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The Rev. Martha R. Jacobs on advocating for the staff
Little Did I Know...
Little did I know when I left my position as Director of Pastoral Care at NY United Hospital that I would return eighteen months later to participate in a “closing of the hospital” worship service. My seven years at United were filled with amazing opportunities, great sadness, grace and holiness beyond anything I could have imagined.
Little did I know that forging strong relationships with the staff would come back to reap rewards that are beyond words.
Little did I know that the imprint of those whom I served during my time at United remained on my heart as I worshiped with them at that closing service.
Little did I realize that my years of hanging out with staff, hearing their frustrations, their blessings, their burdens, would lead to my helping them say goodbye to their jobs.
Many of the employees had worked at United all of their lives. Some started in the kitchen, went to school and became technicians, nurses, nurse techs, or continued providing food for the patients and the staff. There were many employees who had been at United for 30 or more years. Some were the children of employees who had spent their careers at United as well.
Little did I know when I left eighteen months ago to work on my doctorate and to become managing editor of PlainViews that I would be the chaplain once again for the staff that I had come to know and love and respect. The local clergy asked me to come and offer a reflection during this worship service. They felt that I was still the chaplain for the staff even though I had not been physically present for a long time. What could I possibly say to this staff that would make a difference?
As one who worked to ensure that I was there for
everyone, it was important to me that I be inclusive
in my homily, and so I turned to one of my rabbi
colleagues at The HealthCare Chaplaincy who knew
more about the Hebrew Bible than I. Rabbi Shira
Stern, after hearing about the situation and my
uncertainty as to what I might say, immediately
thought of Deuteronomy 31, where Moses is addressing
the Israelites, encouraging them to be strong and
bold because G-d would be going with them, in front
of them and would not forsake them. This is the
message that I offered to the staff — to
know that they would not take this journey alone;
G-d would be traveling in front of them.
Little did I know that I would be standing there addressing those individuals with whom I had spent seven growing, wonderful, hard years. Years where I laughed, cried, fought with and for, and came to have a deep respect for the staff of this small community hospital. I had helped them when they had family deaths and fellow staff deaths and beloved doctor’s deaths.
Looking back on my time with them, and the closing
of this much needed community hospital. I feel
great sadness. I also feel great pride in having
been
a small part of this hospital I feel the proudest
when I think of the times that I spoke up for the
staff. The times when I asked the CEO or other
members of the administration to consider something
especially for the staff; to treat the staff with
greater respect; to remember to thank the staff
for their work. My advocacy for the staff, while
not intended to bring about an alliance and collegiality,
did just that.
Walking back into the hospital after being away for eighteen months, felt like I was coming home. My heart hurt for the staff as they tried to let me know that they were hurting but would be okay.
Little did I know that my advocating for the staff had the benefit of advocating for the chaplain to be part of the very fabric of the hospital. I realized this when I heard from the staff how much they missed the presence of “their” chaplain in their day to day work.
Advocacy takes all different forms. Helping the staff to understand the importance of having a chaplain working with them is a form of advocacy. Advocating for the staff had an immeasurable impact on my work with them. At times, chaplains are looked to as the ethical and prophetic voice in our settings. Professional chaplains should use their pastoral authority to advocate for the rest of the staff as well as for chaplaincy. It brings a whole new meaning to being a part of the interdisciplinary team.
In addition to her role as Managing Editor of
PlainViews, the Rev. Jacobs is the associate director
of outreach and community-based programs at The HealthCare
Chaplaincy. An ordained minister of The United Church
of Christ, she is an adjunct professor at New York
Theological Seminary and serves as the chair of the
Ordination Committee of The Riverside Church. For
eight years Martha served as chaplain for The HealthCare
Chaplaincy at New York United Hospital Medical Center,
Port Chester, NY. She received an M.Div. from New
York Theological Seminary where she is currently
pursing a doctorate degree (ABD), exploring the attitudes
of UCC clergy around death and dying issues. Martha
holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from U.S. International
University, School of Performing Arts. She served
as State Certification Chair for the Association
of Professional Chaplains from 1998-2003. She is
a member of the American Association of Pastoral
Counselors, sits on the Quality Commission of the
APC, and is the president of the United
Church of Christ Chaplains in Health Care.
Do you have thoughts about advocacy
you’d like to share with your colleagues? Send
an e-mail to info@PlainViews.org.
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