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The Rev. Emanuel Williams on evangelizing v. proselytizing
Proselytizing – A Disturbing Word
During the past year the word "proselytize" has appeared in PlainViews on more than one occasion. The word is usually mentioned in the context of coercive practices by some zealous minister from an evangelical group in a hospital setting. Having served as a chaplain at an urban hospital for over seventeen years, I can recall numerous instances when patients or family members have directed questions to me about their religious faith or lack thereof. Needless to say, my responses have come from my understanding of Scripture, the teachings of my faith tradition, and my professional training as a chaplain. Therefore, when I hear of references to proselytizing, I take more than a passing interest in the issues being discussed.
Generally speaking, when patients or family members have expressed their doubts about faith issues, these were not issues of denominational differences, but fundamental questions about the meaning of life, death, and one’s relationship with a Supreme Being. My response, generally speaking, has always been to engage them wherever they are terms of their spirituality and to share with them my thoughts on the issues facing them. Needless to say, these situations have forced me to ask this question: How do I find a balance between remaining true to my faith tradition on the one hand and refraining from imposing my beliefs upon the person asking the questions?
Recently, I heard a presentation on this issue given at the 2004 conference of the Healthcare Chaplains Ministry of America. The focus of this presentation centered on the dilemma experienced by chaplains in dealing with the dynamics of proselytizing versus evangelizing. According to the speaker, proselytizing occurs whenever: (1) our methods are unworthy and result in coercion and manipulation, (2) our message is unworthy and misrepresents other peoples’ beliefs, (3) our motives are unworthy and the glory is for us and not God. Conversely, evangelism was defined as the making of an open, honest, statement about the Gospel that leaves the hearers entirely free to make up their own minds about it.
I recognize that the above definitions may not be universally accepted. However, I believe that the following steps outlined in the above presentation have merit and provide a framework for evangelical chaplains to follow when facing this issue. The first step to be taken is for the chaplain to ask the question, what is my overarching role? Is it shepherd, evangelist, worship leader, or encourager? While all of these roles have their place, the chaplain needs to determine which one is appropriate given the specific nature of the patient's emotional and spiritual issues. Second, the chaplain, within the framework of his/her own theology, should make an effort to determine what God is doing in that particular situation and become a participant in the process. Third, the chaplain must always be mindful that the overriding limiting factor to ministry is the patient. There should be no attempt to impose ministry if the patient is not inclined to receive it. Fourth, it is extremely important that the chaplain listen to what the patient is saying, verbally and non-verbally. Lastly, the chaplain should ask permission to minister and determine what is in the best interest for that patient.
While the problem of evangelizing and proselytizing may not be an issue for all chaplains, it is one that chaplains coming from evangelical traditions encounter during the course of their ministry in the healthcare setting. The above approach appears to offer a practical and professional approach to the issue.
Rev. Williams is an ordained Assemblies of God minister who serves as the Healthcare Representative for the AG Chaplaincy Department. He exercises staff supervision over 90 healthcare chaplains in the United States. He assumed this position in 2002 following fifteen years as a hospital chaplain at Georgia Baptist Medical Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
Rev. Williams was born in San Francisco, California, received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and served in the U.S. Army for 28 years. Upon retiring as a lieutenant colonel, Rev. Williams completed an MDiv degree at Emory University and two years of CPE at the Georgia Baptist CPE Center.
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