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Scottish
Journal Volume 7 No. 1 May 2004 EDITORIAL A picture paints a thousand words, and can spark off a thousand associations. A figure stands on top of a mountain and shouts 'what is spirituality!!' (Levison). The question is posed to rock and snow and empty air, amid the silence of the high places, re-minding us perhaps that spirituality itself inhabits a place beyond definition. The simple drawing brings other things to mind; a line from a poem by Nan Shepherd, in which she describes a 'licht amo' the hills' and says that if that light were ever to go out, the world would indeed fall into darkness. Spirituality as the 'licht amo' the hills'? Not always light, though, as those of us engaged in chaplaincy well know. Spirituality, the journey, the struggle, can be experienced and lived out in dark places, places of loneliness, terror, anger and physical extremity. Again I am reminded of climber Joe Simpson's book 'Touching the Void' in which he recounts his own struggle to survive aban-donment on an Andean mountain face, and how, during that time of awfulness, he met depths in him-self which left him changed. Peter Speck reminds us that spiritual care depends on patient and caregiver entering together into the experience, and mutually exploring the terrain 'without quite knowing where it will lead'. That territory can be bleak and chal-lenging indeed, and may be a place where both par-ties risk touching some void of their own. Returning to the figure on the mountain peak, I am also reminded of transfiguration, and of how our mountain top experiences, great or terrible, must continue to nourish and inform what we do when we come back from the silence to the world of words, of work, of relationships and practicalities. Part of the task of chaplaincy is to translate spirituality, with all its welter of meaning, into spiritual care - meaning-ful, relevant, earthed; to enshrine it (not reduce or confine it) within operational policies; to find ways of providing evidence that it is happening, and of monitoring and assessing its quality. Contributors to the latest edition of the journal give us an insight into this ongoing work. Themes in common include the healing of false dualisms and dichotomies, lead-ing to a new complimentarity and partnership in healthcare, and the need to address the tendencies within the culture of healthcare to depersonalise and compartmentalise that which should be whole, hu-man and together. Articles range from the search for a theological method and underpinning for chaplaincy, to the precision of assessment and audit of chaplaincy services; from work informed by a profound pastoral sensitivity, and the hopefulness sym-bolised by the emergence of spring flowers, to the playful and childlike suggestiveness of the cartoon. It's all here, and I hope you enjoy it.
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CONTENTS A
DAY TO REMEMBER: Pages 2-5 Abstract: : There is a great deal of interest in the development of bereavement services for children. This article looks at the establishment of one such service in the Highlands of Scotland offering information, peer support, emotional expression and an opportunity to remember. Key
words: Child Bereavement; parental support; peer support; children's
grieving A
COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF HOSPICE CHAPLAINCY SERVICES Page 6-11 Abstract: : Marie Curie Cancer Care undertook a comparative assessment of its ten Marie Curie Hospices using the Association of Hospice and Palliative Care Chaplains' Standards for Hospice and Palliative Care Chaplaincy (AHPCC 2003). This article discusses the findings of the assessment process and considers the value of the assessment for Marie Curie Cancer Care as a charity committed to multidisciplinary team working. The article demonstrates the practicality of the standards and the accompanying self assessment tool in assessing the service providing expertise in spiritual and religious care in hospices. It features examples of good practice and identifies areas that need further research and development. Key words: Assessment, chaplaincy, hospice, standards, palliative care David Mitchell is lecturer in palliative care, Marie Curie Hospice Glasgow, Carol Hibberd is manager social and pastoral care team/chaplain, Marie Curie Hospice Solihull. "PARTNERS
IN SERVICE TO GOD": TORRANCE'S SCIENTIFIC METHOD IN HEALTHCARE
CHAPLAINCY Page 12-16 Abstract:
The author argues that "spiritual" approaches in healthcare
are based on a Cartesian dualist outlook that is outdated in a Maxwellian-Einsteinian
cosmology. A review of the history of medicine exacerbates the dichotomy
between the physical and spiritual aspects of human nature. Thus modern
healing has ceased to be seen as religious. Key Words: Cartesian, Christocentric, dualist, holon, hierarchy, theological science Michael Ward is Ecumenical Chaplain to Franklin and Grimsby Colleges ARE
PSYCHIATRIC PRECONCEPTIONS AGAINST PASTORAL CARE SCIENTIFICALLY APPROVED? Page 17-20 Abstract: Clergy and psychiatrists should be natural allies in mental health care. Yet mutual misunderstandings and negative preconceptions remain to be overcome. This article explores some of these misunderstandings and preconceptions as they operate in the field of psychiatry, and suggests ways in which they might be bro-ken down. Keywords : Spirituality; religion;
psychiatry; mental health; pastoral care; therapeutic intervention. Rev. Dr Adamantios G.Avgoustidi is Psychiatrist, Theologian, Lecturer at the University of Athens, Greece. Full TextSPIRITUAL
CARE IN HEALTH CARE Page 21-25 Abstract: : Effective spiritual care must truly interact with its recipients in order to discern need and to engage in a mutual process of exploration. Spiritual carers should be a resource in the individual's search for meaning and purpose, and a support through the sometimes painful re-examination of beliefs in the face of some life crisis. To be effective the carer must have personally engaged with the existential issues which arise. Support for spiritual caregivers is essential in order to increase self knowledge, address sources of anxiety, and work through the difficult feelings which engagement with another person at this level will arouse. Key Words: chaplaincy; spiritual care; support; narrative theory; spirituality. Peter W. Speck is Visiting Fellow (Faculty of Medicine) Southampton, Hon Senior Research Fellow, King's College London. (Dept. Palliative Care & Policy), former Chaplaincy Team Leader, Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust. CLARITY
AND COST EFFECTIVENESS IN CHAPLAINCY Page 26-30 Abstract: The need for chaplains to articulate their speciality and distinctiveness is vital. Such self-definition aids our working with others, as they more fully understand our role and function. This will increase the confidence and skills of the pastoral practitioner and thereby enable the chaplain to demonstrate more effectively the worth and benefit of chap-laincy involvement in healthcare. Keywords: Chaplaincy, self definition, role, function, pastoral care, cost effective Derek J Fraser is Lead Chaplain, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge. 'IT'S
CHAPLAINCY JIM, BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT'. Page 31-33 Abstract: : The author describes the developments initiated by the chaplaincy team at the Lothian university Hospitals Division of NHS Lothian, both in preparation for and in response to NHS HDL 76(2002) 'Spiritual Care in NHS Scotland'. These developments have included changes in teamworking, closer relationships with faith communities, and a new sanctuary without any dominant religious sym-bolism. Key words: chaplaincy; spiritual care; pastoral care; sanctuary, temworking. Sandy Young is Lead Chaplain at the Lothian University's NHS Trust, Edinburgh. CONFERENCE
ART AND CARTOON CREATIVE IMAGING Page 34-37 Abstract: : Non verbal communication has a long tradition. Pictures can display emotion, argument, describe feelings and point out things which are true or false, in a unique way. Cartoons in particular are accessible and invite reaction and understanding, have the ability to enthral and a lightness of touch. In this article the author explores the use of art for meaning, clarity and faith communities giv-ing examples and comments on examples of cartoon creative imaging by Graham Ogilvie: graphic artist for a national conference A Seamless Transition: Spiritual-ity in NHSScotland (NHSScotland 2003). Keywords : conference art, cartoon creative imaging, spiritual care, non threatening, communication Chris Levison is Healthcare ChaplaincyTraining & Development Officer/Spiritual Care Co-ordinator
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BOOK REVIEWS Pages 38-41 Providing Information for Health
- a workbook for primary care Developing a Unified Patient Record:
A practical guide Miscarriage and Stillbirth - the
changing response Narrative-based Primary Care: a practical
guide Spiritual Caregiving as Secular Sacrament:
A practical theology for professional caregivers e-Pathways: computers and the patient's
journey through care. Involving patients and the public:
How to do it better In Living Color |
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THE ORERE SOURCE Abstracts from the Pastoral Care and other Healthcare Journals Page 42-51 The Rev. W. Noel Brownis a Chaplain and ACPE Supervisor, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, and editor of THE ORERE SOURCE, a bi-monthly compendium of his abstracts from the pastoral care and healthcare literature. The summaries printed in the Journal have been selected from recent additions to the 13,600 in the database |
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