| SACH Scottish Association of Chaplains in Healthcare |
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| SACH Scottish Association of Chaplains in Healthcare |
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SACH
Soundings Page 6 I recently returned from Palestine and Israel where I was part of a fact-finding mission for the Church of Scotland. We were meeting with a wide range of people in that part of the world to discuss with them what they believed with regard to Land and Covenant. It was a fascinating time to be there in order to explore these issues. We visited Bethlehem shortly after the Israeli tanks had withdrawn, and shortly before they returned again, in force. We found an empty Church of the Nativity, just a few days before it became the centre of world attention. We visited an Israeli settlement in the West Bank, and saw the extent of Israeli settlement activity. We drove on 'Settlers' Roads', and saw how these effectively destroy Palestinian infrastructure. By sheer contrast, we visited an unrecognised Arab village in Israeli Galilee, where Israeli Arabs are denied basic services such as water, healthcare, electricity, postal deliveries and education. We saw the bombed out remains of a café in West Jerusalem, and the bombed out remains of a child's bedroom in Ebolin refugee camp. The scale of the injustice that we saw in the oppression of the Palestinian people is staggering. That is not a justification of the appalling evil of suicide bombings or terrorist atrocities, but one begins to understand why these people are so angry. Indeed I often found it hard to be clear in my own mind exactly who is terrorising whom. But of one thing I was convinced, that this conflict is utterly degrading and dehumanising for Israelis and Palestinians alike, and the longer it goes on the worse it gets. Some of the views we listened to were more than worrying. On a number of occasions we were told that these are the last days, and that God is going to in-gather the Jews from all over the world in order to convert one third of them to Christianity, and destroy the remainder. Anywhere else in the world, this would have sounded crazy. In Jerusalem, it sounded as if it could easily be made to happen, and the Almighty would not get that much of a say! In my own mind, I tried to be as impartial as I could. I am also aware of the very real danger of anti-semitism growing again in our world. I believe that we must be careful in distinguishing between criticism of a government or political regime (which criticism the prophets themselves engaged in) and generalisations about the Jews, many of whom are appalled at human rights abuses in Israel/Palestine. As a Christian, I hear Christ saying something almost unthinkable in this situation. He says, 'I tell you, love your enemies, and do good to those who hate you'. This is something so subversive and radical and difficult, that I wonder how it might be possible in Israel/Palestine, and yet, the situation Christ was addressing in his day was also one full of violence. So what might it mean to love your enemies, when these people treat you in such an appalling way? I do not believe for a moment that it means forgetting issues of justice and basic human rights. But as long as we see our strength only in terms of our enemies' weakness, then all we can do is contribute to the degree of hatred and conflict in our world. Maybe love and goodness in this situation begin with the recognition that, rather than weak enemies, what we need are strong neighbours. Iain Macritchie |
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Paediatric
Chaplains’ Network UK: Is it possible? Is it necessary? The title, in one sense, is self- explanatory. It is a statement of hope, as such a defined group does not presently exist. It is my hope, along with others, to formalise a network, so that those who are involved heavily in paediatric chaplaincy can identify fellow colleagues who understand and experience the issues and dynamics that are specific to the paediatric context, and so provide support and resources. As a consequence this will hopefully develop good practice, a better self-awareness and a clear portrayal of the speciality to other hospital chaplains and professionals. An interesting model already in place in the States is the Pediatric Chaplains Network. http://www.pediatricchaplains.org/ Why UK wide? In the Scottish health context we have many hospital chaplains who are involved in paediatrics but it serves as just one facet of their work. This is likely to limit the pace and breadth of experience. Some of us have a fairly high percentage involvement and one or two of us have a 100% allocation. This limited pool of people explains why I feel it would be helpful to broaden this to a UK wide network. Even then there are only a few who serve as whole-time chaplains to paediatrics. However, a small but significant group of whole-time chaplains may be enough to be a stimulus to all who are involved in paediatrics, to whatever degree.Is it necessary? In the context of the Health Service it would be a good step to promote the presence of chaplaincy in this area, and so the answer would be ‘Yes’. It would be an assertive step, on our part, to articulate our specialist profession amongst other professionals, not just within chaplaincy. In regards to self-confidence and good practice I have discovered a felt need to gain from each other’s experience through e-mails received and phonecalls made. Some may still ask, ‘Could we not be served by the existing professional bodies?’ We could, but to what extent? I do not envisage this network as a professional body that would substitute or duplicate but rather as a practical step to be a focused personal group to enjoy and then do better in our roles. Thankfully, we have a helpful Scottish based annual study leave day organised by our Training & Development Officer, Rev Chris Levison. A network is not meant to replace that, but if anything to strengthen these events by the friendships and contacts made through out the year. It would also intelligently contribute into the day. Yes, I believe it still to be necessary. Is it possible? This depends partly upon the internal resolve of those who work in this specialty to see the importance of networking. It also depends upon the funding and economically creative ways to network. Whole time paediatric chaplains are a scattered group and so it will involve effort and determination to see this through. I can see the potential for paediatic chaplains using e-mail groups more, study leave days being a stimulus in the paediatric agenda of other bigger professional bodies. Yorkhill NHS Trust are interested in hosting a UK wide paediatric chaplains study leave day with invited speakers for the morning, and the afternoon allocated to approving a framework and action plan for introducing a workable and sustainable UK network. A network that would bring support and insight that is not bound by geography or professional bodies but helps to improve our specific discipline within the NHS UK-wide. If you are interested in such a network I would greatly appreciate your views and direct contact. Rev Alister Bull
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