Ministering to the Sick

“Transforming lives and communities through health and wellness – one

person at a time.”

America Still Believes

• 9 out of 10 Americans still say “yes” when asked, “Do you believe in God”?

• 83% of all Americans still label themselves as “Christian”

• 80% said that religious faith is somewhat important in their daily lives

“Dying is a spiritual endeavor with medical implications”

Gwendolyn London

According to pollster George H. Gallup“…the American people want to reclaim and reassert the spiritual dimension in

dying.”

When asked, patients considered the following the most important factors at the end of life:

• Freedom from pain – Be at peace with God

• Not be a burden to family• Be able to help others• Pray• Have funeral arrangements planned• Not be a burden to society• Feel one’s life is complete

Steinhauser, KE, et al. JAMA 284:2476-2482, 2000

Patients Open to Support

Many patients facing end of life who are fully informed as to their condition and options for treatment generally opt for less effort to prolonging their lives and more attention to matters of the spirit

When Medicine and Faith Intersect

• 41% of patients can think of a time when religious beliefs influenced a health care decision they had made.

• Only half report having such a discussion and only 8% have this discussion with a doctor

• 91% of physicians agree that it is appropriate to discuss religious issues when the patient brings them up.

• 55% feel it is appropriate to proactively address a patient’s religious concerns.

HOWEVER…Only 10% of physicians report doing so on a regular basis

Tanenbaum Institute, Center for Interreligious Understanding

Medical Staff & Hospital Clergy

Supporting our Congregations

• When asked how well they felt their Spiritual leaders have prepared them to face the practical issues surrounding death, almost 70% felt they were not prepared at all or very little

• 61% thought that they needed further teaching by their spiritual community to face end-of-life issues

• Patients report their spiritual needs were met by their religious community only 38% of the time, with 40% saying their needs were met to a small extent or not at all

Leading the Way

For most of history the Church taught the “Ars Moriendi” – The Art of Dying

•Guidelines for clergy and laypeople– Prayers– Attitudes– Actions

Lead to a “good death” and salvation

Preparing Our Congregations

• Faith• Hope• Love• Patience• Humility• Letting Go/Surrender• Courage

• Doctrine Specific Topics:– Suffering– Healing/Miracles– Prayer, answered and

unanswered– The ministry of caring for

the sick and dying, visitation, and ministry to the bereaved

Establish or re-establish what “our” faith teaches in relationship to sickness in the

following areas:

What Will It Take

• Partnerships in Care– Better communication & integration between

medical personnel, hospital chaplains, community clergy

– Education• Clergy: The medical side • Providers: The Spiritual side

– Greater involvement from Community Clergy• Family meetings, Bedside support

Trigger Topic

• 15 areas within healthcare where religion often comes up:

Dietary Requirements Complementary Medicine

Acceptance of Drugs & Procedures

Dress & Modesty

Hygiene

Informed Consent

Observance of Holy Days & Rituals

Reproductive Health

Pregnancy & Birth

Organ Transplant and Donations

End of Life

Blood and Blood Products

Conscience Rules

Prayer with Patience

Proselytizing

Next Steps

• Consider:– Becoming an “Associate Chaplain” at your

local hospital– Attend an Advance Care Planning Facilitator

Training– Develop a Health Ministry Team in your local

congregation• Faith Community Nursing

“While I thought I was learning how to live, I have been learning how to die.”

Leonardo de Vinci

Our Call: Help Them Finish Well

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I

have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which

the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who

have loved His appearing.