Introduction to the Discipline for pastoral care giving

During the last eight years, the professional chaplains of Spiritual Care Services at Barnes-Jewish Hospital-Washington University Medical Center (BJH) have developed a discipline based, outcome-oriented model for chaplaincy. This article introduces the elements of The Discipline, our development process, the effects on our chaplaincy attributable to its consistent use, and implications for the future. While many of our assumptions about chaplaincy have been challenged, our experience is that a disciplined, outcome-oriented model for chaplaincy has deepened our relationships with patients and significantly increased our integration into the care teams of the hospital. It has also challenged and enhanced our abilities to be emotionally present with patients while also giving attention to the process of the visits and chaplain interventions that contribute to patient healing and well-being.