Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Oct/85

Contributor - Rudy Katerberg

Title - A Ministry, Worthy of Your Support

Topic -

It is Thursday, June 13, 1985. At Camp Geneva there is a lot of activity. It is summer and thus the season for campers to come to the spot on Lake Michigan, near Holland, MI. The activity of the camp this particular week is generated by a group of youngsters all in wheelchairs. They are handicapped, but that does not prevent them from having a good time.

This particular Thursday, there is also a group of clergy that enter the camp site and register for a stay. "What is so significant about a group of clergy coming to Camp Geneva?" you might ask. "A camp setting in the heart of Reformed Church territory, must often be the place for Reformed clergy to come for meetings and seminars."

The significance of this group of Reformed Church clergy is that none of them is a pastor of a congregation and they all come from different areas of the United States and Canada. I, myself, came from as far as Victoria, B.C., others came from California, some from New York and New Jersey, one from Alabama, as well as several other places.

The significance of this group of people is that they are all Chaplains. Some serve in institutions such as hospitals and jails, others are military chaplains of the U.S. Navy, Air Force and Army. Jack Ritsema, a former pastor of the Barrie congregation, was there as an Air Force chaplain He was about to leave for service in West Germany. The members of this group came from all over, they were all chaplains; and yet each person's work is different and special. But they were all members of the Reformed Church in America.

Each year, the church, through its office of Human Resources, invites chaplains to come together for a meeting such as that which was held this year at Camp Geneva.

It is an experience for chaplains to be reminded that they are members of the Reformed Church. Many of us are great distances away from a Reformed Church. It is not uncommon for a chaplain to start feeling isolated from the denomination to which he belongs. A Reformed Chaplain's meeting is a religious experience that helps the chaplains to feel more committed to, and part of, the denominational church.

These meetings are also very helpful in that they give chaplains the opportunity to compare their work setting and their approach to ministry with all the others. Questions such as: "How do you relate to your hospital administration?" or "How do you relate to the Classis to which you belong" or " How do you feel about baptizing a person or celebrating communion with not having an elder present?". The questions for discussion are easy to come by. The answers are not always easy to find and often the answer differs for different situations and for different people. But just to have the opportunity to raise the questions and to struggle together towards answers and solutions is very meaningful and helpful to the chaplains.

The coming together of the chaplains is also a spiritual experience. Jesus taught us that when two or three are meeting in His name, His presence would be assured. Although we come from different places and different situations, we have a lot in common. We understand each other's ministry. We are acquainted with the struggles that are associated with chaplaincy positions. We also know the joys and satisfactions of helping people through crisis situations. The communion service which we held on the last day of our being together, summarized the communion we had experienced on the other days. The Christ who gives graciously; forgives, empowers, and shares His abundant life with His followers. All chaplains know this, but we needed to hear that again, and we needed to experience it again together in the Reformed Church context

Rewarded and refreshed, encouraged by the common bond we shared, we left Camp Geneva. We returned to our pieces of work, strengthened by the fresh memory that we are part of a denomination that cares. We experienced it through the meeting together as organized by the denomination.

As I was writing this, I was called by the Intensive Care Unit - a family is there, a wife with teenage children. The husband is the patient He is on support systems that are about to be turned off. His earthly life is finished; there is nothing that can be done anymore medically. The surviving family members seek for spiritual strength; they asked for a chaplain.

I don't know the people. I ask for names. I ask a few questions just to become acquainted. The family is not interested in answering my questions; I sense that. They ask for prayer. Together, we stand by the bedside. I pray a prayer. The people are crying. I doubt whether they hear the words of my prayer. After the "Amen", they seem to be somewhat relieved. There are some handshakes and hugs. They thank me for coming so soon and for being with them. The doctors comes by and states that he will shut off the respirator now. He gives the family the choice to stay or to go to the waiting room. They choose the waiting room, and are more free now to talk about the funeral and future plans. I ask them about their minister. He was not available when they called. I offer to call him; they accept my offer.

My beeper summons me to the Emergency Ward. A psychiatric case. The patient does not want to give his name and he does not want to be admitted before he sees the chaplain. I meet with him in a small room. He states that he is afraid to be drugged up, and not be in control anymore. I ask him what I can do. He wants me to visit him while he is a patient "to make sure they don't kill me". I assure him that I will visit with him regularly and also assure him of my prayers for him. He is satisfied and asks for the nurse to proceed with the admitting process.

As chaplains, we minister in situations where ministry is needed. We pray with people who haven't prayed perhaps for years; we talk with people who normally wouldn't think of going to church or talking with a minister.

Several chaplains, like myself, are also involved in Clinical Pastoral Education. Through a national organization we are certified to teach courses for clergy in the art and skill of Pastoral Counselling. Most students that are in seminary now are required to take some of this training in a hospital. The Reformed Church makes bursary money available for clergy who are interested in taking these courses. When I was in Kelowna, I had a student who was a retired minister. He was 69 years of age. At the conclusion of the course his remark was: "I should have had this course much earlier in my life". Practical training in a setting where there are always people in need and often in crisis is most essential to the effectiveness of a pastor's ministry. The chaplain in the modem hospital, as you can see, fulfills several functions.

This ministry is very satisfying to the chaplain, but it is also very demanding. A person can only give so much, and then he or she needs to be replenished. Our meeting at Camp Geneva did help. But we also need the support of the churches and the members of these churches. Your interest in our ministry, your prayers for our ministry are essential. We are part of the mission of your church, and we like you to be more aware of this - your mission. The more aware you are, the more meaningful your prayers on our behalf will be. Consider a visit with a chaplain at his place of work You will learn about his work, and you will get to know him better. Chaplaincy is a significant ministry in our denomination You ought to be part of this ministry, and be supportive of your chaplains. They need your support and you will appreciate feeling a part of their ministry.

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