A Different Way – part 1

A New Era in Spirituality

Western Identity• Cult of individualism• Corporate profitability• Unmanageable political systems• Decline in religiosity

The Spiritual Revolution• Integration –

body, mind, spirit• Psychological health• Ecological integrity• Sense of community

Scripture

Today’s reality

Between 1985 and 2004, Canadians aged 15 and older reporting no religious affiliation increased by seven percentage points from 12% to 19%.General Social Survey (GSS) and the 2002 Ethnic Diversity Survey (EDS).

Stats Canada 2002

USA and Europe

A new survey in the U.S. shows that the number of 18-25 year olds who are atheist, agnostic or nonreligious has increased from 11 percent in 1986 to 20 percent today .

Religious belief continues to plummet in Europe, with Italy being the only country with a majority believing in any form of God or supreme being.

(By MATT CHERRY, HumanistNetworkNews.org Jan. 24, 2007)

 

The United Church of Canada2010 Observer Survey…

• More than 1/3 say congregations are not financially healthy

• 46% say their church is shrinking• More than ½ do not expect to last

15 years• 24% give their congregations a 5

year life

“Fraser Health president Nigel Murray announced the cuts in a November 5th report, saying this “non-core service” (Spiritual Care) would be provided by “social workers and volunteers from faith communities”.

Spiritual Care has been devalued”… faith has been marginalized”….the Fraser Health decision is short sighted because it does not recognize the many contributions that faith groups have made to health care”. Hans Kowenburg, Abbotsford Spiritual Care Advisory Council Chair.

Spiritual Care BC Christian News December 2009, Vol29 #12

Changing Times David

Tacey“The widespread demise of religion throughout the educated countries of the world has brought with it a great impoverishment and aridity to the human soul…” pg.22

“The yearning for sacredness, spiritual meaning, security and personal engagement with the spirit are primary needs and longings of the contemporary world.” pg 20, The Spirituality Revolution, 2004

We are not human beings having a spiritual

experience, but spiritual beings

having a human experience.

Teilhard de Chardin

What We Believe…

Whew!

Jung…

A New Model of Spiritual Care

The Question… how to create within UHN a Spiritual Care Department that is integrated and meaningful?

1. Based on Spirituality

What doesspirituality mean to you?

Spirituality defined…

…an awareness of relationships with all creation, an appreciation of presence and purpose that includes a sense of meaning. (Fitchett & Handzo, 1998).

2. Cultivating a Supportive Administration

Supportive AdministrationCorporate Services

Remembrance Day Service

Service of Remembrance…

1200 attendees annually

3. Reinforce Spirituality at Work Inter Professional Education

Six – 3.5 hoursessions focusing

onSpirituality

for all staff

4. Providing effective clinical work

Spiritual Care Staff are assigned to specific clinical units

Participate fully in interdisciplinary team (i.e. attend rounds, present at inter professional collaboration opportunities, crisis debriefing)

Involved in inter professional education

5. Elective in Spirituality for Medical Students

Second Year Medical Students

Shadowing of spiritual care professionals

across UHN

6. Relationship with Religious Community Leaders

The Downtown Toronto Healthcare Spiritual and Religious Forum serves as a link between the complementary roles of the downtown healthcare institutions and the local faith communities to assist in providing for the spiritual and religious needs for patients and their families.

7. Branding

8. Providing Spiritual Care to Staff

Our assumption:that staff see us working from a

faith-based model of care.

Therefore…we must change their

perception….HOW?

What Staff are saying about Spiritual Care

Conclusions

1. there is a different way – say YES!

2. Everyone is spiritual.

3. Integrate! Infiltrate!