Nuturing souls : a comprehensive examination of Lutheran spiritual care training for LCMS church workers in the 21st century

Heller, Brian Richard

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Nuturing souls : a comprehensive examination of Lutheran spiritual care training for LCMS church workers in the 21st century

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MLA citation style (9th ed.)

Heller, Brian Richard. Nuturing Souls : a Comprehensive Examination of Lutheran Spiritual Care Training for Lcms Church Workers In the 21st Century. rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/5c67a745-577e-4825-8375-2a5bd7c77415.

APA citation style (7th ed.)

H. B. Richard. Nuturing souls : a comprehensive examination of Lutheran spiritual care training for LCMS church workers in the 21st century. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/5c67a745-577e-4825-8375-2a5bd7c77415

Chicago citation style (CMOS 17, author-date)

Heller, Brian Richard. Nuturing Souls : a Comprehensive Examination of Lutheran Spiritual Care Training for Lcms Church Workers In the 21st Century. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/5c67a745-577e-4825-8375-2a5bd7c77415.

Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.

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Heller, Brian Richard

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Abstract

Spiritual caregiving is an integral part of the training of all professional church workers. At this time, there is no formal, practical, and soundly Lutheran practical spiritual care training required for professional church workers and church worker students to serve in chaplaincy roles at institutional settings. Prospective candidates must acquire that training elsewhere. The most common roadmap for serving as in a chaplaincy role begins with the professional church worker completing a minimum of one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). However, in recent years, CPE has shifted its stance on certain social issues that run counter to the theology of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). For example, the organizational body that administers CPE programs, The Association of Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE), supported the formation of “a one-of-a-kind chaplaincy education unit, Spiritual Care of LGBT elders.” This is but one of many possible environments where the LCMS is required to send her church workers for formal institutional spiritual care training. Additionally, CPE does not train students in the art of Lutheran spiritual care, which is rooted in Word and Sacrament ministry. Therefore, what is lacking for LCMS professional church workers is a rigorous, formal education program that intertwines Lutheran theology with spiritual care and allowing the students to be faithful in their confession. Lutheran Senior Services (LSS) is a recognized service organization (RSO) of the LCMS and, in 2022, employed fifteen chaplains, the majority of whom are LCMS. Historically, LSS has hosted CPE programs, but presently is unable continue this endeavor due to their previous CPE educator taking a call elsewhere. Ultimately, the training program described in this dissertation was designed for seminary students who aspire to serve in institutional chaplaincy roles and to be administered at LSS’s flagship campus, Laclede Groves. Using a variety of methods to ascertain feedback, the goal of this program is to increase the practical spiritual care competencies of all participants. Not only does increased spiritual care expertise benefit the participants themselves, but it serves the church at large. Whether they are hospitalized, imprisoned, or admitted to a senior living community, residents, clients, and patients can be assured that church workers who have participated in this program will be able to provide excellent spiritual care, deeply rooted in the art of Lutheran spiritual care, for them and their families.

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