Chaplaincy Studies

Certification Essay ~ Master of The Chaplaincy Studies

Candidate: Rev. Daniel P. Woodring

Resume: Rev. Daniel P. Woodring is a Minister, Author, Spiritual Advisor, Chaplain, and Certified Life Coach. Dan is the Spiritual Director for the Center for Spiritual Consciousness – an organization with a stated mission of Helping Individuals Reach Spiritual and Human Potential. Dan has combined over 30 years of experience with advanced academic credentials in spiritual ministries, leadership, and team building. Dan has helped thousands with his book “No Regrets, a Comprehensive Guide and Work Book for Mapping Your Life’s Journey – Regardless of Age.”

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In the process of completing this 20 session Master of the Chaplaincy Studies course with Universal life Church, I also participated in a 6 week Hospital Chaplaincy Program through West Chester Medical Center. With completion of these programs, and as of this writing, I am a volunteer Hospital Chaplain at the West Chester Medical Hospital.

There were many discoveries and awakenings during the process of taking these programs. One of the more significant was ten questions requiring much thought and deep medication for the answers. Here are the ten questions and my deep discoveries:

1. What calls me to ministry?

I am called by an inner knowing, the Spirit within, to a personal mission of “Helping Individuals and Organizations Reach Potential.” This mission came to me about 30 years ago. To me this means helping individuals with their physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs. In the past I was focused on working with individuals and businesses. Today I am being drawn to focus primarily on helping in the area of individual emotional, mental, and spiritual needs.

2. What is my personal experience of illness, suffering and death?

My first and most formative experience of death and suffering was with my mother who died of cancer at and early age of 58. Mom was diagnosed with cancer of the liver and was given 6 weeks to live … or could extend the time line somewhat with chemo. She chose the six weeks, and during that time helped all those around her with a deep understanding of love, faith, suffering, death, and dieing. It was a blessing to all those who came to visit her. We had many personal “chats” that left me with a deep positive experience about God working in and through other people during times of suffering and death.

My second personal experience was quintuple heart by-pass surgery on myself in 2003. What a great lesson this was for me … receiving personal and powerful ministry, especially from my wife but many other care givers, family, and prayer warriors. The ministries received included physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual and represented a balance of what I see now as a part of my personal ministry.

3. Where was God in that experience?

As said by many people at the time and since, “God was all over this situation.” God used many people for the flow of His love, peace, and compassion, and healing.

4. Who am I? Do I know myself intimately?

I am a child of God, a spirit having a human experience. I am love and peace; I feel I am continually growing in self-realization ~ knowing myself more intimately on a daily basis; knowing the power of God within.

5. What do I hope to gain? What do I hope to give to this ministry?

This experience or ministry is not about “gain”, it is about “Being”. I hope to be an instrument of God … and give or allow the power and grace of God to flow through me to others.

6. What do I expect to learn from this experience that may be my “growing edge”?

I expect this to be an experiential learning lab … learning from the experience of others in the group, group leaders, patients we visit, and authors of material we will read. The “edge” will be growth in the process of learning to “Be”, to do what is mine to do.

7. Who will guide me and support me in this ministry?

First and foremost, the guidance and support come from the Holy Spirit directly, and then indirectly through my wife, family and others praying for me.

8. Why do I want to be a “hospital chaplain”?

I have had confirmation from others that “this is excellent venue for use of the talents God has given to you.” It has thus become a passionate desire.

9. Can I minister to patients/families that are of different faith or no faith?

Yes; I have had education and training in comparative religions and feel comfortable in this situation

10. Can I minister without praying after each visit?

Yes; ministry to others takes many forms. Individuals or families need someone to listen, give comfort, be compassionate, give hope, and, sometimes that means just our “presence” is all that is needed. Asking first if prayer is appropriate is always a good idea.

Other discoveries and reminders included a close look at a compassionate approach to my ministry. Some of the key points included:

 It is not about us … it’s not about ego … God is the source

 We volunteer for pastoral ministry because we are needed

 God has given us the authority

 Matt 25:34-37, 40 … Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”

 Healing and miracles: we are called to perform healing and miracles … to bring the assurance of God’s love to those who suffer. Remember the promise and anointing: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12)

 Together we are the body of Christ … empowered by the Holy Spirit

 Our calling: “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” (John 20:21)

 Together we possess gifts of compassion, understanding, wisdom, peace, comfort, healing and prayer to offer the sick and suffering

 A cure for an illness may not always be forthcoming, but healing is always possible … healing of their fears, doubts, guilt, anger, loneliness, etc.

 Sympathy vs. empathy: Sympathy ~ feeling sorry for; more sentimental emotion than supportive action; more pity than compassion. Empathy ~ to move emotionally into another person’s skin attempt to comprehend the level of pain or loss. Compassion is empathy’s companion

 At times, our only ministry is the ministry of “presence”

Probably one of the biggest reminders was the fact that we should always recognize and practice the “Theological Order” of ministry. The following needs to become a part of us as we deliver pastoral care:

 The essential task of pastoral care visits is to increase the patients’ awareness of God’s presence in their lives … and to be the focus of prayers

 God is in all the incidences and events surrounding our ministry

 Our ministry is bringing God into the lives and experiences and help patients with their spiritual growth

 Our ministry is to help patients recognize God in the experience of sickness and be able to articulate that understanding … to develop an openness to God’s presence.

 Today medical science acknowledges that physical cures are more attainable when spiritual healing has occurred

 The psalmist advises simply, “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

In the final analysis, this chaplaincy study is but one piece or skill set that will help in my ministry to others. As Spiritual Director for the Center for Spiritual Consciousness, the tools, discoveries and skills learned will help me BE a better instrument of the Universal Force.

“WHAT COULD IMPROVE THIS COURSE?” Here are some ideas:

 A more user friendly system to post and share information with others taking the course. I still don’t know how to access others’ work or find “The Forum”

 Adding insightful questions (as noted above) that would help students go deeper into themselves and look at motives and decision points of becoming a chaplain.

 Requiring some kind of Verbatim midway through the course

Thanks for the opportunity … keep up the good work.

Respectively Submitted:

Rev. Daniel P. Woodring

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