Rev. Kirsti Aalto on Finnish Chaplaincy

With You – Hospital Chaplaincy in Finland

Chaplaincy in health care settings in Finland is organized by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. This is because 84 percent of the Finnish population are members of the Lutheran Church. It is borne out of the Christian understanding of human life: a person is a holistic entity. Pastoral care is one part of all round health care allowing for the physical, mental, social and spiritual needs. We humans are living beings created by God, cast in His image, for dialogue and cooperation with Him. Lack of harmony, sickness, suffering and guilt are among the realities of life. Redemption, forgiveness and a chance to begin a new life are all part of being human.

The church sends chaplains to people who are sick, suffering or dying. It is the job of each chaplain to help all those in need of spiritual assistance. The challenges facing pastoral care have grown as a result of the changes in society. The Evangelical Lutheran Church has, since the Second World War, established various special services in answer to these challenges. Hospital chaplaincy has also been singled out as a complementary branch of health care requiring its own specialist training. The first hospital chaplains were preachers whose most important task was to preach the Gospel to the sick, to perform the sacraments and to comfort the dying. The first full time hospital chaplain in Helsinki began his work in 1925. Nowadays the pastoral work in hospitals involves the joint encounter of the nursing staff, relatives and the hospital chaplain.

Qualifications of a hospital chaplain
A hospital chaplain is a pastor of the Lutheran church with a degree in theology. Before being appointed as a hospital chaplain, candidates undergo an aptitude test assessing their suitability for pastoral work in hospitals, their motivation for helping others, and their ability to use their own personality as a working tool.

Chaplains are selected by the church council of one or more congregations following the aptitude test and interviews. Successful candidates can then begin the specialist training in hospital chaplaincy.

Specialist training
The training usually takes two-and-a-half years and includes theory, practical placements in hospitals and study of the professional literature. More than half of the hospital chaplains have also received the church training in supervision lasting a good two years. In addition to theoretical seminars this includes a supervised trainee period. The hospital chaplains provide supervision for church workers and health care personnel.

Principles

The Principles of Hospital Chaplaincy in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland are as follows:

1. POSITION OF HOSPITAL CHAPLAINCY
The foundations of the hospital chaplaincy maintained by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland lie on one hand on the fundamental mission of the Church and, on the other and, in the joint decisions and recommendations [1] of the Church and the health care system. Hospital chaplains are employees of parishes working in a health care setting.

2. MISSION OF HOSPITAL CHAPLAINS
Hospital chaplains are employees of the Evangelical Lutheran Church ordinated pastors whose duty is to serve patients, their families and the health care staff as experts in questions concerning the values and view of life stirred by illness. Hospital chaplains promote holistic care by supporting the whole care community, and serve as a link between the parish and the health care system. Hospital chaplains’ duties also involve the non-institutional care setting, as well as supervision and training for both parish and health care staff. Hospital chaplains also participate in the deliberation of ethical questions in health care.

3. PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
In order to work as a hospital chaplain, one must pass an aptitude test and complete a specialisation programme approved by the Church. Continuing education and supervision help hospital chaplains to develop their ability to understand human illness and crises and to enhance their self-knowledge
and interpersonal skills.

4. CONFIDENTIALITY
Legislation concerning the Church and health care system lays down in detail the obligation for hospital chaplains to maintain confidentiality.

5. PATIENT RELATIONSHIP
At the core of hospital chaplaincy is the confidential pastoral care relationship between the hospital chaplain and patient, in which the patient can address all issues of his/her life and illness and receive spiritual support and consoling. The contact between the chaplain and the patient is usually initiated by the patient or his/her family. Discussions with a doctor or nurses may also motivate the initial contact. In the interest of maintaining the autonomy of the patient, the chaplain first ensures that the contact is indeed the will of the patient him/herself, and then agrees on the goals and principles of the cooperation. The chaplain respects the human dignity, beliefs and integrity of the patient, regardless of his/her background or outlook on life. The chaplain will, if necessary, be in contact with other Churches or religious groups in order to secure the pastoral care that the patient wishes for.

6. CARE TEAM
Treating a patient is a cooperative effort involving several professional groups in the health care system. The hospital chaplain can, if given permission by the patient, act in an advisory capacity in his/her own area of expertise regarding matters concerning the patient. The hospital chaplain is responsible both to the care team and parish administration.

At the European Network of Health Care Chaplaincy (ENHCC) 7th Consultation, Turku, Finland in 2002, Standards for Health Care Chaplaincy in Europe were adopted. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland also complies with these standards. For the ENHCC standards, go to: http://www.eurochaplains.org/turku_standards.htm

Hospital Chaplaincy at the Office of the Church Council

The Center for Hospital Chaplaincy is an expert and cooperative body which plans and develops pastoral care in hospitals, institutions and care for outpatients. The Center maintains contact with the health care field. It belongs to the Department for Parish Services at the Office of the Church Council. The Center maintains contact with hospital chaplains by providing material on pastoral care and arranging conferences, training and special seminars. The Center conducts the aptitude tests for chaplain candidates and contributes to the resulting statements. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland has 120 full-time and 17 part-time hospital chaplains. More than half of them are women. More than half of hospital chaplains also act as supervisors.

Footnote:

[1] Sairaalaliiton yleiskirje no 8/1965 (Directions from the Hospital Association No.8/1965) Suositus sielunhoidosta sairaaloissa, terveyskeskuksissa ja sosiaalitoimessa.

Kirkkohallitus: Ohjeita ja tiedotuksia 13/1983 (Recommendation for pastoral care in hospitals, health centres and social services. Central Church Board: Instructions and Communications 13/1983) and Lääkintöhallitus Dno 2013/101/83 (National Board of Health, registration number 2013/101/83).

Kehittyvän avohoidon haaste seurakunnan sielunhoitotehtävälle. Suomen evankelis-luterilaisen kirkon piispainkokous, kirjelmä no 6, 12.9.1989 (The challenge of the developing outpatient care to the parish pastoral care givers. The Bishops’ Conference of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, letter No. 6, 12 September, 1989).

Adopted by the Central Church Board in the plenary session on 16 September, 2003.

For more information on chaplaincy in Finland, visit: www.evl.fi

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