Click the titles below for HCMA articles on subjects relative to the ministry of Pastoral Care
Theological Orientation & Role Definition of Hospital Chaplains: A Survey of Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Association (HCMA, formerly Hospital Chaplains' Ministry of America) Chaplains
This article is the result of a survey study designed to answers the question: What is the Chaplain's role in the changing environment of healthcare? The roles discussed are: counselor, comforter, professional, religious functionary, ambassador for Christ, a reminder, encourager, and partner.
Agendas and the Chaplaincy
To assume that you know what is best for a patient is to possess a faulty agenda, and that, as you will read, is a mistake. There are personal agendas and professional agendas that can influence ministry to patients and residents. This article will discuss meeting one's own needs, having prejudices, and escaping difficult situations under personal agendas. Professional agendas will cover prayer & Scripture reading, evangelism, analyzing patients, and institutional visits. The author will also look at the Example of Christ in providing quality pastoral care that is free from personal and professional agendas.
Anatomy of a Chaplain
A brief and witty overview of some of the qualities of a Chaplain.
Balancing The Burdens Of Caregiving: Avoiding Compassion Fatigue
The first part of this article will help you comprehend when you are becoming over-burdened in your ministry. Here you will find a clear definition of both burnout and compassion fatigue, a listing of the physical, psychological spiritual and performance symptoms, their causes, warning signs, and the implications of not dealing with it. The second part will explain several ways to counter that burden and find relief. It includes two examples from the Bible, plus ways to find physical, emotional, spiritual, diversional and organizational renewal so that you avoid overload in ministry.
Boundaries for Effective Ministry
Well-established and maintained boundaries serve to guide and protect us in all areas of life and ministry. This article will help you understand the importance of professional boundaries. It will explain issues such as confidentiality, spiritual, physical, financial, emotional and social boundaries. It will clarify the warning signs that may indicate you have trespassed your professional boundaries, as well as ideas for avoiding problems.
How Do Chaplains Make a Difference?
Good pastoral care positively impacts a health care organization's bottom line. When managed effectively, it is revenue generating, revenue saving, and not a questionable expense. This article focuses on ways pastoral care truly benefits an organization, and offers ideas for validating and promoting spiritual care.
SUFFERING: A Biblical Survey Of Its Purpose
Scriptures do give some insights into a positive understanding of suffering. This is a brief overview of 25 biblical perspectives on suffering.
The Chaplain's Role in the Hospital
There are three models of the Chaplain's role that can be understood from Scripture. They are: an Ambassador (2 Corinthians 520), a Neighbor (Luke 1030-37), and a Comforter (2 Corinthians 13-4). The characteristics that can be isolated from these models include: one who is a witness for Christ, has a compassionate heart, shows mercy, is a comforter and stands beside the person to encourage him/her during times of need.
The Cost of Caring
Helping the hurting is not an easy task. Practical caring is a costly investment of our valuable, personal resources: our time, our energy, our finances, and our emotions. Suffering people desperately need some resources that any of us can give-love, hope, a smile, a hug, our presence-if we are willing to make the investment.
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