This section of PlainViews offers a sample of articles related to chaplaincy and spiritual care that have recently appeared in the mainstream and religious press.

PlainViews attempts to provide either the complete text or a link for each article. When such reprints and links are restricted by copyright laws or paid registration fees, PlainViews provides a summary for each article.

Chaplain Larry Hirst, who has written several articles for PlainViews and who works at Bethesda Hospital and Place in Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada, recently had a book published: The book, Chaplain's Corner, is a compilation of 80 articles that he has written for the local weekly paper in a column he writes called “Chaplain’s Corner”. The articles deal with spiritual care issues from his work as an Acute Care and Long Term care Chaplain. All the proceeds from the sale of the book are going to the hospital’s Chaplaincy Fund, which is used to support the spiritual care work at his facility. The publisher's information is:
http://www.derksenprinters.com/store/lightreading_catalogue.shtml

Rev. Austin Miles has had his article entitled, “Burnout - A Refining Fire,” posted on http://capitolhillcoffeehouse.com/more.php?id=5493_0_2_0_C.

The"Break Time With The Chaplains" program, described in the January PlainViews, (Vol. 4, No. 23) has brought recognition from Tenet Health System. Chaplain Michael Gross, the author of the article, was awarded a Tenet Hero Award for developing the support program. Systemwide, Tenet recognized 103 individuals as Tenet Heros. The PlainViews article went with the nomination, so hopefully Tenet leadership was exposed to PlainViews!

July’s Christianity Today has two articles on Motorsports chaplaincy with some quotes in the editorial introduction by Jan McCormack, Mentoring Director and Assistant Professor at Denver Seminary.

Chaplain Alan Tyson, Director, Chaplain Services for Tyson Foods, Inc., sent in the following articles about his chaplains -

‘A Ministry of Presence’: Tyson Chaplains Meet Employee Needs in Poultry Plants was written by Bettina LeHovec and appeared in The Morning News of NWA on June 21, 2008. The article features the Tyson Foods chaplain’s team of Ramiro Lizcano, Albon Langbon and Bob Bethke. Click here to read the article: http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2008/06/20/religion/062108chaplains.txt

Tyson Chaplain Helps Marshallese Workers Handle New Challenges – This article appeared on the Marshall Islanders website, Yokwe Online, on June 21, 2008. It features Chaplain Albon Langbon, the first Marshallese chaplain to work for Tyson Foods, Inc. Click here to read the article: http://www.yokwe.net/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2206&theme=Printer

Chaplaincy Added as New Topic Area of Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC)

The CAPCconnectSM Forum — the only forum dedicated to palliative care program growth and development — has just added a new discussion topic: Chaplaincy in Palliative Care Settings. The CAPCconnectSM palliative care discussion forum is a free resource for health care professionals who want to share information, exchange ideas, and get advice from colleagues on issues affecting their palliative care programs. As with all topic areas, the new chaplaincy section will be fully moderated.

To register or login, go to www.capc.org/forums

Living with Loss Magazine published an article by chaplain Dale A. Young that documents his experience providing grief support training in Sri Lanka following the Tsunami. The article: "Post-Tsunami Grief Support" was published in the Winter 2007 edition of Living with Loss Magazine. Chaplain Young is the director of Congregational Health Alliance Ministry Program (CHAMP) of Baptist Health South Florida. CHAMP has developed an extensive multi-cultural grief support program in partnering faith communities. www.baptisthealth.net/champ.

Gary R. Meller, Staff Chaplain was featured in an article about his ministry in Duluth, MN. Please follow this link to see the article: http://www.livingstonesnews.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=632

Rev. Penelope Ann Thoms, Chaplain for Capital Hospice in Leesburg, Virginia, has published a book about her experiences as a hospice chaplain: Thin the Veil: Living and Dying Within Celtic Spirituality, written while she lived in the West of Ireland. The book has been very well received, including a review in The New York Times. Rev. Thoms is an award-winning poet as well as a spiritual director and chaplain for the past 15 years. Her work and reviews can be read on-line by "Googling" "Penelope Ann Thoms".

Chaplain Phil Pinckard has two articles published in an upcoming issue of Holiness Today, his denomination's monthly magazine: a response to a letter from a grieving mom about the loss of her son a year ago, and an article re-worked from "Beyond Words," which was published in the November 21, 2007 issue of PlainViews.

Rev. Alan Tyson sent the link to an article on Workplace Chaplains that was printed in The Arkansas Democrat Gazette on Sunday, Nov 4. The article is entitled: " Chaplains: Faith and Work." The article can be viewed at: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Business/206702/print/

Tim Ford, MA, MS, CT,Palliative Care Chaplain at VCU Health System sent the following: Our local paper just did a flattering piece on me and our work here at the Thomas Palliative Care unit of VCU's Massey Cancer Center. I would like to draw your attention especially to the slideshow, which I think did an admirable job of making me sound much wiser than I am. http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/entertainment.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2007-10-01-0002.html

Marty Knorre, Manager, Pastoral Care at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL, sent this article from the Chicago Tribune (07/09/09) about the work of Stacey Jutila, one of their night chaplains. To read this story go to:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/chi-070909nightchaplain-story,1,1608865.story

Congratulations to Chaplain Toni Weingarten for the story written by her in Newsweek. To read the story go to: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19851490/site/newsweek/page/0

Rev. Hugh Maynard Reid was appointed by Gov. Elliott Spitzer to the Empire State Stem Cell Board. To read about it: http://www.ny.gov/governor/press/0726074.html

The Arkansas Association of Chaplains & Pastoral Counselors has established their website. You can read about them at http://arkansaschaplains.googlepages.com/home.

Congratulations to The Rev. Margaret (Peggy) Muncie who is featured in an article in The New York Times entitled: "Offering Comfort to the Sick and Blessings to Their Healers!" To read the story, go to: http://www.healthcarechaplaincy.org/NYT_7_17_2007.html?_r=1&8dpc&oref=slogin

The Rev. John Rea Thomas was honored by the Association of Professional Chaplains with the Retired Chaplain Award at its meeting in Burlingame, CA. This honor was written up in the Capital Times. To read it go to:
http://www.madison.com/tct/archives/index.php?archAction=arch_read&a_from=search&a_file=%2Ftct%
2F2007%2F05%2F07%2F0705070312.php&var_search=Search&keyword_field=&pub_code_field=tct&
from_date_field=20070507&to_date_field=20070507&var_start_pos=10&var_articles_per_page=10

Kimberly Goodman sent this article in, writing - Yea colleagues! Nice article!!!! To read the article, go to:
http://www.startribune.com/614/story/1163886.html

St. Joseph's Receives Awards from the Donor Network of Arizona

St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center recently received the Overall Hospital Leadership Team Award from the Donor Network of Arizona during the organization's Donation Celebration. Chaplain Sue Wintz, M.Div., BCC at St. Joseph's, was honored with the Outstanding Family Support Award.

St. Joseph's was recognized by the Donor Network of Arizona for their exceptional leadership in organ donation. The number of organ donations at St. Joseph's has increased tremendously this year and more than 50 lives have been saved as a result. St. Joseph's organ donation rate is 94 percent compared to the national goal of 75 percent.

Chaplain Wintz was recognized for her significant role in the organ donation practice. Wintz works closely with families at St. Joseph's to educate them about organ donation and helps aid them through the process.

April is the National Donate Life Month, which encourages Americans to register as organ and tissue donors. To register in Arizona, log on to www.DonateLifeAZ.org or call 1-800-94 DONOR for a registration form.

Noel Tiano, ThD, BCC, wrote a chapter on 'Religious Issues' in The Social Health of Nevada: Leading Indicators and Quality of Life in the Silver State, ed. by Dmitri Shalin (UNLV in press) see: http://www.unlv.edu/centers/cdclv/healthnv/religion.html.

Rabbi ElizaBeth Beyer, JD, MS, RN, a colleague of Noel's, wrote an article on HPV vaccine and ethical/religious questions at the Reno Gazette Journal on February 24, 2007: http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070224/NEWS03/702240321/1006.

Rev. Amy Jo Jones, Chaplain/Grief Support Center Coordinator at Big Sky Hospice in Billings, MT, submitted the following articles about the work that the chaplains in Billings hospitals are doing:

http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/02/24/features/life/25-support.txt
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/02/24/features/life/27-groups.txt
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/02/24/features/life/30-minister.txt

Dear Fellow Servants,

Here is a link to an article about Bedford Camera and Video of Arkansas where I serve as Chaplain. In the article where we are named Dealer of the Year, there is a paragraph about my ministry with the company. http://www.imaginginfo.com/publication/article.jsp?pubId=2&id=2157

Thank you for your newsletter. It is a source of education and encouragement.

Have a great day!

Yours truly,
Dan Carson
Chaplain

Rev. Priscilla H. Howick M.Div., BCC, Chaplain Coordinator Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida has had an article published. Here's the infomation about it: "The Palliative Care Consultative Service: Optimizing Quality of Life When Quantity of Life is Limited" by Robert B. Shannon MD; Donna Kelly Gwin, PhD ( c ), MSN, RN; Gerardo Colon-Ontero, MD; and Priscilla H. Howick M.Div., BCC.Northeast Florida Medicine Journal, Vol. 57, No. 4 Winter 2006.

At the Virginia Chaplains Association’s Annual Fall Conference, held October 5-6, 2006, Rev. Jill E. Kundtz, R.N., M.Div., BCC, (Chaplain, Emergency Services, Chesapeake General Hospital, Chesapeake, VA) was elected to the post of President. VCA is an organization of approximately 250 Chaplains from across Virginia providing a means for Education, Nurture, Advocacy, and Networking of our membership. Jill previously served in the roles of Secretary and Communications Chair of VCA in the past. (www.virginiachaplainsassociation.org) Congratulations, Jill!!!

Chaplain Phil and Jodie Pinckard, donor parents, attended the 2006 Transplant Games eld in Louisville, KY, June 17-20. The Transplant games are sponsored in even numbered years by the National Kidney Foundation. Over 1200 recipient-athletes ranging in age from 2 to 84, from all 50 states and Canada, participated in a variety of athletic games from traditional track and field events to swimming, golf, badminton, tennis, volleyball, bowling, etc. Recognition ceremonies were held for donor families and living donors. A national quilt pinning ceremony was also held.

Phil and his wife, Jodie, led a workshop on parental grief attended by more than 20 parents, siblings and grandparents. Phil also offered the benediction [pictured above] for the Closing Ceremonies on Tuesday, June 20. More pictures and stories are available at www.transweb.org. Follow links to the 2006 Transplant Games.

Noel Tiano, ThD, BCC (Director, Nevada Center for Ethics & Health Policy University of Nevada, Reno) has an article on stem cell research offering different religious perspectives. It was featured in the Reno Gazette Journal. See: http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060722/NEWS03/607220333/1006.

Rev. Barbara Lindeman Jackman, currently at Zion UCC in LeSueur Mn, recently presented a workshop sharing of differing types of Healing Retreats for those grieving life losses and for caregers; at the International Conference for Death, Grief and and Bereavement held at the University of Wisconsin in LaCrosse, Wi. Lindeman-Jackman has served as chaplain in various facilities in the Midwest since 1989.

Rev. Sue Wintz reported that the June issue of the Southern Medical Journal has a section of articles regarding professional chaplaincy.

The February issue of Science and Theology News published an article by Rev. Dale A. Young, M-Div. BCC. The February theme was the Faith-Community response to the Bird Flu. In that context, the article addresses the motivation of Faith-based organizations. The article is located on the web at: http://www.stnews.org/print.php?article_id=2675

Larry Austin’s article entitled: Spiritual Assessment: A Chaplain's Perspective is being published in the spring edition of AAHPM (American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine) bulletin, volume 7 Number 1, spring 2006.

Two articles written by Rev Barbara Lindeman-Jackman, concerning chaplaincy in were published in Insights, the National Hospice & Palliative Care periodical: "Grief Work at the Kitchen Table" (Winter 2006 issue) and "Making and Maintaining connections-chaplains and local clergy" (March 2005 issue).

Rev. Dirk van der Vorst, M.Div, BCC, Director of Chaplaincy Services, Denver Health Medical Center sent in the following: 'In the Hands of God' By Kristin Henderson, Washington Post, Sunday, April 30, 2006; W08. For chaplains in Iraq, the constant battle is the fear, loneliness and tedium that can test a soldier's faith. Read the article at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/25/AR2006042501608_pf.html



Sue Wintz, BCC a staff chaplain at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona was the featured speaker at a recent meeting of the Musculoskeletal Transplantation Foundation in Scranton, PA. Her presentation on "A Parent's Journey Through Donation for Transplant and Research" incorporated her family's personal experience as well her work as a chaplain who works with donation issues within her medical center. Portions of Sue's presentation will be published in an upcoming issue of the National Donor Council Newsletter, "For Those Who Give and Grieve."

Gary Batchelor receives Health Care Ethics award:

The Reverend Dr. Gary Batchelor, chaplain for Floyd Medical Center, has been chosen as this year’s recipient of the Heroes in Health Care Ethics Award presented by the Health Care Ethics Consortium of Georgia (HCECG). The Heroes in Health Care Ethics Award is an annual award given to an individual or group associated with the HCECG organization who has demonstrated exemplary achievements in the field of health care ethics. Batchelor will be presented with this prestigious award at HCECG’s upcoming Annual Symposium on April 19 in Decatur.

A Floyd employee for 30 years, Batchelor is responsible for coordinating spiritual and religious care by providing personal ministry to patients, families and Floyd staff. He serves as chairperson for Floyd’s Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations “Ethics, Rights and Responsibilities” team, ethics faculty member for Floyd’s Family Medicine Residency Program and co-chairperson of Floyd’s Ethics Committee. He received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and his Master of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky. He earned his Doctor of Ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur.

Batchelor is a board certified chaplain by the Association of Professional Chaplains and is a certified member of International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc. He is also a member of the Georgia Society of Healthcare Chaplains, Healthcare Ethics Consortium of Georgia and Floyd County Crisis Response team.

He is the program chairperson for the Association of Professional Chaplains 2006 National Conference and is contributing a chapter entitled “Ethical Decision Making and Spirituality” to the second edition of the Spiritual Caregiving for the Health Professional. Batchelor is an active member of Second Avenue Baptist Church serving in the music ministry, drama ministry, as a Sunday school teacher and an inactive deacon. He resides in Rome with his wife, Rosalind. He has two children, Cori and Luke.

George Robie, BCC, Chaplain at Bryanlgh Medical Center East, Lincoln, NE and Denise Moeschen, Patient Care Coordinator in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at BryanLGH have coauthored a CareNote entitled " Recovering from Heart Surgery," which will be printed and distributed in the near future. This is the sixth CareNote George has coauthored. His previous ones have discussed organ-tissue donation, Diabetes, Living Wills, What makes for a good death? and Forgiving Family members near and Far.

Jewish Exponent, April 13, 2006 -- article on Philadelphia chaplain Sandra Berliner (past president of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains) titled: "God Willing, We'll All Be Elderly One Day." Rabbi Berliner sums up the work she does for the elderly rather simply: "If you can't get to a shul, I'll bring the shul to you." As an employee of Jewish Family and Children's Service, the Melrose Park resident works as a chaplain at the five Federation Housing complexes located throughout Philadelphia. "Being there, I help emotionally, spiritually, and with ways to deal with issues that are beyond physical and religious," said Berliner, 50. "A lot of what I do as a rabbi is bring Jewish tradition and resources in to help wrestle with the bigger questions." Though she recognizes that Judaism doesn't really label anything as a calling, the mother of three sons said she believes that working with the elderly is what she was meant to do in life.
http://jewishexponent.com/ViewArticle.asp?ArtID=3009

The Star Tribune February 27 featured a profile of Kristin Evenson--photo and all!--on the front page of the paper. (All I can say is that God’s quite the marketing director!) This feature was Part 2 of the Strib’s Sunday/Monday series on the faith-at-work movement. Kristen wrote: Only glitch is that they quoted me as being rather dismissive of workplace chaplaincy, which is clearly not the case. My point was that God's called me to an "umbrella approach," of which workplace chaplaincy is now but one part. Gil Stricklin was quoted as well. Here’s a link to the article: http://www.startribune.com/614/story/272389.html. And here’s a link to my LifeWork Group website, set up in a crunch, specifically to handle any resulting searches and inquiries. www.lifeworkgroup.com What an adventure this business/ministry calling continues to be! Certainly not for the faint of heart, but nonetheless exhilarating!

Allan Tyson sent this article entitled, “Company Chaplains Who Counsel Workers,” published by Knight Ridder Newspapers
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkyNTcmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY4ODQ2NTkme
XJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXky

Carolynne Fairweather,BCC sent in this article that appeared in the Oregonian on February 16, 2006 (This page may also contain advertising.) http://www.oregonlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/metro_southwest_news/1139628324245300.xml?oregonian?swene&coll=7
& thispage=1

The New York Times featured an article written by Larry Zaroff, MD on March 7, 2006, entitled: " Cases: As Surgeons Clasped the Heart, He Reached for the Soul." This story features the Rev. Dan Tormey, who was always available in times of need, seemingly airlifted to the hospital by feathers and angel wings.

The AAPC is featured in an article in Beliefnet entitled: Pastoral Counseling: Integrating Spirituality and Psychotherapy by Amy Scholten, MPH. To read the article go to - http://www.beliefnet.com/healthandhealing/getcontent.aspx?cid=14305&WT.mc_id=NL54

Katherine Ozenberger was among five UTMB employees who received Service Awards during the 20th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration and Awards Ceremony on January 13. Sponsored by UTMB’s Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity and the Student National Medical Association, the awards ceremony honors members of the UTMB community who have made a significant effort to carry out the dream of Dr. King by promoting brotherhood, equity and diversity within the Galveston community. Kathy, nominated by Rev. John W. Riley, director of Pastoral Care, "was the first person hired by UTMB in February, 1997. Kathy's efforts are often 'behind the scene' and unsung, nevertheless at the heart of UTMB's commitment to promote diversity, to eliminate barriers that lead to second-class citizenship, and to reduce conflict that may arise because of our differences." A complete University news piece may be found at www.utmb.edu/impact/stories/06JAN16/MLKawards.htm.

Noel Tiano, ThD, Director, Nevada Center for Ethics and Health Policy/339, University of Nevada, wrote an article that was published in the Reno Gazette Journal on Saturday, February 11,regarding ethical issues and physician assisted suicide. To read the article, go to:
http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060128/NEWS03/601280323&SearchID=73234358039277

From Amy Jones: After their father died last spring, Jessalyn and Christiana Himiob struggled to emerge from the pall his death cast over their lives. BraveHearts, a support group for children who have lost a loved one, helped both girls wade through their grief.For more of this story, go to: http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/01/24/news/local/30-death.txt

George Handzo, BCC, and Sue Wintz, BCC, co-authored an article "Professional Chaplaincy: Establishing a hospital-based department" which is published in the January/February 2006 issue of Healthcare Executive, a publication of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Congratulations Sue and George!!!

If you know of an article that should appear in this section, please forward it to us at info@PlainViews.org.