ENHCC
European Network of Health Care Chaplaincy
Health Care Chaplaincy in Hungary
2002 ENHCC Standards Document in Hungarian
Since the beginning of the 1990s the Reformed (Calvinist), the Roman Catholic, the Lutheran and the Greek Catholic hospital chaplaincy has been improving in Hungary; not only in the church service but also in the state care institution. It seems to be a slow process: from the recognising of the need to the full cooperation.
Health Care Chaplaincy of the Hungarian Reformed (Calvinist) Church
Although there are centuries old traditions of pastoral care among the sick – spiritual care was prohibited or illegal for 40 years in Hungarian hospitals. After 1990, when the hospital doors opened up again to church services, numbers gave a warm welcome. At that time parish leaders reorganized hospital worship all over the country. Later full and part time chaplains started their counselling and service. Their number has been increasing ever since... Establishing pastoral care and counselling in the health care system is not an easy and rapid process. Pastoral psychological education, training programs for chaplains and supervision successfully helped our "construction”. Recently as the whole health care system has been changing in Hungary - there are 33 Reformed (Calvinist) chaplains in 26 cities. We try to work in ecumenical teams.
Hospital Chaplaincy belongs to the Reformed Mission Centre, which coordinates the different church services in the society.
The present structure of our services:
There are 3 types of chaplaincy in our church, depending on the financial supporter of the position.
- The status is run by the hospital – professional pastoral care and counselling is supported and accepted by the institution and available for everybody.
- The regional church runs the status – pastoral care is offered mainly for the members of different Calvinist congregations – but is it available for others, too, if they need help.
- The status is run by the local church – the chaplain organises devotions and gives help on request.
Pastoral care in our health care system means:
- Spiritual care, counselling patients, family members and staff.
- Participation in institutional work as an ethical and spiritual care provider.
- Cooperation with other churches, as well as civil organisations.
Our plan for the future
- Improving professional pastoral care – we would like to demonstrate and emphasise its effect on care giving in hospitals and the congregations.
- Pastoral care for hospital staff as an essential part of the institution (for example: burn out prevention)
- Strengthen the volunteers’ work for visiting the sick – in hospitals and congregations
- Raising interest of theological students for chaplaincy
Judit Gál
I am a Reformed minister. Since 1993 - as the 3rd one in the country - I have been working in a state hospital as a chaplain. I studied in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) in Atlanta, US (1995-97) and I graduated from Pastoral phsychology at the University of Debrecen.
In 2000 I received a commission from our Synod, to be the coordinator, leader of the hospital chaplaincy in our church. My tasks are: organising meetings, helping to establish new positions, joining forces with chaplains, increasing collaboration with the Hungarian chaplains in the Carpathian basin.
I have led hospital practice for students of theology. I am an active volunteer group work organiser.
I have also worked for the Reformed Mission Centre since 2009.
I live with my husband and my daughter.
[August 2010]
Tünde Édes
My name is Tünde Édes and I was born on 1 March 1951. Since 1989, I have worked as a clinical chaplain with the Calvinist Church of Baranya County in Pécs
Education:
- Calvinist Theological University Budapest, 1984-1989. (Diploma obtained: chaplain)
- Gereformeerde Universiteit Kampen, The Netherlands (postgraduate training, 1992-1995)
- Free University, Amsterdam
(training for clinical chaplaincy 1995)
Language skills
Hungarian, Dutch, German, English and Russian- Membership of Professional Bodies:
- Hungarian Hospice Society
- Hungarian Psychodrama Society
- Hospital Ethical Board, Pécs Key Qualifications
- Pastoral psychology (supervisor to-be)
- Psychodrama assistant
- Trained tutor of palliative care education
Professional activities:
- Religious service in the university clinics
- Spiritual counselling in different clinics and hospitals for the patients of the university clinics: mainly cancer patients, children with chronic illnesses, etc.
- Teaching (occasionally) of hospice nurses
- Teaching in the Menthalhygiene Department of Károli Gáspár
University of the Reformed Church
Specialized professional activities:
- Working as a member of the Mobil Team of Hospice in Pécs (there are 3 different Hospice teams) and connected to this
- I teach as a trainer the volunteers by the “Good Word” Foundation. 3 groups have been trained, looking for sponsors to every team.
- Looking tenders to the training works.
Visions for the future
- Development of clinical chaplain practice: teamwork, permanent education
- Training of volunteers, involving them into the team
- To be not the only clinical chaplain in our city.
Rev Tünde Édes
Clinical Chaplain with the Calvinist Church of Baranya County
Pécs, Hungary
[May 2008]