This communication marks a watershed for me as it will be my last as Secretary for Free Church Chaplaincy. I am to retire at the end of the year. The decision was easily made after a period of ill health (from which I am fully recovered). The time away from the office gave me some thinking space and a re-evaluation of what I want to do. I will be continuing my work on Modern Slavery, Polio Eradication and with Mercy Ships through Rotary International – opportunities that I look forward to!
Chaplaincy has changed over the last 14 years or so. When I joined the Free Churches Group the list of Chaplains was held in a ‘cardex system’, now it’s all electronic. Free Church Chaplains were often part time, but now there have been leaders of UKBHC and CHCC that have been from Free Church Denominations.
The NHS has also changed – but in many ways stayed the same! There is still not enough money, at times not enough beds (in the right place) and shortages of staff at all levels. The needs of patients have changed – with those in hospital presenting with complex needs, while the majority living with chronic conditions receive all their care in a community setting.
These changes (and similarities) have challenged the way chaplains work. The move from a Christian dominated service to one that can meet the needs of the hospital and local population is to be applauded – while there is some way to go, we are as a profession much clearer on the difference between Pastoral, Spiritual and Religious care, with the recognition that all – patients and staff, have pastoral and spiritual care needs, and some will express that need or want that care from a religious perspective.
The development of the Multi Faith Group into the Network for Pastoral, Spiritual and Religious Care in Health, with the inclusion of the None Religious Pastoral Care Network is a major milestone. Sit this alongside the UKBHC Voluntary Register for Health Care Chaplains and you can begin to appreciate how as a profession we are able to be more representative of our hospital and health care communities and well as setting the same bench marks as other healthcare professionals.
The Directors of the Free Churches Group meet later this month and it is hope that there will be an advert for my replacement in the New Year. In the meantime Meg Burton (meg.burton@freechurches.org.uk) will continue to be the contact as she will remain in post (on part time hours) until the end of March 2020.
And now a time to say, ‘thank you’.
Thank you all for what you do on a day to day basis in bringing support to patients and staff.
Thank you for all who have engaged with me over the years – be that in regional meetings, through the committees (MFGHC/ Network/ Forum/UKBHC/AHPCC etc) or the College of Health Care Chaplaincy.
Thank you to those who have served on the Free Churches Healthcare Chaplaincy Steering Committee, and for your support and encouragement.
May you continue to be blessed in the work that you do, secure in the knowledge that you are held in the love of God.
With every blessing,
Debbie Hodge
November 19th, 2019
