Clinical Chaplains Gather for Cleveland Conference
Fifty-five people recently assembled at the Church of God Theological Seminary to attend the Chaplains Commission’s Clinical Chaplain/Spouse Conference. The theme for the Conference was: “Bridging the Gap: Clinical Chaplaincy and the Church.”
Dr. Robert Crick, Director, Chaplains Commission, and Pastoral Therapist, Dr. Lloyd Looney, addressed the group on the state of Clinical Chaplains and their ministries. Crick and Looney encouraged the conference participants to think about the movement of our ministries from simply being “mine,” to “ours,” and eventually, “His.” “We have never had a greater opportunity to see this ministry grow locally, regionally and globally,” stated Dr. Crick. This session was followed by a challenging lecture by Dr. Jim Philpot, long-term Pastoral Therapist and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. He spoke of the relationship of the clinical chaplain with their denomination and sponsoring body. This flowed into a special workshop considering ways our lives get crowded; leaving precious little time or space for personal, family and spiritual enrichment.
Dr. Stephen Land, President, Church of God Theological Seminary, then gave an address encouraging the development of a “Clinical Chaplaincy/Seminary Ministry and Teaching Partnership.” This partnership between the Seminary and the Clinical Chaplaincy would open the door for the chaplain’s market-place experience and professionalism to be utilized in preparing our men and women for the ministries of the future.
Dr. Donnie Smith, Director of the International Care Division, gave an inspiring look at the ways in which Clinical Chaplains and other chaplains in the field enhance the overall ministries of the Care Division; which includes benevolence outreach, children’s ministries, ministries to displaced persons, and other care programs.
Hospital Chaplain Beverly Burkins, Forth Work, Texas, stated: “What an awesome conference! I returned home feeling informed, challenged and spiritually renewed.”
To learn more about the Church of God Chaplains Commission Chaplaincy programs, visit the Chaplains Commission website at: www.cogchaplains.com .
