some thoughts about leadership and chaplaincy.

Last fall the Pastoral Care Summit Care Service Task Force completed “Spiritual Leadership Competencies.” The introduction to that document noted that the task force wanted to identify “the skills and training required for a spiritual leader in pastoral care.” It commented that “a traditional human resource approach would attempt to identify and categorize the skills, knowledge, and abilities required for leaders in pastoral care,” but the task force’s intent was to identify “fields” of competencies needed for being a successful spiritual care leader. If you look again at the November-December 2009 issue of Vision, pp.22-23, you will find those competencies. They are an excellent list of the management/administrative competencies needed to assume a spiritual care leadership role.

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Together drinking deeply: Spiritual practice as a resource for leadership

By Bridget Deegan-Krause, MDiv, BCC

It is sometimes easier to describe leadership in faces than in words. When I think of effective and inspired leadership I always think of the face of Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB, at the end of a riveting conference presentation. I was still young in my ministry and though I did not know what I would say, I wove my way up to the front of the crowded room, determined to introduce myself. But before I could, Sr. Joan, in one swoop, snatched my glass of water right out of my hand and gulped it down. After an equally broad wipe of her mouth with the back of her arm, she broke into a huge grin. “Now,” she said, “Let’s talk.”

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Chaplain leaders articulate mission, collaborate for clinical excellence

By D.W. Donovan, MA, MS, BCC

“Most of today’s organizations are heavy on vice presidents and light on leaders.” Those were the opening words of a leadership seminar that I attended almost 25 years ago. At the time, I was puzzled. Later in life, I came to understand that leadership was not dependent upon one’s title or place on an organizational chart, but was instead grounded in that person’s ability to engage others in the pursuit of clearly-defined goals that advanced the mission of the particular organization.

At this point in the life of the NACC, I think it is fair to ask...

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Gwen’s story: Life within a caring community

By Martha Byron, MA, BCC

Gwen has been a resident of Notre Dame Long Term Care Center’s (NDLTCC) Alzheimer’s Unit for the past two years. Gwen has chosen a special chair in the living area as her own. From there she is able to observe all the activities and happenings on this busy resident unit. We know where we will find Gwen each time we visit. Gwen spends her day sitting quietly in her chair and walking slowly around the space where she likes to be. During activities, Gwen continues to choose her space -- away from the center of things, enjoying life from the sidelines.

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