ENHCC
European Network of Healthcare Chaplaincy
Euro-Chaplaincy News
Send news items to: webmaster@eurochaplains.org
2009
- The 9th World - Congress of the ICPCC (March 10)
- Survey on Chaplaincy and End of Life Issues (Dec 09)
- Fr Stavros delvers 8th Norman Autton Lecture (Oct 09)
- Network Committee meets in Istanbul (Sept 09)
- How head nurses in Switzerland view chaplains (Sept 09)
- Greetings to European Conference of Pastoral Care and Counselling held at Leuven, Belgium (August 09)
- Fr Stavros holds meetings in Brussels (June 2009)
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Service to Commemorate the Life of Florence Nightingale (May 09)
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Call for papers on healthcare chaplaincy by American Journal (May 09)
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Coordinator signs appeal against discriminaton against people afflected by Leprosy (April 09)
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New Year Message from Father Adamantios Avgoustidis, president of ECPCC (Jan 09)
2008
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Orthodox Church Holds Conference on Pastoral healthcare in Rhodes (Oct 08)
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Jo Schrader resigns from post as Executive Director APC (Oct 08)
- Letter No 11 from CEERE - Centre Européen d'Enseignement et de Recherche en Ethique
(European Centre for the Study and Teaching of Ethics)
- Shooting Tragedy in Finland (Sept 08)
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Catholic Association of German speaking Switzerland (Sept 08)
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Fr Stavros writes article in Plain Views about ENHCC (March 08)
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Evangelical Church of Finland booklet on healthcare chaplaincy (Feb 08)
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Fr Edward Lewis appointed Chaplain to Ner Majesty the Queen (Feb 08)
Click here for news items from 2002-2007
International Council on Pastoral Care and Counselling
The 9th World - Congress of the ICPCC will take place in Rotorua / Aotearoa - New Zealand, 21-27 August 2011. The theme is "RITUALS OF ENCOUNTERS in Healing: Pastoral Care and Counselling". [More Information]
[March 2010]
Survey on Chaplaincy and End of Life Issues
The 10th Consultation of the European Network of Health Care Chaplaincy that took place in Estonia in May of 2008 had the theme “From quality to sanctity of human life” and dealt with end of life issues.
As a continuation of the meeting, the members of the Network Committee decided that it would be useful to carry out a small survey regarding how end of life issues are dealt with in diferent countries and chaplaincies. This will allow participant to learn from one another, and serve as a reference source for the bodies that the Network has been collaborating with over the past years, such as the EU Commission for Public Health and the Church and Society Commission of CEC.
[December 2009]
The Eighth Norman Autton Memorial Lecture
Fr Stavros gave the 8th Norman Autton memorial Lecture in London on 5th October 2009 under the title: Dimensions of Spirituality in Pastoral Health Care
R to L: Fr Stavros with Mrs Kate Autton, Fr Edward Lewis and Miss Mary Ingledew
[October 2009]
Network Committee meets in Istanbul
The Network committee met in Istanbul 10-14 September 2009. The main task was to prepare for the 11the Consultation which will take place in London in September 2010. The meetings took place in the Eucmenical patriarchate and the committee was honoured to be received by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
[September 2009]
Head Nurses’ Perceptions of the Roles and Functions of Hospital Chaplains: A Survey in the German Part of Switzerland
Marlene Inauen has sent in a report on some research done in Switzerland about how head nurses view chaplains. A random sample of 231 head nurses from 120 healthcare institutions in the German part of Switzerland was surveyed about their views on the importance the roles and functions of of chaplains. [More]
[September 2009]
ENHCC Coordinator’s Greeting at the Opening Ceremony of the European Conference of Pastoral Care and Counseling “Prophetic Pastoral Care and Counseling” August 20, 2009 – Leuven, Brussels
“On behalf of the participants of the European Network of Health Care Chaplaincy, with great joy, I greet you upon the opening of this very important and praise-worthy conference.
“The European Network of Health Care Chaplaincy consists of 46 national organizations from 29 European countries. At our next consultation that will take place in London in September of 2010, we will celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the foundation of our organization. It is the only organizational body which joins together almost all of the official recognized health care chaplaincies of Europe.
“Our gathering here in Leuven provides us with a great challenge: how we can provide a new vision of care, a light of hope, to a Europe that, in many ways, is in dismay. We live in a world that lacks leaders that are visionaries, that have a clear sense of identity and who hold true values which respect persons as whole beings, uniting them in a community of hope.
“I am sure that our conference will give us the opportunities needed to become visionaries, to re-designate our identity as pastoral care givers and to clarify our values, so as to be vessels of personal growth, unity and, before all else, God’s Grace.”
Fr. Stavros Kofinas
[August 2009]
Fr Stavros Holds Meeting in Brussels
On Tuesday 9th of June, Fr. Stavros Kofinas, Coordinator of the ENHCC, went to Brussels to meet with officials of the EU and with the Director of the Church and Society Commission of CEC. Read the report of the meetings
[June 2009]
A Service to Commemorate the Life of Florence Nightingale
In a sermon addressed to 2,000 nurses and health professionals in Westminster Abbey in London on Florence Nightingale's anniversary, The Very Reverend Dr John Hall, Dean of Westminster, argued that spirituality was fundamental to health care and to healing, that it was advanced by chaplains and should be embedded in the training of health professionals. He argued for spiritual leadership in the health service.
[May 2009]
Call for Papers on Health Care Chaplaincy
The Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy is inviting authors to submit scholarly articles based on original research, quality assurance/improvement studies, descriptions of programs and interventions, program/intervention evaluations, and literature reviews on topics pertinent to pastoral care and counseling in relation to physical and mental health. Scholarly articles on all relevant topics will be considered. Topics of particular interest for future issues include:
- Clinical Pastoral Education – Training, Evaluation, Outcomes
- Defining and Contrasting Spiritual and Pastoral Care
- Measuring Patients Spiritual and Emotional Needs
- Outcome-Oriented Chaplaincy and Measuring Chaplain Effectiveness
- Spiritual Assessment and Interventions
- Spiritual Distress and Health Outcomes
- Standards of Practice and Best Practices
- The Chaplain as Part of the Interdisciplinary Team
Authors are encouraged to submit articles having some empirical basis that describe completed or on-going projects, programs, and research. Full-length and brief reports of empirical research (including pilot studies) are especially encouraged. All articles will be peer-reviewed.
The Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy is an independent journal established in 1987 to promote professional chaplaincy through research and scholarship. It has a worldwide readership and is indexed on Medline. The current publisher is Taylor & Francis, Philadelphia . The journal is not affiliated with HealthCare Chaplaincy, New York . Guidelines for submitting manuscripts can be obtained from the Editor-in-Chief, Kevin J. Flannelly, Ph.D., at kflannelly@healthcarechplaincy.org . The guidelines and other information about the journal also can be obtained at www.informaworld.com/WHCC .
[May 2009]
Co-ordinator signs Appeal to End Stigma and Discrimination against People Affected by Leprosy
At the invitation of the Nippon Foundation, the Coordinator of the European Network of Health Care Chaplaincy, Rev. Dr. Stavros Kofinas, was asked to sign the 2009 Global . Also signing the appeal were many renowned world religious leaders. You can read more about the Nappon Foundation Global Appeal at http://www.nippon-foundation.or.jp/eng/20090126GlobalAppeal2009.html .
See the the 2009 Global Appeal document and those who signed it.
The 2009 Global Appeal was launched a special ceremony that took place in London. Representing Fr. Stavros, on behalf of the EHNCC, was Fr. Edward Lewis. The message sent by the Coordinator of the ENHCC to the Global Appeal was:
“Christ's encounter with those that suffered from leprosy demonstrated that that realm of human suffering had to be bridged amongst us all. There is always a parallel between the exclusion of those that suffer physical illness with those that are excluded because their spiritual weaknesses. This Global Appeal is a true effort in bridging the gap between us all, reminding us that we all suffer, physically and spiritually, in a common way and that we all can and must minister to one another in common love.”
http://www.nippon-foundation.or.jp/eng/press/20090126GlobalAppeal.html
[April 2009]
Interfaith Spiritual Care - Understandings and Practices
On April the 17th this book, "Interfaith Spiritual Care - Understandings and Practices" (Daniel S. Schipani and Leah Dawn Bueckert, editors) will be presented at the Descartes Center Bolognalaan 48, UMC Utrecht The Netherlands) from 2.30 pm till 4.30 pm. - followed by a reception.
[April 2009]
New Year Message from Father Adamantios Avgoustidis, president of ECPCC
Anne Vandenhoeck writes: Please go to our website www.ecpcc.info to find the new years message of our president Father Adamantios Avgoustidis and more information about the confernce in Leuven in August.
[January 2009]
Report on Palliative Care for 2008 in the Ukraine issued
[January 2009]
Pope Benedict XVI on Organ Donation: "A Unique Testimony of Charity"
Here is the address Benedict XVI gave upon receiving in audience participants in the international congress "A Gift for Life. Considerations on Organ Donation."
The congress, held in Rome in November 2008, was sponsored by the Pontifical Academy for Life, the International Federation of Catholic Medical Associations, and the Italian National Transplant Center .
[November 2008]
Council of European Union conclusions on responsible nanosciences and nanotechnologies research (Oct 09)
1st International Conference for Pastoral Health Care of the
Ecumenical Patriarchate
Fr Stavros at the opening ceremony
Upon decision of the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate,
the first “International Conference for Pastoral Health Care of the
Ecumenical Patriarchate” washeld in Rhodes,
Greece, between the 8th and the 12th of October 2008. President of the
Coordinating Committee was His Eminence, Kyrillos, Metropolitan of
Rhodes. There were one hundred seventy participants.
Fr Stavros played a major part in the organisation of this very successful gathering. Other participants ENHCC present were Rev Fred Coutts, Fr Edward Lewis and Fr Adamantios Avgousidis.
Concluding thoughts from the Conference
Programme, Papers and Photographs
[October 2008]
Anne Vandenhoeck Addressed a Conference for French Speaking Chaplains
Anne Vandenhoeck spoke about ENHCC during the conference of the French speaking chaplains (both from Belgium and France) in Brussels on 24 October
The title of the conference was: Journées de l'aumônerie francophone. Reflexions sur la mort a l'usage des vivants. The conference was organized by La Commission francophone de l'aumônerie des hôpitaux, maisons de repos et de soins du CACPE et l'association Medico-sociale protestante.
[October 2008]
Jo Sharader Resigns as Executive Director of the Association of Professional Chaplains
The Board of Directors of the Association of Professional Chaplains concluded its Fall Meeting on Monday, September 22. During the meeting the Board of Directors, in mutual agreement with Josephine N. Schrader, accepted her resignation as Executive Director of the Association of Professional Chaplains effective October 31, 2008.
Jo moves on to pursue other opportunities after completing fifteen years of service. The leadership of the APC acknowledges and recognizes the many achievements, contributions and accomplishments to the College of Chaplains, the Association of Mental Health Clergy and to the APC during Jo's tenure.
Jo is well know to participant in the European Network of Healthcare Chaplain, having participated in our consultations in Lisobon and Tartu, Estonia.
Fr Stavros and Jo Schraden at Lisbon Consusltation
[October 2008]
MEMORIAL SERVICE AFTER SHOOTING TRAGEDY IN FINLAND
After the shooting tragedy in Kauhajoki, Finland, when a student killed 10 people, the parish of Kauhajoki organized a memorial worship service in Kauhajoki Church.The Service was broadcast on Finnish Television.
The service will be conducted by the Minister of Kauhajoki Church, Jouko Ala-Prinkkilä, and the sermon given by the Bishop of the Diocese of Lapua, Simo Peura. Other contributors in the service are Minister for Health and Social Services Paula Risikko, Mayor of Kauhajoki Antti Rantakokko, Chairman of the City Council of Kauhajoki Lasse Hautala, the Principle of Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences Tapio Varmola and students Heli Hallivuori and Laura Pakkala from the Kauhajoki School of Hospitality.
The President and members of the Finnish government will take part in the service.
BBC News report of the tragedy
Sermon at Kauhajoki by Bishop Simo Peura 28.9.08
[September 2008]
Chaplains Conference in Switzerland
The Catholic Association of German speaking Switzerland met for a conference in September with the theme: 'An Easterly word, and Easterly gesture'. The meeting focusedon the religious dimension in our encounters, in our speaking and listening, the spiritual care dimension in our being with patients and introduced a self-evaluation paper to reflect on this dimension.
Fr Stavros sends greetings from the Network to the Conference
[September 2009]
EU plans cross-border healthcare
The European Network of Health Care Chaplaincy took part in a special “dialogue seminar” in October of 2006 concerning the “Community action on health services” . The Seminar was jointly organized by the EU, CEC, the COMESE and Eurodiaconia. At this meeting, there were representatives from different faith-group organizations who heard EU officials talk about the developments of health services in light of the EU policy on commodity and trade.
The following news item published by BBC is related to the discussion at this meeting. It states that the boundaries of national health care services are changing in light of a consolidated European Union. We, as chaplains, must see what this means for us. For sure, it means that we need to cooperate with one another so as to minister to those that will be traveling to find therapy abroad and even more for those that will leave their home lands to serve in other medical systems.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7484198.stm
[July 2008]
Annual Conference of Finish Hospital Chaplains
The Conference of Finnish Hospital Chaplains was held in Espoo, Finland, August 26 – 28 with the theme, Bridge over troubled water. Main lectures were held with themes, “Are we foreigners or straingers?” , “Who makes the decisions in heath care?”, “The theology of human body” , “Bridge over depression”.
Professional discussion groups had themes of psychiatry, dementia, pastoral care for cancer patients, pastoral care in crisis situations. The conference had 90 participants.
Fr Stavros sends greetings from the Network to the Conference
[August 2008]
A Pastoral letter from the Bishops of the Church of Sweden about HIV from a global perspective
The Swedish bishops' conference has published “A Pastoral letter from the Bishops of the Church of Sweden about HIV from a global perspective” translated into three different languages, English, Spanish and French. It is giving a theological, ethical and pastoral perspective on HIV. The letter is free to be distributed, used and copied. The letter could also be found in different languages on the website www.svenskakyrkan.se/biskopsmotet
[June 2008]
Fr Stavros writes about the Network in Plain Views
Here is the link to the article about the Network:
http://www.plainviews.org/v5n4/a.html
March 2008
Hospital chaplains' chief honoured by appointment as Chaplain to Her Majesty The Queen
The Revd Edward Lewis, chief executive of the Hospital Chaplaincies Council, has been appointed as a chaplain to Her Majesty The Queen , Buckingham Palace announced on Friday (1st February).
In his ‘day job', Fr Lewis supports the work of Anglican healthcare chaplains by co-ordinating training and information sharing between the network of 425 full-time and 3,000 part-time chaplains currently serving in the UK (325 of the full-time and 1,700 of the part-time chaplains are Anglican). He also serves as an honorary chief officer for the Multi-Faith Group for Healthcare Chaplaincy , and sits on the committee of the European Network for Healthcare Chaplaincy .
The honorary appointment will add Fr Lewis to the 36 members of the College of Chaplains, which forms part of The Queen's Ecclesiastical Household. Each of the chaplains preach once a year in the Chapel Royal, in St James' Palace, London, and also join a rota of chaplains who are available to Her Majesty at any time.
The Chair of the Hospital Chaplaincies Council and Bishop of Gloucester, the Rt Revd Michael Perham, says: “This is not only a great honour for Edward personally, but represents something of the value that people place on hospital and other healthcare chaplains. Edward is a tireless advocate for the immensely important work they do, night and day, across the country.
“While nobody enters ordained ministry for prestige, it must be said that healthcare chaplains can face particularly unglamorous tasks, and have recently been faced with the added challenge of fears of cuts to their funding. I know that I will speak for many such chaplains as I welcome this appointment in the knowledge that Edward's honour is an endorsement of his colleagues' work.”
It is understood to be the first time for twenty-five years that a priest has been honoured in this way while working as a member of staff at the national Church institutions.
Fr Lewis - who also serves as a visiting lecturer at St Mary's University College, Twickenham, as a Priest Vicar at Westminster Abbey and a Justice of the Peace - is joined by two other ordained ministers in the Church of England who have recently been appointed as chaplains to Her Majesty the Queen.
They are the Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Chair of the Church of England's Committee for Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns and vicar of Holy Trinity, Dalston, East London; and Canon Andrew Clitherow, priest-in-charge of St Cuthbert's, Lytham, and an honorary canon of Blackburn Cathedral.
Welcoming Fr Lewis' honour, the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Revd Christopher Herbert, comments: “As a priest who lives and regularly officiates in this diocese, Edward's appointment to this prestigious role is a source of great joy for all of us connected to the Church in Bedfordshire, Luton, Hertfordshire and Barnet.”
Fr Stavros Kofinas, Co-ordinator of the European Network of Healthcare Chaplains, adds: “Edward's contribution to the European Network's understanding of the healthcare scene in the UK has been significant, and his European colleagues will be delighted to congratulate him upon this honour. As we continue to learn from each other and share good practice in ministering to those going through dark times in their lives, this news will be a real boost to the morale and profile of those participating in the Network representing healthcare chaplains across Europe”.
[February 2008]
Request for research articlesWe have received an invitation from the National Assocation of Catholic Chaplains in the USA to share research information.Dear Sister and Brother Chaplains
European Network of Healthcare Chaplaincy
Greetings:
We at the NACC are committed to sharing Chaplaincy-related research: to give each-other material for reflection and to report on interesting and useful developments in chaplaincy.
Research is not removed from a chaplain's bedside work of listening and comforting. More work is emerging from the field of chaplaincy — work showing systematically what we all know anecdotally, that chaplains offer a real, tangible benefit to the patients and families they serve.
Chaplaincy research may be an original study by a working chaplain, being published for the first time; or it may be a summary of valuable work published in professional journals. It is an unfortunate fact that studies are not always presented in a particularly user-friendly format, but our goal is to provide an article that will be applicable on the hospital floor.
If you are interested in using Vision to present the results of your own work to your American peers, or if you have seen work printed elsewhere that would deserve a wider audience, please contact for more information to Chaplain Paul Buche:
Research Section Editor
Vision – The Newsletter of the National Association of Catholic Chaplains paul_buche@valleymed.org[February 2008]