Chaplaincy Course

ULC Chaplaincy Studies Steven R. Van Hook, PhD Concluding Essay   Topic Questions What did you learn? What helped you? What could improve this course? What you hope you will accomplish as a result of taking this course. Most Valuable Lessons Some of the most valuable lessons from the chaplaincy program I gained in the very first weeks of study, assessing the duties of the chaplain and the nature of my own calling. These lessons included contrasting the role of the 'chaplain' with the duties of a 'minister.' The readings described how a minister serves a flock; while a chaplain, by the very origins of the role, serves those in transit – those people transitioning from one state to another, often in times of trial and crisis. This clarification had special appeal to me, as many of my past professional positions have served those in transit, in my work as an educator, crisis counselor, social worker, probation officer, journalist, sailboat skipper … Many of the traits and skills expected of the chaplain are characteristics I've aspired to and developed over the years, especially in the areas of 'transient' services to others: in often brief encounters, connecting to them where they are, and helping to safely convey them to new ground.  Academically and professionally, my BA in journalism trained me to get at the heart of people's stories as a working reporter in the US and Eastern Europe coping with transitional economies; my MA in communications taught me how to connect with people in emotional challenge and crisis situations; and my PhD in education showed me how to take them somewhere else while working with young people and international students from developing countries. What I've admired most about the ULC model is its spirit of inclusion. Some may criticize ULC as the church of 'anything goes' – a one-click ordination, too simple to have merit. Still I'd have chosen ULC even if the criteria were 100-fold more demanding, simply for its openness and inclusion of pan-scopic possibility. Albert Einstein said those who believe everything are right more often than those who believe nothing. I'd carry it further: those who accommodate everything in their belief system are right more often than those who believe any other restrictive doctrine. Truth is infinite in its possibilities and parameters. Doctrine by definition is finite, proscribed, subject to borders and limitations. Anything finite is miniscule compared to the infinite. We limit, subvert, and even pervert infinite truth with finite temporal doctrine. Along with the above insights gleaned from the chaplaincy studies, the lessons provided essential information on matters including: ·       Background, history and present day trends of the chaplaincy; ·       Personal characteristics of the chaplain and the 'calling'; ·       Skills, qualifications and training of the chaplain; ·       The 'chapels' of ministry (military, hospitals, hospice, nursing homes, police departments, prisons, fire departments, emergency situations, business and community, schools, sports and recreation); ·       Issues of trust, confidentiality, and compassion; ·       Active listening skills; ·       The healing touch; ·       Comforting the grieving, counseling the troubled, and avoiding traps; ·       Conducting ceremonies; ·       Developing 'soul friends'; ·       Accountability; ·       Personal spiritual care; ·       The 'chaplain's toolbox' I have copied the chaplaincy lessons into a journal that I will refer to frequently. What I Hope to Accomplish I'm close to 100 on-water days away from my Coast Guard license as a seagoing captain. I plan to use my chaplain credentials to marry and bury people at sea on my sailboat out of Channel Islands Harbor in Southern California. I already have researched local regulations that allow for that based on my ULC ordination. I'd be happy to offer free initial services to requests from ULC contacts. What Can Be Improved The lessons are really well prepared and insightful. I think the materials may benefit from careful editing for numerous typographical errors that usurp its authority, and other scripture citations beyond the heavily-laced Judeo-Christian quotes (e.g., Hindu, Buddhist, Islamic, Taoist, etc.), including excerpts from other religions and even scientific perspectives on human relations and our place in all creation. As astronomer Carl Sagan observed, recent scientific discoveries may be indeed be melding with religious perspectives to create an encompassing vision of universal proportion: "A religion, old or new, that stresses the magnificence of the Universe as revealed by modern science might be able to draw forth reserves of reverence and awe hardly tapped by the conventional faiths. Sooner or later, such a religion will emerge." Author Jeffery Moses in his 2002 book Oneness: Great principles shared by all religions, demonstrates how many of the world's religious belief systems already share fundamental commonality, especially when itemized in the most essential precepts we live by. It may be useful to incorporate some of these scriptural relations in the chaplain lessons: Golden Rule: "People should always treat others as they themselves wish to be treated."   – Hinduism "Do not do to others what you do not  want done to yourself."    – Confucius "Practice the truth that thy brother is the same as thou."   – Buddha "Whatever you would that people should do to you, do so to them."   – Christianity "No man of you is a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself."   – Islam Known by Our Deeds: "God will not ask what race you are, but what have you done." – Sikhism "God will render to everyone according to their deeds."    – Christianity "Deeds of love are worth as much as all the commandments of the law."   – Judaism "An outcaste is an outcaste by deeds. A Brahmin is a Brahmin by deeds."    – Buddhism "If you derive pleasure from the good you do and grief from the evil you commit, you are a true believer."   – Islam Value of Wisdom: "Riches are not from an abundance of worldly goods, but from a contented mind."   – Islam "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth ... but treasures in heaven."    – Christianity "Real treasure is laid up through charity and piety."   – Buddha "How much better is wisdom than gold! Understanding than silver."   – Judaism "Knowledge is the holiest of the holies, and commands the respect of kings. Shorn of it man is but an animal."  – Hinduism Do No Harm: "Whatever good you do for others, you send it before your own soul."   – Islam "Be ye kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving."    – Christianity "Hurt none by word or deed be consistent in well-doing." – Buddha "Do not hurt others, do no one injury by thought or deed, utter no word to pain thy fellow creatures."  – Hinduism Love thy Neighbor: "Obtain a proper rule of action by looking on your neighbor as yourself."   – Hinduism "Seek to be in harmony with all your neighbors."    – Confucius "Full of love for all things in the world ... This man alone is happy."   – Buddha "Love one another, even as I have loved you."    – Christianity "Regard heaven as your father, Earth as your mother, and all things as your brothers and sisters."   – Shintoism Live in Unity: "Human beings are all as head, arms, trunk, and legs to one another."   – Hinduism "Do not forget the world is one great family."    – Shintoism "Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!"   – Judaism "God hath made of one blood all nations."   – Christianity "All creatures are the family of God."   – Islam As an ordained minister and chaplain within ULC, I hope to carry a message of inclusion, acceptance, tolerance, justice, and universal perspective with a loving embrace of the individuals and communities I may be called to serve. Thank you for the instruction and support to that end. I will try to put it to good use. ******************************************** To ordain yourself with the Universal Life Church, for free, for life, right now, click on the Free Online Ordination link. Rev. Long created the ULC seminary site to help ministers learn and grow their ministries. The Seminary offers a huge catalog of materials for ministers of the Universal Life Church, as well as an online seminary program and a chaplaincy program.