Personal and Professional Identity in Ministry
Personal and professional identities are linked to each other. Personal identity is shaped by events and relationships, especially in the early stages of childhood. Karen D. Scheib, in her book Attend to Stories: How to Flourish in Ministry, states that the way we perceive ourselves and relate to others is based on the stories that are formed throughout life. Multiple stories form connecting links and create a narrative theme in our lives. Narrative can be understood as the overarching story of our lives. Some stories are known, while others are subconscious but no less impactful. They become the lens through which we view our current experiences and relationships, and we use them to attach meaning to our lives.
An essential part of this process involves God’s calling. Every person is called in some way, and some are called to the vocation of ministry. Despite early life events and relationships, encountering God can be life-changing. History contains many examples of people who were changed in this way. Our makeup as humans includes strengths and weaknesses that God uses to connect with others in meaningful ways.
In his book The Wounded Healer: Ministry in Contemporary Society, Henri Nouwen writes that all of us have wounds because of our histories, and awareness of this is imperative when providing ministry so that we do not replicate our wounds in others. Nouwen’s premise is that being aware of our wounds has the potential to inform our care for those who are hurting and trying to cope with past and present losses.
Professionally, Chaplains are expected to gain self-awareness. I already noted how personal identity is formed through the connecting links of stories, and awareness of this helps identify the stories of others. The motivations for a calling to ministry can be numerous and sometimes may appear self-serving.
Having integrity about one’s calling involves prayer, seeking the counsel of others, and reflecting on the reasons for wanting to enter the vocation of ministry. For instance, some time ago, I participated in a unit of clinical pastoral education. I was surprised to discover that a reason for my attraction to pastoral care was that by visiting patients and families wrestling with grief, I was cathartically working through personal grief about my father's death. I saw this as an immediate disqualifier for becoming a chaplain. Later, I learned that motivations of this kind are not wrong, but understanding them is essential, especially as they concern providing spiritual care.
By understanding our grief, we come to the recognition that there are no quick fixes to ease the suffering of others, and sometimes the most comforting thing is to sit with people in their pain. This helps us approach the pastoral visit with humility, knowing that, in situations involving loss and pain, others can teach us important things about faith. Examples include new parents who are angry at God for not healing their child, and a mother’s faith that sustains her during her son’s illness and subsequent death.
There are other aspects of being a professional chaplain. The chaplain’s role is to serve as part of the medical team. This is different from the church pastor, who is viewed as the spiritual leader of a congregation. The chaplain represents the corporate structure and faith beyond the hospital walls. The hospital setting is not a parish with people of similar faith. Patients are captive audiences, admitted for a physical or mental illness. We do not require people to come to our point of view regarding faith. The chaplain’s ministry is patient-led.
Loss and illness can leave people feeling broken, separated from others, and spiritually alienated from God. It is hoped that spiritual care will restore a sense of community. As spiritual practitioners, we help patients discover aspects of their story to draw upon to provide meaning and hope. This contributes to healing. Our presence reminds people that they are more than the sum of their experiences. Through faith, they transcend them with an eternal perspective (Carroll A. Wise, The Meaning of Pastoral Care), and we remind them that, despite their circumstances, God views them as whole and complete.
Larry J. Smith, ACPE, CE
October 21, 2024
