Part of the body

Recently I enjoyed fellowship with representatives of another part of the body of Christ. The extent and complexity of Christ's body are truly remarkable. It is a continuing source of pleasure and growth for me to become more aware of the function of the various parts that make up the Seventh-day Adventist body of Christ. Of course, it may seem confusing at times to attempt to encompass all the activities of this body. The titles, offices, bulletins, statistics, job descriptions, materials, et cetera, employed by these different parts of the body would quite consume the full-time attention (and more) if an individual tries to keep up with them all! I readily admit that some activities might be categorized as excessive organs or nonessential appendages draining funds and energy from the body. May leadership have not only deep spiritual insights regarding which parts are unimportant but sufficient courage to do something about them. Operations on the body are occasionally needed in order for it to maintain a healthy, active role in society.

Yet most of us, I believe, do not appreciate sufficiently the divinely ordained diversity of the essential parts comprising the great Advent body. We are prone to limit our concern and sympathy to the one or two we think essential.

During my public evangelistic years (I hope they are not over yet), my vision was narrowed to virtually one thing—public evangelism! I looked upon departmental representatives with pity; even the conference president seemed merely a necessary evil. My public evangelist peers were the only ones worth their salt! The one thing a public evangelist is after—souls—is still top priority in my book. And although I still believe we need more of these men in our work, I have progressed in my thinking until I am ready to admit we just might be a wee bit lopsided if everyone were engaged in full-time public evangelism. Could the body stand it? What a nervous breakdown we might have!

Paul emphasized the needed diversity: "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men" (1 Cor. 12:4-6, N.I.V.).* So let diversity reign, but in unity. Let the parts remain parts, but at the same time respect one another and work together. The English poet Alexander Pope expressed it uniquely in words from "Windsor Forest":

"Not chaos-like together crush'd and bruis'd,

But as the world, harmoniously confus'd:

Where order in variety we see,

And where, tho' all things differ, all agree."

With that lengthy introduction, I will proceed directly to my subject—"Hospital Chaplains." The annual Seventh-day Adventist Hospital Chaplains Association met at the end of February in San Antonio, Texas, and I was able to meet with them. As usual, their meeting was held in conjunction with the Protestant Health and Welfare Assembly. Of the 115 members of the Adventist Hospital Chaplains Association, 52 (plus spouses) were in attendance at the annual meeting, making it the largest such gathering in the history of the association. The entire Protestant Health and Welfare Assembly was attended by approximately 450 participants. This was my fourth and best visit with this group. I came away spiritually strengthened and with a deeper appreciation for the dedication of these men and women.

Al Brendel, from Kettering Medical Center, and president of the church's Hospital Chaplains Association, welcomed us to the opening meeting on Friday evening. Al has a special quality about him that creates an atmosphere of warmth and love. I don't think he has ever met a stranger! I remember meeting Al for the first time, in the summer of 1942. He and an associate were experimenting with their first evangelistic tent meeting, and I was being introduced to the literature evangelism work. All of us were staying at Pastor and Mrs. R. H. Hartwell's home in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Following Al's welcome, we were introduced to an "agape meal" composed of delicious fruit and crackers. This was followed by love and praise expressed in a delightful testimony meeting led by Darrell Nicola, from Kettering. During this time of fellowship a number of our chaplains renewed their commitment to their unique ministry.

On Sabbath morning Frances Osborne, from Huguley Memorial Hospital, spoke on "A Personal Journey of Faith and Healing." Frances, afflicted with deadly cancer, gave expression to her faith in God's power to heal. Although frail and in a wheelchair, her unquestioned belief that God would heal her challenged the faith of the strongest who were present. Frances has "burned" her medical-treatment bridges. She told of the letter she received from her chemotherapy specialist after her decision to stop treatment, making it clear that the physician would not accept responsibility for this action. It took double courage for Frances to make this decision—courage to face the future with out medical treatment, and courage to break with the near-coercive influence of a specialist. Her hour-long testimony, saturated with Bible promises, concluded with a question-and-answer session. Although some of us could not fully plumb the depths of her faith, none of us wishes anything less for her than total healing. After hearing her confession of belief in God's power to heal, I joined in my heart the father who cried to Jesus, '"I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief" (Mark 9:24, N.I.V.).

Dr. Ed Turner, from the Department of Church Ministry at the Andrews University Seminary, led out in a sermon and discussion on the topic "Strategy for Pastoral Care." Ed gave a powerful and effective twenty-five-minute sermon on this subject. His short message surprised us, but he explained, "I teach the boys at the Seminary to keep their messages short, and I must practice what I preach!" He did! The same theme was made practical in the afternoon through visual aids and discussion groups. In the brainstorming session I was made aware of the fact that all of us need to search the Scriptures more carefully on the nature of man.

Sunday morning I led out in a study and discussion on "Issues in Adventism." An attempt was made to update our chaplains on the current theological discussions within Adventism. In order for the church to maintain a healthy experience, ministers and laymen alike need to know what the issues are so that intelligent decisions can be made. Nothing is gained but distrust if we try to sweep such theological topics under the rug. Fortunately we have leadership that is open and frank about the issues.

At this meeting Walt Marshall, of Kettering Medical Center, received his certification from the College of Chaplains of the American Protestant Hospital Association. Recipients must complete a mini mum of four quarters of a clinical pastoral education program (CPE) and appear before a committee. The newly elected association president, Jerry Davis, of Lorna Linda Medical Center, presented Walt with his certificate. We all joined in congratulating him for this achievement. Walt confided while taking me to the airport several months ago that he wished that he had taken this training years ago. He had come to grips with a deeper understanding of himself and had gained true Christian self-worth. Walt is doing an excellent job and following up interests developed through the Kettering Medical Center.

During the week other meetings were held that I was unable to attend, but that weekend experience was a precious enlightening and refreshing time for me. I salute the men and women who are on the front lines ministering to the wounded and the hurting in our hospitals. Theirs is a very special work, and the week I spent at Kettering Medical Center some years ago trying to walk in the footsteps of the chaplains taught me the necessity of relating properly to people under all circumstances. How do you relate to the wife and children of a husband and father who has just died in the emergency room from a car accident? What do you say or not say to a mother whose future has been blasted by a dread disease unless God intervenes? What do you do for the person who has fear and timidity written all over his face and in the morning goes under the surgeon's knife? Remember that the vast majority of the people our chaplains serve are totally unknown to them. To develop the precious skill of being comfortable with strangers under the most stressful conditions and in a very limited time requires a degree of self-worth that is needed by every minister. I wish that all our Seminary students could have the privilege of gaining these skills under the direction of dedicated chaplain instructors.

Our hospital chaplains are a most important and indispensable organ of the church body. I have nothing but respect and appreciation for the contribution they are making to the success of the church's mission. —J.R.S.