wfn.org | ELCA Members Learn More about Specialized Pastoral Care

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

February 21, 2000

ELCA MEMBERS LEARN MORE ABOUT SPECIALIZED PASTORAL CARE
00-35-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) has taken a significant step in learning more about individuals
who serve ministries in chaplaincy, counseling and clinical education.
Representatives from ELCA ministries in specialized settings met here
Feb. 11-13 to examine results of a survey that revealed the reality and
challenges faced by those in clinical education and specialized pastoral
care settings.
     "We are the most diverse and scattered of this church's various
groups of leaders, serving in a multitude of institutions, social
structures and points of mission," said the Rev. Donald A. Stiger, ELCA
director for specialized pastoral care and clinical education.
     Clinical pastoral education is "experiential, supervised learning
for people in ministry preparing for a certified specialized ministry,"
said Stiger.
     "There is a burgeoning interest in ministries of chaplaincy,
counseling and clinical education.  Workplace and police chaplaincies
are growing at a remarkable pace," Stiger said.
     There are about 800 ELCA members active in positions of
specialized pastoral care ministries, which are comprised of seven
areas: pastoral counseling, long-term care chaplaincy, general health
care chaplaincy, mental health care chaplaincy, correctional chaplaincy,
substance abuse chaplaincy and counseling ministry, and mental
retardation and developmental disability ministry.
     The survey, conducted last year, invited 1,046 ELCA members in
specialized pastoral care ministries to share information regarding
their specializations; their sense of connection with ELCA
congregations, synods and churchwide office; and their preferences for
support, needs and concerns for the future.  About 790 responded to the
survey developed by the ELCA Division for Ministry and Department for
Research and Evaluation.
     "While health care continues to reflect the largest proportion of
specialized pastoral care settings, long-term care is not far behind,"
said Stiger.
     A quarter of respondents serve in hospitals, and 21 percent serve
in long-term health care settings.  Fifteen percent of the respondents
are retired, said Stiger.  More than half of respondents serve as
chaplains.
     "The 'chaplain' identity still predominates," said Stiger.
"Nationally, some of the fastest growing specializations are hospice and
police ministries -- a low proportion of specialized pastoral care
ministries in the ELCA," he said.
     Other findings of the study indicate that only 10 percent of
respondents serve as clinical pastoral education supervisors, Stiger
said.  "That percentage reflects the most dramatic decline in the last
10 to 12 years -- having once been at the forefront of the clinical
pastoral education movement.  This is, to me, no less than a crisis," he
said.
     "Our overall numbers of individuals involved in specialized
pastoral care and clinical education has declined about 12 percent since
1988, and significant numbers are now approaching retirement," Stiger
said.
     Many respondents also indicated feeling "isolated" from the church
or being perceived as "outside" the general understanding of ministry,
Stiger reported.  "These respondents want more communication and to be
seen as a valuable resource within their ELCA synod.  Others indicated
that a perceived inequity in the compensation of specialized pastoral
care clergy as compared to the compensation of parish pastors further
emphasized the sense of isolation from the church," Stiger said.
     "There is also minimal multicultural representation in our ranks,"
Stiger said.
     About 66 percent of clergy in specialized pastoral care are
endorsed by the church and certified for their ministries, Stiger said.

     Clergy are trained through programs within schools sponsored by
the ELCA and others.  Candidates in specialized pastoral care ministries
are expected to go through a process to receive "endorsement" from the
church and certification by an outside organization.
     "All Christian people are called through Baptism to be part of the
consoling, nurturing, caring, listening ministry of the Body of Christ,
but some are called and equipped to address specialized needs," said
Stiger.
     The findings of the survey were used by specialized pastoral care
and clinical education representatives, ELCA bishops and synod staff,
and staff of churchwide offices meeting here to produce a plan for the
ELCA specialized pastoral care and clinical education ministry.  The
plan includes goals, objectives and time lines.  The board of the ELCA
Division for Ministry will meet here March 10-12 to consider the plan.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html