Tag: Chaplaincy

Topic: Chaplaincy

Healthcare chaplaincy series – Identifying us with a biblical character

One important aspect I had to develop as a chaplain was increasing my self-awareness. In that regard, reflecting on what biblical character I identified with the most served this purpose. In my case, I identified strongly with is Gideon, the judge. While for some, Gideon is a courageous and strong figure; for others, he is just a flawed hero. The way we see Gideon depends a lot on the cultural lens we use. In the end, Gideon was a person of his time. He lived in a culture where the religious and the cultural were so ingrained in the social …

Healthcare chaplaincy series – Pastoral care in a multicultural context

Following Gerardo Marti’s line of reasoning, I can argue that ethnic identity is an asset in the church or in chaplaincy, where ethnic identity is a means to find points of encounter between people. In order to do that, it is important to focus on the sociocultural and racial dynamics in those settings. The question I ask is whether pastoral care is independent of the context where it happens. People have different worldviews in our society, but sometimes those views are frequently downplayed. I wonder how we will offer appropriate pastoral care if those issues are ignored or if we …