Ministry to Persons with Chronic Illnesses: A Guide to Empowerment Through Negotiation

by John T. Vanderzee

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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0806626305
• ISBN13: 9780806626307
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: Augsburg Fortress Publishing
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Ministry of wholeness

John Vanderzee is has been chaplain at the hospital in my community (Bloomington, Indiana) for the past fifteen years. Currently I am working with him as I take an internship in chaplaincy, and I came across his book among the books in the office at the hospital. It fits very well with the populations I work with both in the internship as well as my regular chaplaincy in a retirement centre in Bloomington. Vanderzee speaks of the distinct nature of chaplaincy vs. parish ministry, but that there are some people (both staff and regularly returning patients) in the chaplaincy setting who become familiar; I have discovered this is true in my own setting. Situations of chronic illness and long-term disability are becoming more widespread as population ages, but health care is still primarily focused upon shorter-term kinds of health concerns. Hence, chronic illness is less understood. However, there are ways in which it can be contemplated. Vanderzee works from a Protestant/Reformed basis (as he is a Presbyterian minister), but writes broadly enough to fit chaplains of other denominational and faith traditions. Vanderzee looks at the shift of illness and health issues during the course of the past century, where infectious illness is less of a menace, but chronic conditions (cancer, heart disease, etc.) have become more prevalent. Vanderzee gives a brief analysis of different definitions and characteristics of chronic illness conditions, and looks at the kinds of spiritual implications that might arise. He lists different kinds of literature available (inspirational, power-of-positive-thinking, personal accounts, etc.) but states that 'the lack of attention given to chronic illness in pastoral literature reflects a general cultural obliviousness to the growing magnitude of chronic illness as a health care problem.' Vanderzee uses case studies as well as academic studies to carry forth his critique of the modern medical model of care and his development of a more effective model for ministry to those who have long-lasting conditions. Most healthy people see illness as 'an unwelcome interlude' and are not prepared physical, emotionally or spiritually for the implications or reality of living with pain or disability. Vanderzee looks at biblical and church-traditional ways of seeing suffering, and looks for pastoral responses to critical questions that may be brought up, both by the suffering as well as those around the sufferers (which can include the pastoral visitors themselves). Vanderzee sets up a paradigm of negotiation as a way of dealing with the situation that has both theoretical and practical advantages. Admittedly challenging, Vanderzee explores the ways in which this might work to provide holistic support in context of a faith community. Negotiation involves the interpersonal relationships, the environmental context, and the theological understanding, not only of the one suffering, but also of those around the person.