In my clinical pastoral education program for chaplaincy we were asked to examine an ethical framework that resonates with our faith tradition and personal inclinations. I found myself reading through various ethical frameworks, from Consequentialism (ex: Jeremy Bentham) to Deontology (ex: Immanuel Kant) to various Pluralistic Theories (ex: WD Ross, John Kekes). After a thoughtful conversation with our Clinical Ethicist on staff, I found Virtue Ethics, which resonated well, though I don’t align with strict Aristotelian ethics, and have a slightly more pluralistic view.
Continue reading “Examining ADFs Virtues through a Study of Virtue Ethics”Chaplaincy
When Caring for Others is a Calling
A large part of my Call to clergy, and my vocation, is focused on caring for others. I have felt myself drawn to this kind of work across the story of my life. Growing up, all the way through high school and college, I was often the confidant for friends going through a hard time. In my first profession teaching high school, that vocation of caring for others dovetailed with my other primary vocation of teaching & mentoring others. Then, while working on my Initiate work, the Call to priesthood hit me like a freight train, and I came to understand that I could blend those vocations, caring and mentoring and teaching, together in my priest work. I continue to lean into that blend in my current occupation and education as a chaplain working towards board certification.
Continue reading “When Caring for Others is a Calling”Protected: BCC Competency: Section 4 – Organizational Leadership
Protected: BCC Competency: Section 3 – Professional Practice Skills
Protected: BCC Competency: Section 2 – Professional Identity & Conduct
Protected: BCC Competency: Section 1 – Integration of Theory & Practice
Protected: BCC Autobiography
Protected: Clinical Context Narratives
Perseverance is Making Sure You’re a Success Story, Not a Statistic
As I continue working as a prison chaplain, I’ve found not only is it a deeply fulfilling part of my vocation, it is also allowing me to re-examine my own spirituality and add depth and subtlety to my understandings of the cosmos. I teach weekly using Rev. Dangler’s Dedicant Path Through the Wheel of the Year as a base, and recently we were discussing the virtue of perseverance. Beyond definitions, I like to ask them to think of a person (real or fictional, historical or modern, famous or not) who they believe embodies each virtue. For perseverance, it was thinking of who has the drive to continue towards their goals, even when the whole world seems to be conspiring against it. They acknowledged each other as fully embodying perseverance.
Continue reading “Perseverance is Making Sure You’re a Success Story, Not a Statistic”Beltane Behind Bars
Yesterday was amazing. I had coordinated to bring three of my Grovemates, Joe, Jeff, and Mike to ORW as volunteers for Beltane. I wanted to make it kind of like a mini-festival day for the inmates. So we had a morning of workshops and then an afternoon ritual.
Continue reading “Beltane Behind Bars”