Chaplains Hear About Diversity in the Hospital

Places of worship in health care centers have evolved over the last several years from being traditional chapels into sacred, nondenominational spaces -- and this causes Wendy Cadge some concern.

Whereas hospital chapels typically once featured pews, arched stained-glass windows and various symbols geared toward particular denominations, the newer spaces tend to lack symbols and are often comprised of comfortable chairs arranged in a circle, the Brandeis University sociologist told a gathering of Christian Reformed Church Chapel chaplains late last week.

In studying this transition from the older, more traditional chapels into the newer, more open spaces that focus less on particular religious beliefs and more on spiritual practices, Cadge says, she has seen a movement that reflects inclusiveness but also may water down particular religious practices.

"I worry that spirituality is being used as a solution to religious diversity today in hospitals, rather than having us be able to explore what are the differences between the various religions," she said to the group gathered for the annual CRC chaplains conference at the Prince Center on the Calvin College campus.

The 71st annual chaplains conference, using the theme “Chaplains and Prayer,” ran from June 6-9 in the Prince Center on the campus of Calvin College in Grand Rapid, Mich.

The conference involved seminars, a presentation by a popular Christian humorist Jolene DeHeer, a musical concert by Nashville recording artist Phil Stacey who was a finalist on the American Idol TV show, reflections from chaplains and the discussion about prayer and  diversity in the hospital setting.

Cadge studies a range of aspects of religious belief and practice, looking into many issues from health care to immigration, trying to map the ways in which diversity plays out in a once fairly static, mostly Catholic and Protestant, religious landscape in North America.

Her new book Paging God: Religion in the Halls of Medicine was released by the University of Chicago Press in January 2013. She has published articles about related topics including intercessory prayer, physicians’ experiences of religion and spirituality, hospital chaplains, the prayers people write in hospital prayer books, religion and spirituality in palliative care, and the experiences of nurses.

She began her research after an experience involving her relationship with a Buddhist monk and his struggle to locate a monastery in an area that did not want it in its neighborhood.

So, she comes at the topic with with an open mind, saying, “Accepting people of various religions is an important thing.”

But, she asks, can such acceptance come at a price? "Are we lumping everyone together? Are religion and spirituality the same thing?"

Cadge has spent many years researching this topic, both looking at the architecture of chapels and worship spaces, and interviewing health care workers and chaplains about the role religion plays in a hospital setting.

She says that hospital chaplains, in the midst of this diverse reality, are tending to take two approaches to this issue when they deal with patients in their hospital rooms or in the spaces of worship.

Some chaplains, she says, do not challenge the beliefs of someone else and work to adapt to whatever the other person believes, considering it more crucial to be able to bring God into their lives.

"This is the approach of the caring heart of holistic healing. It does not emphasize the differences,” she says.

Other chaplains, she says, tend to make it clear where they are coming from and ask if they can pray or give a blessing as it relates to their own religious tradition.

In some cases, chaplains are more flexible and can use one or the other approach, depending on the context.

“I’m not making a judgement on which is the best approach,” she says.

In a conversation with the chaplains, the chaplains offered a range of what they see in the hospitals that they serve. Someone said that the areas that were once chapels are, in fact, now spaces of spirituality. And the spaces are not focused on anyone faith tradition or denomination, but find ways to be open to all.

Often, they said, this happens by offering a room that is devoid of symbols, but provides areas in which the various religions can store their materials to bring out for their services.

Beyond the transformation of sacred spaces, there are other changes.

Some chaplains said that the health care systems for which they work are cutting back drastically on providing pastoral care services in the hospital. Another chaplain, however, said that he holds a service every afternoon in the hospital that is beamed over televisions available on all of the patient floors.

Another chaplain said the way that his hospital deals with the topic of sacred space is to place religious symbols in a display case visible as people walk into the chapel area.

At this hospital, he says, there are a number of religious services, ranging from drum circles to times for meditation, and especially emphasized here is offering prayer and worship in which everyone can join.

"We believe that the role of the chaplain to be a welcoming presence," he said.

Overall, the issue that was addressed during session at the conference had to deal with the question, "How do you respond to people who are different than you?"

Cadge says that this is a complicated issue. Having a large umbrella under which many patients are included is good and helpful.

"But there are a lot of people who don't even know what spirituality means," she said.