Taking Stock and Looking Forward with Hope
by Susan K. Wintz BCC
 
As I sit down to write this column, six months - one quarter - of my term as president has gone by. It would be an understatement to say that these past months have not been at all what I expected they would be. The transition of executive leadership, the SCC Summit occurring a few short weeks into the term with its accompanying anxiety for success, and the national economic downfall have all been challenges. Through it all, it remains an honor and a pleasure to serve you, the members, my colleagues in professional chaplaincy.
 
At this six-month mark, it seems appropriate to take stock of where we are as an association, where we are headed, and what we need to do to get there.
 
The first thing we need to recognize is the emotional roller coaster that we have experienced as an organization, as its members, and as individuals. We have felt loss, grief, uncertainty, anger and anxiety. As chaplains, no matter our setting, we are familiar with these emotions because we sit with them every day as we care for those who are seeking meaning from their experiences. All of us know the importance of identifying these emotions, attending to them, and yet not allowing them to determine who we are, the choices we make or who we will become. Especially in this time of economic insecurity, my hope is that we can acknowledge these emotions and, while honoring them, also live with hope and purpose.
 
While it may be difficult to find hope in the current economic climate, the board is working hard to be good stewards of our resources. As you are aware, the impact of the economy on APC investments has been of concern. This is not unique, as both non- and for-profit organizations, as well as all of us who have investments or pension plans, are experiencing the same sense of anxiety. While budget cuts are never something anyone wants to do, the board has had to make some very difficult decisions in order to safeguard APC. Know that these decisions have not been made lightly, but with a commitment to maintain the core mission and services of the association. It is imperative for us to secure the financial foundation of APC in the midst of the challenging national economy, and we are.
 
In 2005, we entered into an ambitious business plan designed to grow the organization into a higher level of professional functioning. Since its inception, APC has relied upon membership dues to fund its work. As our organization grew and the services provided to our membership expanded, it became clear that APC would need to seek non-dues sources of revenue. The business plan was designed to expand these efforts - including publications and marketing materials, education opportunities and fund development. While there have been successes along the way, that business plan did not reach its full potential.
 
In 2008, the board began work on a new strategic plan, since the 2003 plan met its identified milestones. That work continues, with opportunities being identified to enlist your participation to identify the goals as we look at the next five years and beyond.
 
The board of directors has increased its use of electronic and other means to accomplish its work. Additionally, we identified that an important part of our future is to support a leadership plan that looks beyond a single president's term. With that in mind, a partnership has been created between the president and president-elect that focuses on a four-year leadership plan, which we believe will bring a more fluid vision and sustainability to APC.
 
The board's emphasis on electronic communication has also resulted in a significant increase over the past six months in how information is communicated to you, particularly through the Web site and e-mail. Many new resources have been placed on the Web site. The Members Only section contains updates including current financial reports, board actions and other useful information for you. Plans are underway to consider how the Discussion Forum might be updated and reformatted to become a place where you can connect with each other and share resources regarding your specialty settings. The dedicated e-mail future@professionalchaplains.org has enabled the board to receive feedback directly from you and to respond quickly. In addition, APC e-News has provided you with more information in a more timely fashion and, with no negative impact on the budget.
 
The search committee for hiring a new executive has been appointed, and has a process and deadlines in place. The committee members represent a wide diversity of skills, experience and backgrounds. They are working with enthusiasm and commitment to find leadership to guide us and our extraordinary national staff. To support this important endeavor, the board is also approving a change in the position description of the president. Up until now, the president has had the title of CEO. That will change with the hiring of our new executive, who will be the CEO. As part of the process of hiring new paid leadership, the board and national staff are actively engaged in the preparations needed to welcome this new executive.
 
A new chair of the Development Committee, Clarke Mundhenke BCC, has been appointed. He and his committee have begun their work, including adding new members and identifying new goals to increase our non-dues revenue.
 
An Inclusiveness Task Force has been appointed to explore ways in which our association can continue to reach out to and serve all our members in the midst of our diversity of cultural, religious, theological and spiritual worldviews. This task force will help us develop fuller awareness within the association of how to meet the various diversity needs that arise at the annual conference. Food served, worship, entertainment opportunities, and religious celebrations or holy days within the same timeframe will be addressed, as well as looking at our publications and other communications to see how we can ensure that we are intentionally inclusive.
 
The Standards of Practice Work Group's project of SOPs for chaplains serving in acute hospital settings is on the Web site and, with input from our members, is nearly complete for publication in the fall issue of Chaplaincy Today. This issue will also include responses from non-chaplain professionals. The Commission on Quality in Pastoral Services invites and encourages chaplains who serve in other settings to step forward and become part of additional workgroups to develop SOPs for other specialty areas. For example, a work group is now being established to focus on long term care. To join this work group or to start a new one, e-mail sop@professionalchaplains.org.
 
The planning committee for the 2010 conference, to be held in Schaumburg, IL, is creating an opportunity for education and networking in keeping with the theme of "Professional Chaplaincy: Reaching New Heights."  In addition, the national staff and leadership are exploring ways we can bring our members more educational opportunities throughout the year that are meaningful, accessible and affordable, including Web-based learning.
 
With all that is before us, it is not surprising that we have each felt a number of emotions. Changes and challenges can be difficult. They can also be opportunities that are exhilarating and full of promise. There is no doubt that before us lies much work, continued need for communication, and the need to step out with hope in what lies ahead.
 
We are blessed with a national staff, a board of directors and dozens of others in leadership positions who dedicate their time and talent to the association and its mission. The tasks before us would not be possible without the wisdom and commitment that each leader and each member brings.
 
The past six months have gone by quickly. I confess that there are times when I've felt overwhelmed by the challenges and their accompanying emotions. At the same time I see and experience clearly the successes to acknowledge, the opportunities to engage, and the relationships to celebrate. There is much that awaits APC as we serve you and lead the profession. Please keep us in prayer as we continue on our way.
 
Rev. Susan K. Wintz MDiv BCC is the president of APC. She serves as staff chaplain at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ and may be contacted at sue.wintz@chw.edu.

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• To bring key spiritual care/chaplaincy leaders and faith groups/organizations who advocate for health care reform together to share interests, activities and strategies.
• To collaborate on strategies that will mobilize local, state, regional and national resources to continue to articulate the need for health care reform, and to give input to and to monitor proposed legislation at the national level.

1. Funding: There is a need to keep three factors balanced: insurance reform, individual responsibility to purchase health insurance and subsidies to make insurance affordable.
2. Reform of the delivery system: This includes payment reform, rewarding outcomes rather than intensity, incentivizing primary care, developing health information technology and conducting comparative effectiveness research with more health care transparency, such as report cards on hospitals and physicians.
3. Prevention and wellness: There is a need to provide new clinical services and to pay for prevention programs in schools, workplaces, etc.
4. Long-term support and services: New mechanisms are needed to provide support to adults so that they live independently longer.

The big problem with all this: How are we going to pay for it? There is a commitment to a balanced budget - at least one that is balanced over time.
 
The good news is that there is much cooperation between the Democrats on applicable committees in looking at all these issues. This was not the case when the Clinton health reforms were being developed. The bad news is that there also are sizeable objections from members of both parties to the whole idea of reform and to particular parts of the plan. For example, Rush Limbaugh strongly opposes comparative effectiveness research, which he sees as the government telling physicians what to do.
 
The group questioned McDonough on topics ranging from end-of-life issues through the need for a new sense of mission in health care to the injustice of health care disparities. Many specific and concrete points were raised. This was not a meeting in which it was appropriate to lobby specifically for one's own profession.
 
I left feeling once again impressed by the quality of the people who serve in our government. McDonough clearly knows his topic. He can articulate both sides of the issues and trace the history of their development. He could also discuss in a very concrete way the politics involved.
 
McDonough's bottom line message was: If you support health care reform, help sustain public support for reform.
 
Following McDonough, the group had dinner and shared how each of our organizations is working to support reform. I experienced some real differences here. The policy groups are into community organizing and high-level policy discussions. The pastoral care groups are more focused on individual care, the support of spiritual care initiatives and the humanizing of our particular institutions. I was grateful that Teresa Snorton lifted up this difference, and I affirmed her comments on this issue. I also mentioned that we have had a few plenary speakers at national conferences who talked about policies, such as the president of the American Medical Association. I also noted that our connections with Joint Commission and other health care related groups constitute some focus on reform. I further noted that the competencies of APC board certified chaplains include "concern for justice" and that the ACPE Level I/Level II outcomes include concern for "prophetic ministry." In fact, as I described APC and our requirements for board certification - academic preparation, clinical education, faith group endorsement, papers demonstrating competency in specific skills and knowledge, and committee appearances - I was aware that people from other groups were surprised by the rigor of our process. Once again, I learned that it is never good to assume that people know who you are as a chaplain.
 
Following this sharing, we turned to the future and the question of what we can do. We determined that the best we can do is to find ways to speak out and to support reform. The one concrete action that emerged was support for the Interfaith Service of Witness and Prayer on June 24 at Freedom Plaza in Washington, DC. This will be held from 4-8 p.m. The purpose of this service is to give visible witness to faith group support for health care reform. It is also a chance to pray for the members of Congress and to ask for guidance for everyone.
 
We agreed to support this by encouraging people to attend. Personally, I have talked with my supervisory staff about including participation in this event as part of the curriculum for Summer Level I Clinical Pastoral Education students and for our residency.
 
I have to say that, when I went to Washington, I was anticipating a rather dull meeting. I was mostly looking forward to walking across the national mall and seeing the Capitol - always an inspiring site, especially during cherry blossom season. I left the meeting excited by the prospect of interfaith cooperation, cooperation between policy-focused people of faith and pastoral care focused people of faith, and by the professionalism of those who gathered. It was an inspiring meeting.
 
Dr. Richard B. Haines DMin BCC, treasurer of APC, is the director of Chaplaincy Services at the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville, VA. He may be contacted at rbh3b@virginia.edu.