Chaplaincy Program

1.    Describe someone you know who has the Divine Mark.  What set them apart? I have met such people, one was a cousin, cousin to my mother actually, who was a priest and that was the first person I ever was drawn to in memory.  Another person was a spiritual guide at a point in my life when I was lost; he is now a priest too.  But I must say, when I think of the Divine Mark, the first thing to pop into my mind is the eyes of Savannah, my four legged companion who passed away a decade ago, for that matter all dogs, when I look into their faces I see the Divine. 2.    Has anyone observed the mark in you?  Write down what they have said. Since I was 6 or 7 I've been told I would grow up to do great things.  When I graduated from High School and announced that I wanted to enter the Catholic Seminary, only my parents were surprised, not being very religious themselves and hoping I'd become a doctor or lawyer.  My cousin, the priest just told me it was a matter of time as he could see from when I first asked him to baptize me.  Later, when I was lost I was steered into joining a religious order as they felt I had something special to give and to this day I am still invited to join various Catholic orders (could be more of a need on their part these days than any recognition of the Divine Mark on myself.) 3.    Consider your calling.  Describe it in a paragraph or two. I knew I wanted to be a priest when I was 7 or so.  I knew I was called by the time I was in my early teens.  Things were ugly growing up, I usually win the, "My childhood was so bad…" game.  Somewhere in my later teens it occurred to me to barter with God using my calling as leverage.  That didn't work, bur rather did my desire to enter a contemplative religious order and become a priest. My anger and resentment with God, people and the world led me to many dark places, places where most aren't ever expected to return.  Somehow I surfaced enough to exist but not live, in the twilight between Life and sub-life.  And there I existed until recently. Recently, I was diagnosed with cancer and have been treated and am in remission.  Through this I've risen enough more to feel and breathe the Light again and the Calling, except this time I'm not being called to a reclusive contemplative religious life, though I would like nothing more, but to one of working with those who feel lost, troubled teens, men and women displaced by our economic times and especially those in hospices and dealing with end of life issues.  The call is clear as day and springs forth from the foundation of my being. By Rev. Billy Jef ********************** Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free,  and lasts for life, so use the Free Online Ordination, button. The ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning and have loved watching the continual growth of the seminary. Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Chaplaincy program

Master of Chaplaincy Studies Lesson 15

Developing a "sacred space" in a small or medium space and how it would be led.

I am the chaplain for my chapter of the Christian Motorcyclists Association and our mission is to reach out to the motorcycle community with the Word.  I always carry a Bible, actually several Bibles on my bike and I always wear the cross around my neck.  I also have the association's  patch on the back of my vest.  When I need to create a "sacred space" in the motorcycle community, I simply drape my vest over the windshield of my bike so that the backpatch is in view, and I have my Bible and my cross. I have a patch on my vest that clearly identifies as a chaplain.  As in the lesson where the army chaplain did something similar with his jeep, this is a simple but effect way to create a "sacred space"  I set the tone by reciting Matt. 18:20, "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.

May God Bless you.....

   Rod

Luke 14:23

Chaplaincy

In reference to being able to speak God's word, what you said is very true. I had to serve as the Minister for my brother in law's funeral recently. I at first had no idea of what to say.

As I wrote the homily the words just seemed to come from out of the blue. The homily was very impressive and touching.

Thank you for putting this course together.
God Bless+

Rick Robbins

Chaplaincy Studies

Reverend Penny L. Jones
Essay on Master of Chaplaincy Studies

I have diligently procrastinated in starting and completing this essay, (for a year now) as I really struggled with the course.  Not the content, but embracing the Christian overtones in the material.  So how does one write an essay in a positive light when the theme of the course revolves only around Christian doctrine?   It’s not that I am against Christianity; it’s just, the beginning of the course describes the importance of a Chaplain being well rounded in all world religious studies.  Does “a keeper of the sacred”, have to know all scriptures in the bible to be considered a Chaplain?  Does one have to embrace God as a separate entity from the human soul to wear the title of Chaplain?  Reading the supplemental scriptures offered in the course, brought back those old, almost forgotten feelings of dread and ghosts from my past. Religion never satisfied me nor filled me with tranquil contentment.  Just the opposite -- it perpetuated fear, guilt and unfounded shame.  Written and practiced dogma lost its vibrancy when I was in my early 20’s and I began searching for my own personal truth -- my personal call to God -- a journey that has taken me to the current period in my life where I have enrolled in a Seminary program.  During this past year of procrastination, I took a journey to past memories of attending an organized religion, thinking about the course, and wondering how I was going to approach my essay.  Finally, the light bulb began to blink.  In spit of my stubbornness, I had the realization that the highlights in this Chaplaincy course are already a huge part of what I do every day.  I don’t have the title of Chaplain, but in my role as a parent of children with many health issues and my role as a Human Resources professional, I realize I am already engaged in the defined roles of a Chaplain as discussed in the lessons of the Chaplaincy course.

I am the mother of 3 beautiful adult children.  My two daughters have blessed me with 3 granddaughters.  All have beautiful souls and are quite free spirited and independent.  My 2 daughters and 3 granddaughters have health issues that perpetuate a great deal of concern in our family and the need to reach out to our universal God source for comfort, and hope.  (My son however is quite healthy.  We all joke about the girls winning the “genetic reject” lottery).  I find myself in the roll of the quasi Chaplain who must be available at a moment’s notice, to assist; to comfort; to be at hospital bed-sides; to pray with them; to offer them guidance; to cry with them; and to actively listen with empathy and compassion and to perform REIKI.  The title of “parent” goes much deeper than our culture defines.  All parents fill the roll of a “Chaplain” through each phase we experience with our children.  It is an on-going title expressed in the indescribable love that we have for our children. 

Another realization that came to me is the on-going Chaplaincy roll I preserve as a Human Resources professional.  I continually have to build relationships, maintaining confidentiality regarding the issues encountered with my co-workers.   With 440 employees in the company, there will inevitably be divorces, deaths, illnesses, and military personnel who have returned from Afghanistan, Iraq, or Pakistan.   In addition, as in any community, we have diverse personalities, a mixture of religious or political backgrounds, and a variety of belief systems all which cause issues that fall in the hands of the Human Resources Department.   We respect confidentiality, we encourage trust, and we advocate availability to listen and support.  This includes understanding the 5 step process for grief that not only includes death but divorce.  We deal with horrific illnesses and spend time on a weekly basis calling to inquire about an employee’s well-being.  We have had individuals return from their military duties with severe Post Traumatic Stress syndrome resulting in performance issues and time away from work for mental rehabilitation.  We use a great deal of compassion in our communications without enabling poor work performance.  In a sense we have to communicate tolerance with kindness and without spiritual bias, within the legal boundaries in the Human Resources profession.  All of these issues in the professional arena involve the defined duties of a Chaplain and in my case, embracing each issue with spiritual consideration.

The Chaplaincy course discusses many situations we all face in our daily interactions so in a sense we are all Chaplains which, perpetuates comfort and contentment.  This course was not about the ghosts of organized religion from my past.  My journey continues to erode past barriers and erode my ghosts from the past.  I will continue on my personal journey as a quasi Chaplain, helping others, in addition to reading sacred texts from many ancient and present teachers.  “The common thread running through the lives of God’s many messengers is love, compassion, understanding, commitment and respect for all living creatures”.  Arum Ghandi (God Without Religion,  by Sankara Saranam) 
  



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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have various classes in Christianity, one on Wicca, along with several Pagan courses, more than a few courses about Metaphysics with more being added regularly.

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free, legal and lasts for life, so please take advantage of our Free Online Ordination.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of minister supplies.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and am proud to have started the Seminary.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

 

Chaplaincy Program

Chaplaincy Essay

Richard W Nash, ND,MS, BS, CNLP

As a caseworker in the public sector and as a counselor in private practice, I had referred many people to their ministers and or a Chaplin  if they did not have one.  My first real experience with a Chaplin on the receiving end was 26 years ago when my son was born with a congenital  heart defect and he and I were rushed from Baylor Hospital to Children’s Medical Center for emergency care and possible open heart surgery.  While he was back with the physicians, a Chaplin came to see me.  He was well dressed, articulate and almost died that day.  He told me that this was an event in which God was testing my wife and I, that we needed to be strong, and this was a direct result of something we had done and must atone for.  We were on an upper floor of the hospital and I could not open the window to throw him out.  When the window did not open I suggested he leave before I lost my temper and did something we both would regret.  Shortly after he left, somewhat shaking in his shoes, my pastor arrived.  A small quiet little man  who loved to climb mountains.  He walked me through my anger, helped me refocus on my son and my wife who was still at Baylor.  Truly he was a gift from God that day.  My son made it through and today is a healthy 26 year old, who has his BS in Comparative World Religions from the University of Texas.  

I have always believed that my call was to work with people in crisis and the gifts that the Creator gave me have allowed me to do that.  My personal ministry was working with people and families in crisis.  I did this for 30 plus years then let my licenses go, and tried  a quiet isolated life.  It became quickly apparent to me that God had other plans.  I kept running into people, some I knew, others complete strangers, who would start to talk to me.  After many months of praying and discussions with my peers, I entered this program.  

As a Chaplin, I will me able to serve as needed in emergency situations, continue to comfort families and use the gifts that were given to me by the Creator.  Frank FoolsCrow talked about becoming the clean hollow bone through which the Creator would work.  This is what I have always done and will continue to do.  As I observed through my old pastor, he was just himself.  I am actively involved with interfaith work in Dallas where we discover we have much more in common than we have in differences.  It is in this arena I plan to take my Chaplaincy, voice and what energy I have left in my life.  The Native Peoples refer to this as following “The Great Mystery” and I believe this is the basis of true faith.  On this plain of existence, we never will have the complete answer, it is faith alone that keeps us going.  I pray to the the hollow bone and to be used as directed, not my me but by the Creator of us all.

This course is a solid overview of the basics of counseling, listening, self care, types of prayer and history and duties of the Chaplin. I found the following of benefit:

    Lesson One:           The present day use of Chaplin's was very helpful.

    Lesson Two            This was a sound way to verify your call to a higher service.

    Lesson Three          This once caused a lot of reflexion and prayer. 

    Lessons on the Chapel were informative.

 

    Lesson Eleven           I have found over the years that grief is at the core of most of peoples issues and grief is layered and mixed so that it is

                                    hard to grieve for one person or issue without it being attached to other unresolved or unfinished grief from  the past which

                                    overshadows or infects the new wound.  I have used NLP techniques to help separate the griefs into smaller more    

                                    manageable issues. 

 

    Lesson Fifteen        I carry a small bag of different shaped and colored rocks which I use to help people visualize their problems and to see the

                                  connections to all of the events going on in their life.  With each rock representing an issue, problem or loss, they can see the

                                  bigger picture , move the rocks around as their prospective changes, and this helps their prayers become more focused.   

  

                                   I have enclosed a picture of these.rocks for consideration.

    Lesson Eighteen      Among those who care for others there is a real problem of “burn-out”.  There is some research into what is now being called

                                 “Secondary Traumatic Stress Disorder”. This is the result of being witness to the trauma of others  on a regular basis.  In a

                                  nuclear power plant workers have badges which let them keep track of their radiation levels.  As we work with people during

                                  the worst times of their life, it can take a toll.  Taking care of one-self is so important, and this lesson addressed it well.  The

                                  Cherokee healers wash their hands and arms seven times after each ritual.  Other groups may smudge themselves.  Whatever  

                                  your faith tradition, it is important to cleanse yourself prior to and after preforming a sacred act and to provide yourself the time

                                   to heal, even Jesus required rest.  

 

    Lesson Nineteen,    The toolbox was very helpful, a traveling office and the tools of the trade. I now carry a a small Bible, a copy of the Prophet

                                  by Kahlil Gibran, The Tao Te Ching, Wisdom Keepers and a few others.  

    Lesson Twenty        I am currently in daily prayer, am fasting weekly, and am at the will and call of the Great Mystery.  I will go where I am sent;

                                   work with whomever comes to me or the Spirit leads me to; strive to be the hollow bone where I am but a tool for the Gods

                                   Blessings to flow; and to never have anyone want to throw me out of a window. 

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The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have various classes in Christianity, one on Wicca, along with several Pagan courses, more than a few courses about Metaphysics with more being added regularly.

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free, legal and lasts for life, so please take advantage of our Free Online Ordination.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of minister supplies.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and am proud to have started the Seminary.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

 

Chaplaincy Studies

Master of Chaplaincy Studies:  Lesson 12

 

I feel that even though my counseling is mostly effective, I can still, and need to improve on several aspects of counseling.  I am constantly working on improving my listening skills.  I am so focused on providing the “right answers” that I don’t always listen as carefully as I should.  I need to remind myself that there is not always a “quick fix” to any given situation.

I also need to increase my resources regarding additional professional help for my counselees so that I can effectively refer them to someone more specialized in the nature of the situation as needed.

The “Firing Order” portion of this lesson was of great benefit.  This will help me greatly in guiding people in making changes.

Resources that I have at my disposal are my mentor and other area Chaplains along with my Pastor.  I also use the internet for additional information and strategies.

 

May God Bless you.....

   Rod

Luke 14:23

 

*******************************

The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have various classes in Christianity, one on Wicca, along with several Pagan courses, more than a few courses about Metaphysics with more being added regularly.

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free, legal and lasts for life, so please take advantage of our Free Online Ordination.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of minister supplies.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and am proud to have started the Seminary.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

 

Chaplaincy Studies

Universal Life Church
At the end, we're all the same; it's the journey that makes us different.

Recently a dear friend, the woman who introduced me to my wife and who, over her lifetime,  helped so many find happiness, closed her eyes for the last time.  She lived a vibrant and full 77 years; four children, nine grandchildren , countless friends and even had two men who loved her deeply as no others could.  What struck me as important was the dignity she showed during her final months while disease challenged her at death's doorstep many, many times.

During those months I learned to enjoy the time I spent in her hospital room at her bedside.   On the good days we spoke of many things and she worked hard to re-tell the stories of her family's odyssey and tales of her many experiences.  In the end it was without the luxuries and even niceties we've come to  take for granted and what was left was true humanity; the core from which we all evolve.

This course is a fitting tribute to those who have been seated by a bedside, comforted the grieving, blessed those in need and served in our armed and home forces whether military, fire, police or civil organization.  The question that we as students face is what are we going to do with the education.

In preparing for this final examination, I re-read  the entire course work and found that the weekly work was select and focused but, when read in the whole, the lesson and thread that bound the chapters was that the calling of the Chaplaincy was beyond a typical clergy role.  Many of us became ordained because of the clear message of the Universalist Life practice; "Do only that which is right".   Many others to become wedding Officiants, start a church, spread the word or just add "Reverend" to their other honors and titles.  Yet in the Chaplaincy there appears to be a role that transcends the rest and that addresses the humanity I wrote of in describing my friend's passing.

And surely, there can be no larger constituency than that of a Chaplain. As clergy we often look to define the universe  in our message.   For a Chaplain there are no boundaries, no required rites or ceremony, dogma or limitation by religious practice.  What exists is an instant relationship defined by cause and need.  It's about practice, not form, and those desiring our presence have a desire for comfort, reassurance and blessing.  This course identified multiple opportunities for those wishing to serve and offered creative ideas of how to prepare, approach and perform the duties and obligations of the chaplaincy.  Helpful suggestions and even lists of materials and equipment needed was included and there were even "how to get started" ideas in the various disciplines.

But, as the course points out, there's nothing like experience and it also identifies the most difficult part of the process, where to take first step.  And that's the question that the course can't answer.  It's a process for each of us needs  to define for ourselves.  For me it's about weddings and honoring those who have and continue to serve our country.  Patriotism is a wonderful expression of the chaplaincy and spending productive time with members of law enforcement, fire fighters, veterans and active duty military personnel are those I hope to serve.

Several weeks ago I heard a learned member of the clergy speak and relate a story about the first time she was sent as a theological seminary student to a local hospital to perform the duties of a hospital's chaplain.  She told how, without other than classroom training, she began her rounds visiting numerous patients, chatting with staff and trying to understand the scope of her duties.  Being in a metropolitan setting, chaplains and clergy were plentiful but on one particular evening, she found herself to be the only member of the clergy  (although not yet ordained) in the hospital, when she received a call from one of the nurses telling her that a patient was asking for the chaplain.

With her heart in her throat and beating faster than normal, she entered the patient's room and found a young man who was quickly losing his battle with cancer.  She met the family and asked what she could do to help.  His father asked her to tell his son about God and try and put his mind at ease.  As she told her story you could hear the anguish in her voice as she talked about being stumped, not knowing what to say or, if she could think of anything, how to say it.  After a few short minutes she decided that her best course of action was to say a prayer, not telling the boy about God but praying that he would soon find peace.  When finished she fled the room knowing she failed and asking God for help in finding the words and being able to share them with the patient.

After a restless night thinking about what and how she was going to reassure the young man, she returned to her duties at the hospital, began her rounds and soon found herself on the hospital wing where she was the evening before.  As she entered the hospital room she was surprised to find it empty - no sign of the patient and no sign of the family.  The room had been cleaned and was awaiting its next occupant.  The student headed to the nurse's station only to find out that the young man died during the night and she ended her story expressing the helpless feelings she had, and has carried for 19 years, because she was unable to speak of a subject she know well having been unprepared for the circumstances.

This story is a good example of why the course teachings are valuable and, even in a formal seminary setting, would have been beneficial.  As students we've been allowed to hear from an experienced teacher and learn about the situations we might find ourselves faced with.  Would I have liked more stories and examples of the world of a chaplain?  Yes, this is an area I'd like to see expanded in the course work, where learning about real-life experiences, more than just a few, would be helpful.

And one final point I'd like to express, something that the course mentions but not as often as I wish it would teach; that silence is a powerful communicator and allowing those we serve to  listen to the quiet and reflect in their own way; it's sometimes the greatest gift of all.

Rev.Stan Hirschman

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To ordain yourself with the Universal Life Church, for Free, for Life, right now, use the Free Online Ordination, button -- Click the link!

As a long time member of ULC, Rev. Long created the seminary site to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of Universal Life Church materials.  As an ordained minister with the Universal Life Church for many years and it's Seminary since the beginning, I've enjoyed watching the continual growth of the seminary.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar

Chaplaincy Studies

Master of Chaplaincy Studies:  Lesson 12

I feel that even though my counseling is mostly effective, I can still, and need to improve on several aspects of counseling.  I am constantly working on improving my listening skills.  I am so focused on providing the "right answers" that I don't always listen as carefully as I should.  I need to remind myself that there is not always a "quick fix" to any given situation.

I also need to increase my resources regarding additional professional help for my counselees so that I can effectively refer them to someone more specialized in the nature of the situation as needed.

The "Firing Order" portion of this lesson was of great benefit.  This will help me greatly in guiding people in making changes.

Resources that I have at my disposal are my mentor and other area Chaplains along with my Pastor.  I also use the internet for additional information and strategies.

May God Bless you.....

   Rod

*******************************

The Universal Life Church is a comprehensive online seminary where we have various classes in Christianity, one on Wicca, along with several Pagan courses, more than a few courses about Metaphysics with more being added regularly.

Ordination with the Universal Life Church, is free, legal and lasts for life, so please take advantage of our Free Online Ordination.

The  ULC, run by Rev. Long, has created a chaplaincy program to help train our ministers. We also have a huge catalog of minister supplies.  I've been ordained with the Universal Life Church for many years and am proud to have started the Seminary.

Try our new free toolbar at: ULC Toolbar