CAPTION: The authors say healthcare chaplaincy demands "a quiet presence that is not anxious or feverish"
Plymouth Healthcare Chaplains Share Their Experiences in New Book
A new book has been published by Sacha Pearce and Jan Collis, both long serving hospital chaplains at Derriford Hospital.
Their book Creating Space: Story, Reflection and Practice explores the ministry and professional role of healthcare chaplains.
The title is inspired by the authors’ desire to reflect on their ministry, develop their practise and share their story. The pair said, “This was the whole purpose of the book. It is a reflection which, in turn, documents and underlines our daily commitment to reflect on our work, our role as chaplains, our practice, and the way we work with our pastoral volunteers.”
The inspiration to write a book came from their passion for sharing their discoveries and their own experience of offering pastoral care. Both Sacha and Jan were former healthcare professionals before starting the journey to ordination.
Sacha Pearce has been a hospital chaplain for 13 years.
Sacha Pearce was a critical care nurse prior to beginning parish ministry and later began working as a hospital chaplain which he has continued for the past 13 years.
Jan Collis has been a hospital chaplain for 10 years, following a chaplaincy curacy and a previous career in psychology and psychotherapy. Both Sacha and Jan also continue to contribute to parish ministry.
Jan and Sacha describe their healthcare chaplain ministry as both pastoral and spiritual care; “being a listening ear, being alongside others” as well as inviting people to share their stories and to try to make sense of their situation.
They also offer faith input if requested.
Jan Collis has been a hospital chaplain for 10 years, following a chaplaincy curacy and a previous career in psychology and psychotherapy.
Creating Space has been written for professional practitioners, prompting their own contextual learning and development, whether as pastoral carers, parish clergy, lay ministers, volunteers, chaplains in any caring context, those who work in listening therapies, those who provide care and support to others of any kind, or those who use or teach reflective practice.
Sacha and Jan want readers to know that listening and being alongside others is key in chaplaincy. They said, “Vocation to chaplaincy is something to be valued, affirmed, and encouraged by the Church.
“Chaplaincy’s specialist skills should be sought and applied in situations outside of its own arena.”
For those wondering whether hospital chaplaincy is for them, Sacha and Jan share this advice, “Ask yourself whether you are a ‘doing’ person or a ‘being’ person because ‘being with’ is the most important part of chaplaincy.
“Healthcare chaplaincy demands a quiet presence that is not anxious or feverish; it needs good listeners who do not bring any agenda to a pastoral encounter other than being present.
“Having shared our discoveries, we hope that this book will also encourage others to reflect on their context, their story and find their own discoveries and developments.”
Creating Space: The Pastoral Encounter training course
The Creating Space training course is one of the Grow courses provided the Diocese of Exeter, and will next run in Spring 2023. It is run by the Chaplaincy Team, including Jan and Sacha, at Derriford Hospital.
The course costs £50 for five two-hour Zoom sessions, and a training certificate will be given on full completion of the course. One of the participants from a previous group said that “Creating Space: The Pastoral Encounter was enjoyable, interesting, well put together, built confidence and provides transferable life-skills in the art of how to listen well, to provide a safe space and time for the other person to fill in a manner of their choosing.”
To sign up for Creating Space: The Pastoral Encounter or for further information, please email derriford.chaplaincy@nhs.net.
Creating Space: Story, Reflection and Practice is available online here or on Amazon.