ISB Atlanta Partners with Children's Healthcare & More!

Brenda K. Green, D. Min., BCC

Chaplaincy Coordinator, ACPE Supervisor

Born and raised in Savannah, Chaplain Brenda Green has been in Atlanta since 1990 when she became chaplaincy coordinator and Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) supervisor at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA). She has over ten years of experience training chaplaincy students and describes her work as a "wonderful process of learning by doing." She is proud of CHOA's "growing reputation as an excellent center for students who want to minister to children and their families in a clinical environment", adding that chaplaincy can be a transforming experience for the trainees.

Chaplain Green has a doctorate from Columbia Theological Seminary, has worked as a staff chaplain with children and adolescents at the Georgia Mental Health Institute, and has served as executive director of a shelter for battered women and children.

She and her husband, Gary, recently celebrated their thirty-fourth anniversary with their two children, Nate and Tiffany, their son-in-law, Wesley, and their three grand-dogs.

Zaynab Ansari spoke with Ms. Green about her work at Children's and her partnership with the ISB:

ZA: Chaplain Green, it's a pleasure to talk to you. The ISB has been a community resource for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Could you give our readers an idea of what the ISB has provided the Chaplaincy Department?

CG: We have utilized the ISB's expertise to help us identify the spiritual resources that Muslim families might need in the clinical environment. The ISB has helped us in both securing different resources and keeping them on hand. These resources include copies of the Qur'an, prayer rugs, prayer beads, and gift bags for our patients and families [story here]. We made sure that our chapels had resources available for Muslim prayer, such as lettering on all four walls showing the direction to Mecca [the qibla]. We also acknowledged Ramadan by placing Ramadan lanterns in the chapel as well as informational cards to educate staff and visitors at this important time in the Islamic calendar. If we have patients or staff persons that need to break fast, we have bottles of water and dates on hand for them. The ISB has been very supportive in meeting the emotional and spiritual needs of Muslim patients and families.

ZA: In recognizing the spiritual needs of Muslim patients and their families, Children's is continuing a long-standing practice of meeting the spiritual needs of patients from Atlanta's major faith traditions.

CG: I am very interested in interfaith conversation, in creating a space where everyone feels they have a place at the table. What seems to create the greatest stress is when people feel excluded. At Children's, we are all-inclusive. We celebrate Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah, Passover, Christmas, Easter, and Kwanzaa. At our new interfaith chapel, we try to make a place for as many spiritual traditions as possible by having Catholic, Jewish, Protestant, and now-Islamic-resources. Our new chapel feels welcoming to everyone and is a soothing place for solace and quiet.

ZA: What do you hope to achieve in the October 9 workshop? Why is it important for the Muslim community to be introduced to clinical pastoral education?

CG: Clinical pastoral education (CPE) is not tied to any tradition, although it did have its origins in the Christian community. We accept students of all faith traditions. We've had Eastern Orthodox and Jewish students, but no Muslims. We want to let religious leaders in the Muslim community know about opportunities for clinical pastoral education. Right now, we have limited resources in the Muslim community, although the ISB has done its best to meet our needs.

ZA: Chaplain Green, thank you so much.

CG: You're welcome!