English - The Book of Leviticus the Third Book of Moses.pdf
The rescue mission chaplain
1. 1
The Rescue Mission Chaplain
Introduction to Chaplaincy
Week 8 Exercise 7
Jeffrey Bartlett
intern@nashuarescuemission.org
2. 2
WhenI firstsignedupforthis class,I hadno ideawhatto expect.Ihad certainimagesinmy
headfromwatchingtelevisionandmoviesaboutwhata chaplainwas,butI didn’tunderstandwhatwas
involved.Yet,thatwasmuch the same as whenI firstwalkedthroughthe doorsof a rescue mission.I
had beenthere before,hadwatchedthe people whostayedthere dotheirjobs,butdidnotknow what
wentonthere.Three yearslaterand I am still here,hopingthatGodwill letme keepwalkingbesidethe
people here andlearninghowtoministermore effectivelytothem. DoI thinkthatGod has calledme to
chaplaincyasa specificareaof work?No.Yet,God’s waysa greaterthan my ownand I do notknow
where He will bringme.Atthe same time,manyof the techniquesof chaplaincywouldbe quite
effectiveinhelpingme withthe ministryIbelieve Godhasin mindforme.
There are manytoolsthat the chaplaincan use inwhateverareaof ministrythathe or she
chooses.The mainone iseffective listening.Inthe book TheLost Art of Listening,Dr. Michael Nichols
introducesusto the conceptof active listening(Nichols,2009). Dr. Nicholswalksusthroughthe
importance of beingheardandhearingthe otherfully,the lifehurtsandassumptionsthatare the real
reasonsforwhypeople don’tlisten,how the listener’semotional reactionsgetinthe wayof receiving
the real message behindthe words,andhow differenttypesof relationshipsneeddifferentapproaches
to active listening(Nichols,2009).
While poorlisteninghappensineverypartof society,Ibelievethatinnootherstrata do people
getignoredas completelyas the poor.Most of the people whocome tothe rescue missionare
homelessorverynearso. There isa theoryonwhypeople become homelessthatpostulatesacomplete
lack of connectionwithGod,Self,andOthers.Ibelieve thatalarge contributingfactorto thislackof
connection,andthe difficultyof reestablishingthese connections,isalackof genuine listening.A large
majorityof the homelesspopulationhasgivenuphope simplybecause noone listenstothemanymore.
Thiscan be because of havingburnedtomanybridgeswithfriendsandfamily.Orbecause the
overburdenedsocial workerdoesn’thave sufficienttime todevote tothe inevitablycomplexstorythat
3. 3
leda personintohomelessness. Oreven,awell-intentionedbutnaïve chaplainorcounselorwhothinks
theyknowexactlywhatthe homelessmanorwomanneedstodoto fix theirsituation.The problemlies
withthe fact the more the homelessindividual isengagedwiththe “system,”the more isolatedand
separatedtheyfeel.Dr.Nicholsputsitthisway“Beinglistenedtospellsthe difference betweenfeeling
acceptedandfeelingisolated”(Nichols,2009).The more isolatedapersonbecomes,the lesslikelythey
are to reachout for the helptoreestablishthe necessaryconnectionsthatwill helpthemreturntoa
societallyfunctional state.Thisreengagementwithothersisatoppriorityforthe rescue mission
chaplain.The chaplainmustdrawthe disenfranchisedindividual outof the isolationthe isalmost
inevitable withstreetlevel homelessnessandreconnectthemtoGod,themselves,andotherpeople.
Thisbeginswithlistening.
One quote fromDr. Nicholsthathad the greatestimpact on me was this,“Most people aren’t
reallyinterestedinyourpointof viewuntil theybecome convincedthatyou’veheardandappreciated
theirs”(Nichols,2009).The rescue missionchaplainisthere tohearandappreciate the pointof viewof
the individual whennoone else seemswilling.Itisone thingtohave yearsof experience helpingpeople
whoare homeless getbackontheirfeet.Itisquite anothertoget the personexperiencing
homelessnesstotrustyou enoughtolisten.Everyone’scircumstances are uniqueandtheyare
convincedthatno one couldunderstandwhathappenedtothem.Partiallytheyare correct; noone
outside of themselvescanfullyknowthe decisionsthatledthemtowhere theyare.But,the empathetic
listenercanshowthe waryindividual thatsomeone atleastwantstotry and understand.Thisisthe
beginningof the bridge thatwill leadthe homelesspersonoutof theirfeelingsof isolationandmistrust
and bringthemback to the necessaryengagementwithcommunitythatwill helpthemdeal withtheir
circumstances.Aswithjustaboutanythingthe chaplaindoes,itall beginswithlistening.Active listening
ismore thanjusthearing;itis trulybeingthere inthe moment.
4. 4
Most of the people thatcome to a rescue missionare notthere because of happy
circumstances.Some peopleare volunteerstryingtogive backtothe community,butthe clientsare
there because somethingwentterriblywrong.A personusuallydoesn’tjustupandmake the choice to
be homeless.Thissetof negative circumstancesleavesthe individual withafeelingof fear,uncertainty,
and failure.Evenwhenthe negative circumstancescanbe directlytracedtobad choicesonthe part of
the individual,there isthe possibilityof aninternal feelingof exclusionandinvalidation.Thisispartly
whyit isso importanttorefrainfromcondemningthe individual fortheirchoices.Rather,the savvy
chaplainwouldbe the personthatvalidatesandaffirmsthe personasjustthat – a person.It is
necessaryforanybodywhoservesavulnerable populationtorememberthattheyare not inany way
lesser,justinabad situation.
The tragic circumstancesthat surroundmostof the people we serve atarescue mission leave
themfeelingseparatedformanyreasons.One of thembeing alackof situational connection.Thiswould
seemcounterintuitive.Everybodyis inthe same boat,right?The problemwiththisisthat while
everyone isinthe same boat,everyone feelstheirreasonforthere beingmore strongly.Itisalmost
impossible toshare yourpersonal storywithsomeone else,wheneverytime youturnaroundthe other
personistryingto share theirstorywith you.The presence of a chaplaincan helpfill thisneed. Tobegin
the processof healingfromthe grief causedbytragiccircumstances,itisnecessarytoshare those
circumstancesandhave somebodyvalidatethatyes,we were hurtbythis.The chaplainbearswitnessto
that painand sadness,thusaffirmingthatthe otherisa personwithreal feelingsanddeserves
compassionandgrace (Nichols,2009).Thistype of witnessingappliestoeverybody,eventhosewhose
choicesmostbreakthe tiesthat bindus together.The manservinglife formurderstilldeservestohave
hisgrief andlossoverbeinginprisonforthe restof hislife validated.Thisisnotanabsolvingof the
action,onlya validationthatthe otherislivinghumanwithfeelingsof theirown.The chaplainina
5. 5
rescue missionwillcrosspathswithpeople whohave committedmanydifferentcrimes,aswellas
people who have nevercommittedacrime,andhe or she must validate themequally.
One thingthat the rescue missionchaplainmustbe preparedforisthe steadilyincreasingly
heterogenousmake-upof homelesspopulations.Atthe rescue missionwhereIintern,we have amostly
Caucasianmake-up.Of course,the state where Ilive ismuchthe same,withethnicminoritiesbeingin
the single percentage digits.We are 93.9% white,1.5% AfricanAmerican,2.2% Asian,and3.4% Hispanic
(census.gov,2015). While thismeans thatour expectedservice populationswouldgenerallyfollowing
these numbers,thatisnoexcuse tonot understandjusthow toministertothose thatare differentfrom
my ethicheritage.Idonot knowthattryingto approach someone from adifferentrace ina like manner
as someone whowasof the same race is a good idea,butunderstandinghow spiritualministeringis
accomplishedinthe populationismandatory.Inthe book, African American PastoralCare (Wimberly,
2008), we learnabout the ideaof spiritual narrative.There isacohesive storythatistraditional inthe
AfricanAmericancommunity.Itwasa wayof remainingbondedtogetherin anoverarchingstorythat
was abouttragedyand physical slavery.Yet,they couldstaytogetherasa supportive wholebyeachof
thembeingincludedinthiscontinuingnarrative.The predictable lifecrisesinamemberof this
communitywere all dealtwithbymakingthemapart of that person’sindividual storyandthe
community’soverallstoryaswell. Mr.Wimberlymakesapointthathis beliefthatthe fracturingof the
AfricanAmericancommunity,andthe rise of violence withinthatcommunity,involves the disruptionof
thislife narrative (Wimberly,2008).
As can be seeninthe percentagesstatedabove,the largestminoritypopulationisHispanics.In
PastoralCareand Counseling withLatino/as,one majorlessonwe are taughtaboutministeringtothe
Latinopopulationisthattheirstrengthliesintheirdiversity (Montilla&Medina,2006). The extended
familyunitisthe mainsource of helpand support.Thus, to properlyminister,the chaplainmust
integrate himorherself intothatfamilyunit.Onthe otherside of thiscoin,separationfromthe family
6. 6
unitcan be devastatingforsomeoneof Hispanicdescent.Thisseparationispartof the
disenfranchisementthatisexperiencedbythose whoare homeless.The chaplainthen,throughhonesty
and empathy,comestorepresentatemporarysubstitute forthe family.
There isa vastarray of competenciesthatachaplaininthe rescue missionsettingneeds.These
are whyI do notfeel thatGod has calledme tobe a chaplainprofessionally.The standardsforchaplains
inotherareas (police,military,hospitals) are farmore stringent,butthere are manyareasof
understandingthatthe rescue missionchaplainmusthave.Iampursuingmydegree inaddiction
therapy.The chaplain’sskill setismuchthe same,butI will notbe endorsedbyany religious body.The
book The Work of the Chaplain,makesmentionof rescue missionchaplainsunderthe headingof Parish
Chaplains(Paget&McCormack, 2006). There isa sense of the parishchaplainbeingfree toserve the
community, notjusta specificgroupwithinit.Whateverpeople groupthe chaplainserves,theymust
have not onlyreligioustraining,buttraininginhow todeal withthe mostlikelyscenariostheyare going
to face.I made mentionof the chaplain’sskillsetbeingveryclose tothose of the counselor’sandthisis
verytrue. The chaplainmustbe fitto helpcounsel people throughgrief,addiction,loss of meaningin
one’slife,andahostof othereventsthatcan happeninthe life of a homelessperson.One sadly
necessaryskill ishowtohelpsomeone dealwithdeath.Itisa strong realityinthe homelesspopulation.
There have beenovertwentydeathsinthe lastthree yearsthatI have beenworkingwiththe homeless
populationinmytown.Those are justthe people Iknow personally.
Besidesbeingreadyandable tohelppeopledeal withtheirproblemsandspirituallycare for
others,the chaplainmustspirituallycare forhimor herself.Compassionfatigue cansetinquickly.Paget
and McCormack define compassionfatigueas “A secondaryformof post-traumaticstressthatonly
affectscaregivers,includingchaplains”(Paget&McCormack, 2006). Elsewhere,the authorsstate itlike
this“Theyare not tired of beingcompassionate,theyare tired frombeingcompassionate.”Thisisa
dangerthat all caregiversare prone too,and the warningsignsmustbe carefullywatchedfor.Difficulty
7. 7
concentrating,minimizingof trauma,focusingontrauma,feelingsof powerlessnessanddepletion,and
manyother symptomscouldbe pointingtoburnout (compassionfatique.org,2011).It isimportantthe
chaplainknowshisorher limits,whentosay “no,”and have veryclearplanson how to rest and
recharge.
Anotherpartof avoidingburnoutandcompassionfatigue,istohave goodstrongboundaries.
The chaplainmustalwaysremembertokeepadistance betweenthemselvesandthose theyserve.This
may seemstrange,as mostchaplainsserve religionsthatapplaudsacrificial givingof the self.The
problemis,whenthe caregiverhasnothinglefttogive,the needstillexists.Nosinglepersoncancover
all the needthat ourchosenpeople groupshave.The chaplainmustbe veryaware of hisor her own
internal state.Otherwise he orshe mightmake decisionsthatare not justdetrimental tothe self,butto
those we serve.
There are manyhurdlesandchallengestobeingachaplain.There are manyhurdlesto
successfullyaccomplishinganyworthwhile task.Yet,withpropertraining,support, andguidance the
role of the chaplainprovidesaspecializedandvital partof enrichingpeople’slives.Canapersonsurvi ve
withouthavingaspiritual advisororminister?Yes.But,thatpersonmissesoutona huge chunkof
spiritual enrichmentthatwouldhelptoameliorate manyof the troublesthatlife throws ourway.We
are comprehensive beings.Justasmuchas we needfood,drink,andintellectual stimulation,we need
our spiritstobe nourished.The chaplainhelpstoprovideforthatneed.
8. 8
References
Montilla,R.E. & Medina,F.(2006). PastoralCareand Counseling with Latino/as.Minneapolis,MN:
FortressPress.
Nichols,M.P. (2009). The Lost Art of Listening.New York, NY:The GuilfordPress.
Paget,N.K. & McCormack, J. R. (2006). The Workof theChaplain.ValleyForge,PA:JudsonPress.
PopulationEstimates,July1,2015, (V2015). (n.d.) RetrievedMay11, 2017, from
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/33.
Portnoy,D.(2011, July& Aug.).BurnoutandCompassionFatigue.RetrievedMay11, 2017, from
http://www.compassionfatigue.org/pages/healthprogress.pdf.
Wimberly,E.P.(2008). African American PastoralCare:Revised Edition. Nashville,TN:AbingdonPress.
