Conversation with Bishop Anne: Synod Hospital Chaplains Reflect

““We’ve been doing this for a long time, and we’ve seen a lot of changes in healthcare. But we’ve never seen this.””

The Revs. Ted Lindquist (ThedaCare Medical Center in Appleton and Neenah), David Rumbold (Miravida Living, Oshkosh) and Karin Derenne (ThedaCare Home Hospice) are ELCA rostered leaders serving as healthcare chaplains. Ministry in a medical setting during the pandemic has been, and continues to be, challenging. At ThedaCare Medical Center, inpatient cases of Covid are rising. A crucial way to offer support and care to healthcare workers and decrease pressure on our healthcare systems is to receive the Covid-19 vaccine: it is free, safe, widely available, and greatly reduces the risk of serious illness, hospitalization and death.  Across the board for healthcare providers, critical shortages of staff across all departments means everyone working in a healthcare setting is spread thin, and has been going the extra mile for many, many miles. I asked the chaplains what they’d like ELCA folks who don’t work in healthcare settings to know, and they shared these reflections: 

“The world is short-staffed; be kind.” Rev. Lindquist says it shows up in ways you’ve heard about on the news but also ways you might not expect: trash doesn’t get collected as often, sometimes the cafeteria has to close, you may have to wait longer to get bloodwork done because there aren’t enough phlebotomists. “Assume the best,” said Rev. Rumbold. “Assume goodwill, and that we are all trying, we are stretching, we are doing our best.”     

“Celebrate our creativity.” Rev. Derenne noted that, in an exhausting and difficult time, chaplains and other healthcare workers have found renewal in finding creative ways to connect with and care for patients. “I have given a lot of communion through people’s windows,” she said. Having to find new ways to provide care, prayer and worship resources brought new meaning to many spiritual practices for the chaplains and the people they minister with and to. Covid-related death, loss, and the trauma of loneliness--experiencing the illness and death of patients in isolation--has also brought new urgency to the chaplains’ ministry. “The pandemic brought us to our knees,” said Rev. Rumbold. “We prayed. Prayer has become part of everything for us; staff invite us to pray before meetings in a way we never did before. It has changed us.”

“Come to listen. Be present. Bring the community of love with you.” Rev. Lindquist shared how struggles with patient loneliness during the pandemic have been different from other challenges they’ve faced in the past. Some hospitals and clinics allow visits from a patient’s congregation, others don’t (it’s best to check before you visit in person.) The chaplains all encouraged congregations and individuals to find creative and meaningful ways to reach out and connect with people who are in the hospital, in long-term care, or in hospice. There are opportunities for all of us to connect with and be the church to people who may be feeling very alone and disconnected from their faith and faith communities.

During a pastoral transition at her home congregation, Rev. Derenne served both in her healthcare ministry and as a supply pastor for her congregation. She reflected on that experience and what it revealed to her about Christian community in the pandemic. “The grief was so real, and of course it would come out sideways. So much of it came down to just people missing each other; we were in grief because we missed each other. On one hand we needed to be challenged to be our better selves, but on the other hand, we needed to be held, and honest about where we were: we weren’t our best selves. We were confused, angry and hurt. And we needed to walk together, to walk in the truth.” 

Let us pray: 

God, walk with us in truth and hold us together. We pray for an end to the pandemic and relief from the loneliness and loss it brings. Be with all who grieve and all who comfort the grieving. Be with all who are sick, all who care for the sick, and all who watch, wait and worry. Bring relief and resolution to unsustainable working conditions. Accompany Karin, David, Ted and all chaplains in their ministry to patients, families, and healthcare workers. Renew their spirits and their whole selves. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen. 

Bishop Anne Edison-Albright