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05 October 2002 Contents
Soundings:11
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Mike Ward
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SACH
Soundings
No 11 September 2002
Page
5
From Orkney to
Leeds
and back again
Mike Ward gives his impressions of the Leeds University MA in
Healthcare Chaplaincy at Leeds University
I think I can genuinely call this “distance learning”! Encouraged
by various chaplains who have recommended this course, and with study
leave accruing from the Church of Scotland (available to hospital
chaplains as well as parish ministers), I began the two-year part-time
course at Leeds University in February 2002. The fees of £2,100 per year
may seem a lot, but grants from the Study Leave Fund, Orkney Islands
Council and SACH’s Training Fund has meant the financial burden is not
too great.
Most of the work is home-based, with attendance at Leeds on average once a
month – there are two “campus” study days per module, though
(whisper this quietly) missing the occasional study day is not a capital
offence! The study material is both extensive and largely up-to-date –
though some of the modules are about to be rewritten. The recommended
reading is perhaps too demanding – the trick is to be selective and the
resource library that is built up is useful in the day-to-day business of
Chaplaincy, as well as in reflection. Or, as one tutor has said, “you
can always come back to it and dip into the parts that interest you most,
after you’ve completed the course.”
The first two modules, “Pastoral Care and Healthcare Chaplaincy” (a
double module in effect) and “Spirituality and Health” are behind me,
and in September the next eight-week module begins: “Thinking
Theologically”. This will be followed by four optional modules, covering
areas such as mental health, death and bereavement, ethics, counselling
and cultural issues. Assessment is by essay writing – one per module.
There are around ten of us on the course, including two other students
from Scotland. So the final point, and one that cannot be underestimated,
is the sense of sharing and fellowship the course offers – particular to
those of us working outside the central belt of Scotland (or England).
Just meeting fellow chaplains in the Students’ Union, complaining about
essays and pretending to be young again is one of the main attractions of
the Leeds course. Just don’t mention essay deadlines…
Mike Ward.
Chaplain, Balfour Hospital, Kirkwall
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From
the Executive
Thoughts are turning to the AGM next month. We’ve invited Liam
Gallagher of North Glasgow Trust to speak on Management and Change. We
hope he’ll also say a bit about his involvement in the Beatson Oncology
Centre.
At our last meeting the Executive said goodbye to Anne Harper who has been
our President since 1999. Anne has given a lot of time and energy to SACH
and we are grateful to her for this. We do hope that you’ll all take
some time to think of possible nominations for the vacant posts on the
Executive. As well as a new president, we’re hoping to find two new
ordinary members (Stephen Dunn and Ian McDonald are leaving us) and a
membership secretary (this is a new post). It’s an exciting time to be
involved on the Executive with the development of registration and the
immanent (!) appearance of the Scottish Executive Guidelines (Spirituality
in the NHS). However, the Executive isn’t only about hard work. It’s
also about sharing stories and supporting colleagues. We meet in
Dunfermline about 4 times a year and meetings always begin with coffee and
donuts! (thank you Isabel).
Look forward to seeing you at Stirling on 10th October.
Monica Stewart
Secretary
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