A Response From the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab
Please note: THIS IS OUR RESPONSE to all who sent in their feedback on our blog post about the racial issues and the pandemic facing America right now. We will publish feedback from individuals at the end of this post. If you missed the first post, click here.
Thank you to each of you who wrote in response to my message last week sharing your experiences of racism, your
approaches to current challenges, and ideas and suggestions that might help chaplaincy colleagues across the country. In the spirit of continued support and the wisdom in crowd sourcing, here are several resources from the group.
None of these are appropriate for everyone and some of you will disagree with pieces of each – please take them as sparks for further engagement, not as the only or the best in your setting response to any of the challenges named.
Social movement chaplaincy has been emerging – under that name – for the past few years, with the Daring Compassion Movement at Faith Matters Network at the helm.
While many chaplains provide support in and through social movements, these are the best resources we are aware of for those interested in learning more and networking with others doing this work.
“…I have been thinking about how chaplains are often called to bear witness. They hear and see people when it seems no one else does.”
Recognizing the ways racial inequalities impact people of color, a few chaplains suggested asking people of color in their settings how they are doing with the news, protests and their feelings about all of this, including asking staff of color directly, “What’s happening for you these days?” One chaplain shared that when staff heard that she was really asking, everyone shared.
To expand those who can learn from Clinical Pastoral Education, colleagues reminded us that CPE programs can admit students who are not currently in institutions of higher education including people who do not have bachelor’s.
To continue to learn and study, Christina Shu, Lead Interfaith Chaplain at Cedars-Sinai, has developed this list of resources for healthcare chaplains for anti-racism work, challenging white supremacy, and understanding racial inequity in healthcare. Rev. Shu notes that this collaborative document is “open for contributions, and as a resource for healthcare chaplains. I want to be humble that others may have already developed lists/curriculums that I’m unaware of, and don’t want to replicate or supplant their work.”
She also has made herself available for direct questions, which we are happy to pass along. Jaye Starr of the Association of Muslim Chaplains also posted a question in our private Facebook group, which we invite all spiritual care providers to join, seeking “articles on racism for a group of healthcare chaplains to read together.”
The stories several many people shared in response to my last message related to racism are moving and personal. Over the last 15 years I have been thinking about how chaplains are often called to bear witness. They hear and see people when it seems no one else does.
Thank you for continuing to do this work in the many places you are, listening and tending to the abundance of grief we see and feel in this moment and beyond. I encourage you to continue sharing – without judgement – through our private Facebook group.
See some of the responses below. We only publish the responses people gave us permission to use.
FEEDBACK ON THIS ARTICLE
The following comments are printed with permission from all the participants.
“That ambulance that picked up my uncle was turned away by the nearest White hospital because the sick person was Colored.”
Hello Wendy,
After reading your thoughts, many instances of damaging and traumatic events about blatant racism scrolled through my mind.
One story in particular sticks out. It is about a situation that happened in the Sixties. I was a young Black girl at the time who lived in the North. The incident had to do with an uncle who lived in the South with family. Unfortunately, this uncle died after a horrific car accident. What made this story sickening and horrendous is that ambulance that picked up my uncle was turned away by the nearest White hospital because the sick person was Colored.
Sadly my beloved uncle died. He was in his early twenties when he passed. He never got a chance to live his dreams.
Needless to say, when I heard the news, I became enraged. I have the newspaper clipping regarding the incident. When I read that story, I still shutter from the pain of it all.
The video about Mr. Floyd’s murder re-injured me. I went mute for several days. I cried and cried.
My companion pet saved me along with family. I was also supported by a few close White friends who were not afraid to show their vulnerability and to even apologize for their lack of curiosity and understanding about the Black experience.
I have suffered from anxiety, grief, suspicion, lack of focus, anger and perfection for years. I now realize how much trauma I have internalized. For years, I have been scared, afraid and uncertain of my future as a Black person, especially around White folks. They can and could say whatever they wanted and whenever they wanted. I’ve had to bear the brunt of insensitivity and cruelty.
Silent no more!
Thanks for the forum.
Chaplain Renae Mckee
Spiritual Care Coordinator
HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center
“You invited comments, so I am responding. I imagine that this is not what you were expecting.”
Thank you for your continuing updates concerning the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the racism and white privilege pandemics.
Since you asked for comments, I would like to share my experience of grief and loss during Covid-19.
My dad died of Covid-19. Yes, he was a senior. He was 94 years old. Yes, he had an underlying health condition CHF primarily among them…
And… it hurts. It was sudden. My dad was doing well. He was in independent living in a retirement community. He was still driving and very active. Until he developed “cold symptoms.” The retirement community was in “lock-down” and I could not get in to see him.
They had already reported that seven residents developed Covid. Apparently, before the state was in quarantine mode, family members brought it into the retirement community. It spread like wildfire – even with many precautions.
Then, Saturday, April 11th he fell. His legs got weak, began to shake, and he fell. He went by ambulance to the emergency room. At that point they were testing all patients admitted for Covid. He tested positive.
He had some good days and some bad days. He died April 23rd.
We had a 10-person funeral. Then a tinier graveside service. We also had to delay the 10 person funeral for two weeks because I had been with my dad on the 23rd when he died. Fortunately, Spectrum Hospice had enough PPE that family members could visit. At least I could be with him – that was an answer to prayer.
I am realizing now, in the midst of my sadness, that part of what is making my grief complicated is that many well-meaning but ignorant people talk about the pandemic and “complain” that “things aren’t open” or “I can’t get my hair cut.” Even in some church settings there has been an underlying attitude “well, things are so hard for us now because we can’t be open.”
As one mourning the death of my father to Covid – these attitudes come across as just plain callous. Often, I want to say “I’m grieving a death and your biggest worry is your hair or being in church on Sunday?”
There is also an attitude, by those who are not grieving anyone who died from Covid, that those who died were somehow “dispensable.” The attitude is “well…he had pre-existing conditions.” As if that somehow makes the death “o.k.” or “understandable.”
I have felt so angry. Most of the time I express it in relatively healthy ways. Unfortunately, a couple of people though, have been on the receiving end of my rantings. I have sent notes of apology.
You invited comments, so I am responding. I imagine that this is not what you were expecting.
If you made it this far into this lengthy e-mail, thank you. Thank you for hearing my pain and experience with complicated grief during this time of Covid-19.
By the way, I am Euro-American and so was my dad.
Blessings,
Rev. Dr. Kathy Bird DeYoung
ACPE Certified Educator and Chaplain
Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services
Facebook for Chaplains Only
Consider joining the Lab’s private Facebook group for chaplains. Be a part of our lively conversations and connect with chaplains willing to support and help. Looking for resources? Join us!