Lutheran Chaplaincy Service: A Vital Thread in the Web of Human Care

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LCS: A Vital Thread in the Web of Human Care

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The Scene: A hospital emergency room in Northern Ohio. Amidst the confusion of nurses, physicians and high-tech equipment, a family huddles frightened, struggling for a sense of understanding and hope. Emotions are a flurry of loneliness, fear, and confusion. In the midst of this anxiety, the chaplain steps forward and offers a calm presence and a sincere willingness to listen. Just as important as answers to medical questions, the chaplain begins to help the family find a spiritual focus that is comforting. Drawing on their resources of faith, they begin to cope with uncertainty. That amazing “chaplain” who brings a sense of calm is a clinically-trained specialist from Lutheran Chaplaincy Service.

For the patient, medical trauma can have an even more dramatic effect. Fear, stress, and loneliness can actually counteract healing. At Lutheran Chaplaincy Service we know that patients with a deep sense of faith and emotional well-being more readily recover from illness and loss. Our mission is to enable both patients and families find meaning to their experience by creating a relationship of trust while confronting spiritual questions or fears that block a sense of wellness and peace.

Founded in 1914, LCS chaplains have been a compassionate presence to people experiencing the blessings and brokenness of human life. Today LCS’ 32 chaplains serve in twenty institutions across northern Ohio, embodying the love of Christ to people who feel alone and afraid. Scenes like an older woman who sits alone in a retirement community tearfully questioning the meaning of her lonely existence. Or the fearful and angry adolescent who faces court-ordered confinement following a lifetime of abuse and neglect. Or the mentally retarded adult who asks, “Why did God make me this way?” Or the family who has gathered around the bed of a dying loved one. In each of these situations, an LCS chaplain is there to listen, offer hope, prayer and spiritual care, regardless of their faith or religious affiliation.

Because of LCS’ concern for health and well-being, we are deeply concerned about the lack of health coverage for over 40 million Americans. Over the past decade legislative attempts to address systemic inequities in health care have met with great resistance. As a result our health care delivery system is in need of a major overhaul. This is an issue that should be beyond partisan politics.

The Universal Health Care Action Network (UHCAN) is an organization that is leading the fight for health care justice. UHCAN has recently published a guide for advocates in faith communities called Seeking Justice in Health Care. In this guide they help congregations and individuals envision a “just” health care system. In such a system all would have comprehensive insurance so that no one must choose between paying rent or buying medicine; the costs of this system would be fairly spread across society, and timely, appropriate care would be available to all. Finding the political will to see health care as a basic human need will not be easy in our market-driven economy. However, we at LCS, who live with the stresses that our current health care delivery system places on uninsured individuals, physicians and health care organizations, and taxpayers, urge the congregations of the Northeastern Ohio Synod to use their influence to advocate for health care justice. For more information on the ministry of Lutheran Chaplaincy Service go to www.spiritualcare.org or call the Rev. Richard Warger or the Rev. Richard Israel at 216-631-4444. To learn more about advocacy for health care justice and the Universal Health Care Action Network go to www.uhcan.org or call the Rev. Linda Walling at 216-241-8422.