Pastoral Care Week

This week is National Pastoral Care Week.  This means there are programs set forth by the Association of Professional Chaplains, National Catholic and Jewish Chaplain Associations, encouraging Health and other organizations which have Chaplains to highlight their role in the organization and thank them for the service they provide. 

The theme this year is "Prophetic Voice"  This week already at one facility we had a service of appreciation and our Director gave us mugs, with Journey theme.  Being that we are all on a journey together, and as Chaplains we journey with patients, their families and staff through their situations.

I like that theme, as I am on a journey, you can tell by the fact the name of this blog has journey in it. 

Today I have opportunity to serve one of my other facilities by staffing a table with information highlighting the work we do in that place. 

If you work where their is a Chaplain, take a moment this week to thank him/her for the work he/she does.  It is often stressful, physically, emotionally an spiritually draining. 

I am thankful to be able to do the work I do, and enjoy it!

Monday Medley Forever Young

Welcome to the second week in  April!  Spring is finally showing up!  Monday is always a mixed bag of exhaustion, relaxation, reflection for me.  Sometimes too much reflection. The last 24 hours were rough at work, an unusual number of calls. a total of 15 altogether from 0800 to 0800.  It kept me from making my normal rounds.  I was running from call to call day and night. Some situations out of the norm. when it was finally over, I came home and went back to bed. something I don't usually do, I did not sleep  very long, but my body seemed to say ENOUGH!  I'm recovering, thing is tomorrow I have to do another overnight, this time an evening shift and on call till 0800. I have been promised relief from all the on call, but so far...  I am an adapter and  survivor! At least I hope to continue to be.

Today I am sharing  Forever Young.... at least at heart.
http://youtu.be/E1nbvplgElw

Last Night at Work: A Second Monday Post

Over my career, I have been appreciated, encouraged, rejected, cussed out, threatened,  and even spit at.  Fortunately the cussing, threatening, and spitting are far and few between. When one works with folk who are at their worst, in a crisis, their most irrational moment, it will happen.  It's bound to happen.

Last night was one of those nights, I was called for a death.  One of the family members was completely out of control.  He had others in his family trying to help, and some wanting him to just leave.  He was inconsolable, completely irrational and of course whatever substances he had on board did not help his situation. For the first time in quite sometime, I was threatened by him when we tried to get him to calm down.  He singled me out from the other staff, one because I was the only man, second, I was viewed as the authority figure.  The doctor quickly left the situation, because he could, and he had other patient's. One of the nurses got security involved which was a very good thing.  I was glad because of the look in this guys eyes, I felt back up would be needed.

It took two security officers, his brother and other family members to "help" him leave.  The thing is he took all the attention away from other family members from being able to grieve and have time they needed. I stayed much longer than usual to be there for the staff who needed to talk and they did. Plus there were a few of the patient's family who remained.  It was an exhausting night.

The Master of Theological Studies

Well I have spent time reading degree programs online, trying to find a degree I can do online. I found two programs that offered most of what I need and want. I decided to work on the application for a Master of Theological Studies.  The school is a two hour drive from here, but offers online options for study. This school is a Baptist School but affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and Alliance of Baptists.  Both groups are more moderate and promote equality for sexual orientation. I checked the Mission Statement and Covenant, the Student Handbook and saw nothing that concerned me...at least thus far.  The application requires 2 references, I have not seen anything about church endorsement.  It also requires a 1000 word essay answering questions about what the degree will help me accomplish, and why I chose this school. An interview with faculty is also required. Something I like about this particular program is it offers 3 elective course opportunities. There is a course elective that is a Pastoral Counseling Practicum I would love to take, it offers a course in crisis intervention as well. Those would be two practical electives.  One thing I don't like is the Biblical Language requirement, at least it just requires one language in a  two course sequence. However, it will be to my advantage for any further work I might wish to do. Still I would prefer to use those hours toward pastoral counseling or theology. Unfortunately, I am told my Clinical Pastoral Education will not transfer into this program.  Below is the breakdown of courses

One of the following two course language sequence in the Biblical studies area:

MAB1121 introduction to Biblical Hebrew I

MAB1122 introduction to Biblical Hebrew Il or

MAB1521 New Testament Greek I

MAB1522 New Testament Greek ll

Required courses in the Biblical Studies area:

MAB1111 lntroduction to the Old Testament I

MAB1112 lntroduction to the Old Testament ll

MAB1511 lntroduction to the New Testament I

MAB1512 lntroduction to the New Testament ll

Required courses in the Historical/Theological Studies area:

MAHT2111 lntroduction to the Christian Tradition I

MAHT2112 lntroduction to the Christian Tradition ll

MAHT2311 Christian Theology I

MAHT2312 Chriistian Theology ll

MAHT2410 lntroduction to Christian Ethics

MAHT2650 World Religions 

One the following courses in the Biblical studies or Historical/Theological area:

MAB1070 Models of Biblical lnterpretation

MAB1OSO Topics of Biblical interpretation

MAB1091 Biblical lnterpretation in the Church

MAHT2312 Theology of the Church

MAHT2411 Christianity and Culture

MAHI2622 Perspectives on Global Christian Movements

MAHT2652 Jesus in a Pluralistic Age

Three Elective or specialization courses from the M.T,S. program options:

MAXXXX Electives

MA4090/99 Thesis or Comprehensive Exam

Total semester hours required for degree program completion: 51 semester hours. With what I have that will transfer in should bring my required courses to I hope 14.  This looks like a good program.

Tuesday Rambles: Career Thoughts

I continue to consider my future, completing my degree, and work as a Chaplain. I completed two online career assessment tools, which provided similar results.  I am best suited for a helping profession such as Social Service, ie counseling, religious support, or a teaching career.  I found it interesting I scored high on administration, high on persuasive skills, high on intuitiveness amongst others. It has helped to know I am a track that is good for me. Just have to find the right fit in job and education. I am not second guessing my call, or gifting, but I am questioning the direction for my future.  I may do an online spiritual gift test as well and see if that has changed any, also how it compares with the career assessment.  I am looking at other types of work in  counseling, aftercare in a funeral home setting, or even some type of teaching position.

I have done a little online research into schools and their degrees.  I am looking at more moderate to liberal seminaries including a few in my state. One thing is clear, whichever I choose, it will be at a significantly higher cost.  I will consider it the financial cost of being true to myself and the one I believe in. Specific degrees I am considering are...

Master of Theological Studies, two programs I like, one is 52 credit hours, the other is 60 credit hours.  Both require one Biblical language (2 courses), which I am not crazy about, I would rather take a pastoral counseling or pastoral  theology course with those hours.

There is an Master of Christian Leadership at one of the schools, which is 52 credit hours that might meet my need. Another school has a Master of Religious Education (60 credit hours) it can be done on a Friday/Saturday format.  Each of these would give me the credits I need for Certification on the Associate level with the Association of Professional Chaplains. As well as say I hold a Master degree.  Which is a good place to start.

I am not considering a 90 some credit Master of Divinity, since I am already ordained. Also under consideration is some type of counseling degree that would give me a credential toward pastoral as well as bereavement counseling. Originally I was thinking of just adding on courses as continuing education. Or toward the additional credits I need for full Board Certification. This is quite a process.

Looking back I do so wish I had the strength and self awareness to come out when I was young.  I would have had more time making these career decisions! However, I have to believe things come about in life on God's time not my time.