1. “Wk.8 Ex.7 Research Project”
Dennis Powell
407 Intro. To Chaplaincy
Spring2 2012
Professor Quiros

2. The work of chaplaincy in the Veteran’s Administration setting is important because post military life
has always been, and will always be a challenge to those that have faithfully served our country. We will
always have to especially consider the effects that military life have on the average person. Some will
seem visibly unscathed by the military life. Some even handle life after war better than others. There
are however, those that are not able to shake the life changing effects of war like others. Not to
mention the physical impact that comes from war. In an instant many lives can be changed forever, or
lost forever.
To me the VA Chaplain in involved in front line ministry much like the Military Chaplain. The
difference being that the weapons that were faced during actual combat are no longer there, but the
effect of those weapons can last a life time. PTSD can turn a strong constitution into a fearful, unsure,
childlike personality. To become a healing presence to someone who has become a fraction of who he
or she once was can literally change a life, for the better. I can only imagine how much of a positive
effect can be had for someone in the post military hospital setting who is engaged by someone who
understands what it is to be a healing presence. I say this based on the book, “ The Art of Being a
Healing Presence: A Guide for Those in Caring Relationships”: by James E. Miller with Susan C. Cutshall.
In this book Miller and Cutshall define healing presence as, “the condition of being consciously and
compassionately in the present moment with another or with others, believing in and affirming their
potential for wholeness, wherever they are in life”. As the title of the book implies, “healing presence is
an art, not a science”. The idea that we as chaplains, or prospective chaplains should minimize aspects
of who we are in order to help others maximize who they are, or their perception of who they are, can
be life changing.
Another aspect of chaplaincy that is used in conjunction with being a healing presence is “listening”.
The book, “The Lost Art of Listening: How Learning to Listen Can Improve Relationships”, has left an

3. everlasting impression on the way I interpret listening. The author Michael P. Nichols has a way of
basically shaming one into realizing the importance of true listening. He takes true life examples and
combines them with common sense practical application. I was very impressed and challenged by this
book. I think most people would be surprised at how much they actually “don’t listen”. We tend to
think that helping another requires some type of action. We don’t put active listening into that
category.
My desired setting would be that of a VA Chaplain. Since I’ve started the class of “Introduction to
Chaplaincy, I’ve realized that one of the reasons that I may have chosen this area is because of my many
years of being closely linked to the VA back in my hometown through my mother and my grandmother.
For as long as I can remember my mother worked at the VA. My grandmother went back to school in
her early 60’s to become and LPN. She also worked at the VA for several years. I literally played on VA
property when I was a child. Somehow that has stuck with me all these years. I think chaplains are
needed in the VA setting because of the broken spirits that return from military duty. The active duty
military can literally suck the life out of some. Along with reassuring those that risked their lives for our
country, they also need to understand that there is life after the military. Chaplains can help provide a
solid foundation on which a new life can begin.
In the VA setting a chaplain would most likely encounter those that have low self-esteem, mental
issues, physical issues, broken spirits, those that may carry guilt for some of the things they had to do to
survive. There would also probably be a wide variety of religious, or non-religious preferences. There
would also probably be interaction with family members, which could also be stressful for the VA
patient.
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4. I feel that “knowing thyself” is very important for a chaplain to be successful. I think it is important to
be aware of ones own potential and limitations in any ministry. It also helps to have a strong
professional and personal support system. No matter what walk of life we work in or come from, we all
have strengths and weaknesses.
I think that to prepare oneself for chaplaincy training would be of the utmost importance. There
seems to be quite a bit responsibility that goes with being a chaplain. There is a large amount of
schooling required to be a chaplain. There is also the task of keeping up to date via the different
support/training organizations. It also goes without saying that a deep and mature relationship with
God is the most important aspect of any work in ministry. More is found on what it takes to be a
chaplain in “The Work of the Chaplain” by, Naomi K. Paget and Janet R. McCormack.
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