Multi-Faith Centres in Hospitals

[Dawnofhope]

For many of us there is a spiritual dimension to life and this may become even more relevant during times of illness. Hospital services in many places worldwide recognise the importance of spirituality. In the West this need is usually met by chaplaincy services.

At some stage during a patients admission they will have the option of indicating their religion and if they would like a visit from a Hospital Chaplain. There is a chapel located within the hospital where patients and their families may visit to pray, reflect or seek solace.

Over the last century many centres in the West have become much more culturally diverse with increasing numbers of non-Christians. Where I live numbers of Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims have increased rapidly while the overall proportion of Christians is in decline. This has implications for Christian based chaplaincy services that need to adjust to the reality of a multifaith population.

I’m on my cities Interfaith Council that has asked me to represent them in an advisory capacity to assist with the design phase of our cities hospital rebuild. They want to ensure our new hospitals’ chapel and chaplaincy services reflect the cultural and racial diversity of our community.

I’ve previously discussed this on RF a while back. I’m seeking further input into decision making through my fellow RFers. So what if any is your experience of chaplaincy services in a hospital? What Value do you see in such services? Should hospitals be providing such services in the first place? If so who should pay for them? What provision should countries with Christian majorities make for other faiths?

Thanks for your feedback.

 

[sun rise]

What Value do you see in such services? Should hospitals be providing such services in the first place? If so who should pay for them? What provision should countries with Christian majorities make for other faiths?

I think they're very valuable for some people. Yes, hospitals should make such services available but should not pay for them outside of making space available. Majority does not matter - they should be available to anyone who wants them if there's someone available to provide that service.

 

[Thief]

If so who should pay for them?

that would be inappropriate at soooooo many levels

 

[whirlingmerc]

For many of us there is a spiritual dimension to life and this may become even more relevant during times of illness. Hospital services in many places worldwide recognise the importance of spirituality. In the West this need is usually met by chaplaincy services.

At some stage during a patients admission they will have the option of indicating their religion and if they would like a visit from a Hospital Chaplain. There is a chapel located within the hospital where patients and their families may visit to pray, reflect or seek solace.

Over the last century many centres in the West have become much more culturally diverse with increasing numbers of non-Christians. Where I live numbers of Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims have increased rapidly while the overall proportion of Christians is in decline. This has implications for Christian based chaplaincy services that need to adjust to the reality of a multifaith population.

I’m on my cities Interfaith Council that has asked me to represent them in an advisory capacity to assist with the design phase of our cities hospital rebuild. They want to ensure our new hospitals’ chapel and chaplaincy services reflect the cultural and racial diversity of our community.

I’ve previously discussed this on RF a while back. I’m seeking further input into decision making through my fellow RFers. So what if any is your experience of chaplaincy services in a hospital? What Value do you see in such services? Should hospitals be providing such services in the first place? If so who should pay for them? What provision should countries with Christian majorities make for other faiths?

Thanks for your feedback.

I'm not sure an interfaith chaplain is specific enough for most people but possible for some

In a time of crisis I would prefer a Bible Believing Christian but that's me
If there is no one to visit you while your in the hospital and you or family need someone in a time of crisis I'm all for people being available appropriate to the people in crisis.

 

[Samana Johann]

If so who should pay for them?

This question makes the whole possible good effort behind lost... there is no help for consumer attitude and wrong view. Not much hope for "socialists" and their communities and their many claims.

Aside of that, a real teacher would never teach and help for a repayment...

What about starting to do some merits by oneself?

 

[blü 2]

For many of us there is a spiritual dimension to life and this may become even more relevant during times of illness. Hospital services in many places worldwide recognise the importance of spirituality. In the West this need is usually met by chaplaincy services.

At some stage during a patients admission they will have the option of indicating their religion and if they would like a visit from a Hospital Chaplain. There is a chapel located within the hospital where patients and their families may visit to pray, reflect or seek solace.

Over the last century many centres in the West have become much more culturally diverse with increasing numbers of non-Christians. Where I live numbers of Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims have increased rapidly while the overall proportion of Christians is in decline. This has implications for Christian based chaplaincy services that need to adjust to the reality of a multifaith population.

I’m on my cities Interfaith Council that has asked me to represent them in an advisory capacity to assist with the design phase of our cities hospital rebuild. They want to ensure our new hospitals’ chapel and chaplaincy services reflect the cultural and racial diversity of our community.

I’ve previously discussed this on RF a while back. I’m seeking further input into decision making through my fellow RFers. So what if any is your experience of chaplaincy services in a hospital? What Value do you see in such services? Should hospitals be providing such services in the first place? If so who should pay for them? What provision should countries with Christian majorities make for other faiths?

Thanks for your feedback.

I hope that goes very well.

The thing I'd look for in a hospital chapel would be a great sense of serenity ─ at the least, calm and silence ─ and some beautiful art or flowers. Somewhere to sit by yourself and reflect and recharge.

I know you already know that. I'm just underlining it.

And I know chapels have other uses; but I'd say that's the big one.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

I’ve previously discussed this on RF a while back. I’m seeking further input into decision making through my fellow RFers. So what if any is your experience of chaplaincy services in a hospital? What Value do you see in such services? Should hospitals be providing such services in the first place? If so who should pay for them? What provision should countries with Christian majorities make for other faiths?

Great question.

I work at a predominantly Catholic hospital which serves the inner city community which is predominantly Latino which is also primarily of Catholic faith. With that being said the pastoral care that we have here primarily functions serving this demographic while all others is at the request of the patient. As far as their value, I believe pastoral care serves as a valuable function in the healing process of every observant patient. Research has shown the correlation between spiritual beliefs and healing process of in-patients. However, as my hospital is transitioning between owners due to our current bankruptcy, our once non-profit status turned profit, has eliminated a lot of pastoral services beyond what we used to have. Services such as helping employees find places to live if they fall on hard times or hardship loans. With 7.5 billion people on the planet and at least 75% of them believing in something religiously, I think it would make sense from a healing perspective to cater to that demographic.

As for how we should fund this, I believe as my hospital does already that these services should come from the hospital itself. Budget willing, I find these services crucial to the public at large.

 

[Dawnofhope]

I'm not sure an interfaith chaplain is specific enough for most people but possible for some

In a time of crisis I would prefer a Bible Believing Christian but that's me
If there is no one to visit you while your in the hospital and you or family need someone in a time of crisis I'm all for people being available appropriate to the people in crisis.

Chaplains where I live have traditionally been Christian, often either Catholic or Protestant. Otherwise they are non-denominational. More recently non-Christian chaplains are being trained and two Muslim chaplains were appointed. So it’s desirable to have someone who identifies with the patients beliefs. Patients indicate their religious denomination as part of the admissions process which enables matching between patients and chaplains. That’s not always possible of course.

 

[Dawnofhope]

This question makes the whole possible good effort behind lost... there is no help for consumer attitude and wrong view. Not much hope for "socialists" and their communities and their many claims.

Aside of that, a real teacher would never teach and help for a repayment...

What about starting to do some merits by oneself?

Hospitals in the West are often funded publicly or privately. Chaplains like ministers of religion can be paid positions or volunteers. Most well run organisations rely on adequate funds.

 

[Dawnofhope]

Great question.

I work at a predominantly Catholic hospital which serves the inner city community which is predominantly Latino which is also primarily of Catholic faith. With that being said the pastoral care that we have here primarily functions serving this demographic while all others is at the request of the patient. As far as their value, I believe pastoral care serves as a valuable function in the healing process of every observant patient. Research has shown the correlation between spiritual beliefs and healing process of in-patients. However, as my hospital is transitioning between owners due to our current bankruptcy, our once non-profit status turned profit, has eliminated a lot of pastoral services beyond what we used to have. Services such as helping employees find places to live if they fall on hard times or hardship loans. With 7.5 billion people on the planet and at least 75% of them believing in something religiously, I think it would make sense from a healing perspective to cater to that demographic.

As for how we should fund this, I believe as my hospital does already that these services should come from the hospital itself. Budget willing, I find these services crucial to the public at large.

I like where you’re coming from. You may be familiar with the work of one of your contemporaries who has extensively researched the connections between health and spirituality. He’s a great advocate for chaplaincy services.

Harold G. Koenig - Wikipedia

 

[JJ50]

I think the chapels in hospitals here in the UK are multi-faith centres, which of course they should be to cater for those of different faiths.

 

[Samana Johann]

Hospitals in the West are often funded publicly or privately. Chaplains like ministers of religion can be paid positions or volunteers. Most well run organisations rely on adequate funds.

And what is the reason? And what is the benefit? Productivity for the sake of productivity...

To do good does not require material founds, but certain funds in conviction. What keeps Brahman Adrian from visiting the hospital next to him every day or two days? Being to busy worry that there might be no fonds when lying soon there as well?

Blessed those not having much bonds to modern chicken factories... what one tends to, one arrives.

Who carres about your mother, father, elders... now? Payed religions... in maxist world: "Fond me!...I'll be there"

And yet, the moments when the Noble truth of suffering arises at ones face, even death approaches, is the most importand time for right guidiance for a departing persons futher destiny!

 

[Aupmanyav]

Silly. The doctors are helping you and not any God. It is succumbing to superstitions. If God wanted to help you, he would not have sent the disease.

 

[Samana Johann]

Silly. The doctors are helping you and not any God. It is succumbing to superstitions. If God wanted to help you, he would not have sent the disease.

Another mile-stone-comment of someone driving on the highway to much suffering... (why seeking for others to follow? more fun on the way?)

 

[Altfish]

So what if any is your experience of chaplaincy services in a hospital? What Value do you see in such services? Should hospitals be providing such services in the first place? If so who should pay for them? What provision should countries with Christian majorities make for other faiths?
.

Firstly, I'm an atheist BUT in times of crisis it may be useful to talk to someone, so non-religious or Humanist 'chaplains' are needed.
The hospital should just provide the space/room for the meeting; the church or whatever should supply the chaplain and foot the bill.
Majority is irrelevant, it should be available to all faiths and none.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

If God wanted to help you, he would not have sent the disease.

Nonsense. If God didn't want humans to get sick, he wouldn't create within bipedals and other organisms an immune system to fight off foreign bodies. Fact of the matter is we exist, we have immune systems however we get sick and some of us get severely sick and die. It does not change the functional benefit of pastoral care in conjunction with the healing process of patients. The reality is, is that this serves as a benefit to the human being.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

Firstly, I'm an atheist BUT in times of crisis it may be useful to talk to someone, so non-religious or Humanist 'chaplains' are needed.

Never heard of a "humanist chaplain" but when it comes to things like searching for non-religious chaplains is that there are far and few. It is almost better off having your own therapist coming to visit you.

 

[HonestJoe]

Firstly, I'm an atheist BUT in times of crisis it may be useful to talk to someone, so non-religious or Humanist 'chaplains' are needed.
The hospital should just provide the space/room for the meeting; the church or whatever should supply the chaplain and foot the bill.
Majority is irrelevant, it should be available to all faiths and none.

I’m not sure this role needs to be (or should be?) tied to the concept of chaplains at all – there’s too much baggage involved. I think the key problem is the loss of the social and compassionate elements of hospital care which was previously provided by nursing staff as part of their job. Modern medicine has changed the role of nurses, making them much more technical and clinical, which is a good thing in itself but limited consideration has been made in replacing the roles nurses were previously filling. Some of the technical aspects moved on to nursing assistants and the like but something has been lost in that transition. Shortage of funding, increasing medical and technological complexity and added paperwork are also issues across modern medicine, taking time away from those less formally defined tasks.

Chaplaincies weren’t initially involved in that role as much, at least not for all patients in general. They’d traditionally focus on pastoral care for patients of their specific faith and only offer direct support at the extremes, such as end of life. I suspect they’re also falling towards filling some of those gaps in more general compassionate care and that is where the problems in balancing their religious and wider social roles come in.

I don’t think we should be relying on chaplains for this, not least due to their voluntary status, lack of specific training and the potential theological issues. I’d rather see that care provided by suitable qualified medical staff as it once was. I’m not sure how we could achieve that in practice though. It’s probably part of the much bigger question of how we manage healthcare going forwards and nobody seems to want to properly take on that massive beast.

 

[Dawnofhope]

And what is the reason? And what is the benefit? Productivity for the sake of productivity...

To do good does not require material founds, but certain funds in conviction. What keeps Brahman Adrian from visiting the hospital next to him every day or two days? Being to busy worry that there might be no fonds when lying soon there as well?

Blessed those not having much bonds to modern chicken factories... what one tends to, one arrives.

Who carres about your mother, father, elders... now? Payed religions... in maxist world: "Fond me!...I'll be there"

And yet, the moments when the Noble truth of suffering arises at ones face, even death approaches, is the most importand time for right guidiance for a departing persons futher destiny!

Are you saying that doctors and teachers should donate all their time for free and hospitals along will who run them should be volunteers? It sounds like a recipe for a failed healthcare system and poor health outcomes for the populations they serve. A man is better placed to care for his family if he earns a livelihood by his calling and expends his wealth on his brethren. Buddha taught the middle way so one must consider both spiritual and material means.

Middle Way - Wikipedia

 

[Dawnofhope]

Silly. The doctors are helping you and not any God. It is succumbing to superstitions. If God wanted to help you, he would not have sent the disease.

There is a growing body of medical literature that affirms the benefits of spiritual practices and values. I don't know if you are interested in scientific research but here's a literature review of what's on offer.

https://www.researchgate.net/public...Health_The_Research_and_Clinical_Implications