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Spiritual
Care
Standards for Healthcare Chaplaincy in Europe
European Network of Health Care Chaplaincy
7th
Consultation, Turku, Finland - 12 - 16 June 2002
INTRODUCTION
Standards
for Health Care Chaplaincy in Europe is a collective statement,
which expresses the caring work of faith groups in the area
of health care throughout Europe. It is meant to be a point of reference
and a guide for all faiths and denominations in shaping spiritual
care offered in the area of health care. The title of the person
who offers spiritual care varies from faith to faith, denomination
to denomination, tradition to tradition, nation to nation. In this
document the terms chaplain and pastoral
are considered as generally accepted terms, but are not restrictive.
This
document is the result of the 7th Consultation of the
European Network of Health Care Chaplaincy, meeting at Turku, Finland
12-16 June 2002, at which 40 representatives of churches and organisations,
representing 21 European countries participated. The document draws
on the experience of the different traditions represented and brings
together standards in health care chaplaincy from Europe and beyond.
HEALTH
CARE CHAPLAINCY
Chaplaincy
provides pastoral services in a variety of health care settings,
ministering to the existential, spiritual and religious needs of
those who suffer and those who care for them, drawing on personal,
faith, cultural and community resources.
THE
ORGANISATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF CHAPLAINCY SERVICES
- Chaplaincy
services are organised in different ways in different European
countries. This is shaped by:
- religious
faith group administration.
- health
care institutions.
- state
health care regulations and policies.
- chaplaincy
associations.
- Chaplaincy
services are delivered by clergy and lay persons who have been
professionally trained in the area of pastoral care. They are
authorised by their faith community and recognised by the health
care system.
- Chaplaincy
services work as part of the multi-disciplinary team.
AREAS
OF ACTIVITY OF CHAPLAINCY
Chaplains
are present for patients, relatives, other persons close to them,
visitors and staff:
- to
proclaim and defend the infinite value and dignity of every person.
- to
be a reminder of the existential and spiritual dimension of suffering,
illness and death.
- to
provide a reminder of the healing, sustaining, guiding and reconciling
power of religious faith.
- to
endeavour to see that the spiritual needs of people from different
religious or cultural backgrounds are met, respecting everyone’s
beliefs.
- to
try to protect patients from unwelcome spiritual intrusion or
proselytising.
- to
provide supportive spiritual care through empathic listening,
demonstrating an understanding of those in distress.
- to
provide religious worship, ritual, and sacrament according to
one’s religious tradition.
- to
serve as members of the multi-disciplinary health care team
- to
provide and participate in teaching programmes for health care
professionals.
- to
act as mediator and reconciler and provide advocacy for those
who need a voice in the health care system.
- to
support and participate in research programmes about spiritual
care.
- to
assess and evaluate the effectiveness of providing spiritual care.
- to
facilitate community awareness of the needs and demands of the
people they serve, the carers and health care systems.
THEOLOGICAL,
PASTORAL AND ETHICAL MATTERS
Chaplaincy
is a resource on theological, pastoral and ethical matters, being
involved in programmes and discussions concerning:
- theological
and pastoral issues.
- spiritual/existential
needs and values.
- ethical
(including biomedical) issues.
- the
improvement of pastoral health care.
EDUCATION,
FORMATION AND SUPERVISION
Those
working in chaplaincy receive professional training throughout their
ministry at a level appropriate to their appointment. This process
includes:
- theological
and pastoral education and reflection.
- awareness
of health care issues.
- practical/clinical
supervision.
- spiritual
guidance.
Links
to other related pages:
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