Oct. 15 through 17 Clergy Conference Highlights Pediatric Patients’ Spiritual Growth

While caring volunteers played Candyland with tots, rocked infants and read storybooks to Texas Children’s Hospital patients, a handful of insightful volunteers made a 2001 dream of the Auxiliary to Texas Children’s Hospital come true. The dedicated individuals planned the inaugural Symposium for Clergy, “Experience the Journey: the Clergy’s Faith Walk with a Child,” designed to enhance the ability of clergy to minister to the unique spiritual needs of hospitalized children and adolescents, regardless of their faith.

The auxiliary responded to an increased awareness of the spiritual side of healing when it decided to sponsor a national conference to address the importance of the chaplain’s role in ministering to children.

Led by volunteers Betty Lunsford, Laura Moorman, Jean Chapman and Dan Lynch, the auxiliary hoped to convey to clergy a better understanding of a hospitalized child’s need for appropriate spiritual support.

The first event was a resounding success, attracting registrants from 23 states and the District of Columbia, attesting to the hunger for such a program. Registrant evaluations praised the program and begged for more.

Because the need is evident, the auxiliary decided to continue the biannual educational event, again under Lunsford’s leadership this year.

“Recent national studies report a link between spiritual support of hospitalized children and their recovery rate, which is speedier, with better outcomes, and with need for fewer pain medications,” Lunsford said. “Enhancing the skills of chaplains and community clergy in ministering to hospitalized children directly benefits young patients.”

The auxiliary has long supported education of pediatric residents, pediatric fellows and other health care professionals, with more than $1.6 million invested in pediatric fellowships through the years.

“We have the resources to provide active support for many needs of hospitalized children, and we believe that this is an area in which we can make a significant contribution,” said Jackie Crowley, committee member and volunteer lay chaplain.

Volunteers plan and implement the entire symposium, with minimal staff support. For the first symposium, a nationally recognized faculty of clergy, physicians, professors, nurses and other pediatric specialists were recruited.

This year’s symposium, scheduled for Oct. 15 through 17, focuses on critically and terminally ill children and their siblings’ need for spiritual support, the needs of spiritual caregivers and health care providers, and ministering to a wide range of faiths and cultures.

“Helping chaplains better understand children’s spiritual needs and how to work more effectively in their hospital environment will ensure that children gain the benefit of effective spiritual support as they battle an illness,” Crowley said.

The Association of Professional Chaplains and the Institute of Religion has granted continuing education units to those who participated in 2001, and are expected to do so again this year.

“Having a select group with pediatric experience speaking in a forum is a rare opportunity,” Lunsford said. “More than ever, in 2003 our children need our understanding and support as they travel the road through illness and disability.”

“This year’s symposium, ‘Experience the Journey: Farther Down the Road’, promises new insights, personal spiritual growth, mutual support and the joy of being with others who share the same passion,” Crowley said.

Auxiliary volunteers working with Lunsford and Crowley include Barbara Adams, Belinda Brouillette, Jean Chapman, Drucie Cole, Lisa Groten-Born, Lee Mueller, John Parris and Bobbie Therrien.

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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