Winter 2002

The INNERLIFE
A Publication of the
Pastoral Counseling Centers of Tennessee, Inc.

Partners in Caring Since 1985

ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE
When I was asked to write this article on workplace dynamics, my mind immediately went to the topic of ethics. I belong to five different organizations, each with a Code of Ethics. The EAP Digest's (Employee Assistance Program) Fall 2001 issue dealt with ethics and quality of services being delivered to employees and employers. The American Psychological Association's July/August 2001's "Monitor on Psychology" issue was on "Psychology and the Workplace". There is no lack of information if one wanted to write a book on the topic, but ethics is a critical philosophical, psychological, and spiritual subject for every institution and individual.

I thought the easiest way to find the number one ethical concern was to ask Dr. Cliff Ball of the business school at Vanderbilt University. I have admired his a acumen for both U.S. and international business. As the question rolled off my lips, I immediately realized my folly. In his gentleness, Dr. Bell opened the multi-dimensional concerns of ethics nationally to an international scope. Concerns for child labor produced goods in foreign countries brought to America to sell, the ongoing environmental concerns as businesses make decisions to expand, the treatment of women in our country, and the daily subtleties in decision making that often catch us all unaware to their implications appeared in our conversation. I listened to Cliff and
realized that this would make a great Sunday morning elective. Cliff's students have a skilled and compassionate teacher.

Ethics are a part of every decision in church, business, and individual life. The ripple effect of decisions in any of the above areas touches beyond the place where a decision is made. One only has to read the daily newspaper in order to see the impact of unethical decisions. The scope of these few short passages cannot begin to explain or lay out a history or solution to the critical deconstruction of creative ethics in the world in order to have equity for all people.

As I look into A.D. 2002, 1 am making a resolution to again re-examine my decision-making. I think I am on my tenth revision as I celebrate my sixtieth birthday. All who receive this newsletter have a faith tradition that informs them in their decision-making. How we take that information into the workplace demands `integrity", a oneness or congruency) with what we believe and how we act.

As I write these words, I am glancing at my bookshelf with numerous books on ethics from many perspectives and my card index with over twenty articles listed. I realize the subject is immense. I would like to tie together, however, what I have been saying about ethics in order to challenge us to experience and live
ethically. In one form or another almost all the world's religions say, " So, whatever you wish that a person would do to you, do to them."

Addendum: I want to thank a parishioner in the first church I served who baked a pie and delivered it to anyone who talked negatively about her or any other person. I asked her why she did this. She said, "Because I like pie." I can't remember her name, but her actions still live with me.

CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION
by James R. Coffman

One axiom in psychoanalytic theory is that everything is present in the first encounter with the patient; it simply takes a few years to come to understand the patient's presentation. Analogously, this was my experience in clinical training. My first experience in clinical training was as a chaplain intern in the Central State Mental Hospital outside Louisville, Kentucky. I was assigned to a women's unit to be its chaplain. Summarily, I was introduced to the unit and I began my pastoral work the next day.

I should note that I had never been in a mental hospital in 1969. I had not served as a pastoral person. To my knowledge I had not spoken with a mentally ill person, though I have since come to understand I knew many. So, here I was in my first mental hospital, in my first pastoral role, and in conversation with my first mentally ill persons. These experiences, along with my attending what I thought would be a humorous movie called "Catch 22" - a movie reflecting the utter chaos of war and thus a commentary on the Vietnam Conflict - submerged me in my first reactive depression. This was a depression well deserved, for my eyes were opened to souls I had never seen. My heart was touched and the upheaval forced me to reconsider my calling as a minister. I still remember my first encounter with a female paranoid schizophrenic patient, who cursed Christ, angrily proclaimed her defeat of him, and skillfully addressed the futility of my role as Christ's representative. I had not seen this kind of thing on our farm in West Tennessee! And I certainly had not witnessed this in my home church. I wanted to be like the ministers in my home church, i.e., in control, theologizing about the way things were supposed to be, and comfortable. The experience turned me inside out, and I discovered myself out of control, seeing lives as they were, and very discomforted. Moreover, I found myself caring for this woman and struggling to relate to her.

This nine-month learning experience was called Clinical Pastoral Education. Clinical Pastoral Education or CPE was conceived by Richard C. Cabot as a method of learning pastoral practice in a clinical setting under supervision. Anton T. Boisen expanded the method by doing theological inquiry through case studies of patients. He called this the study of the "living human documents." William S. Keller added observation of the social conditions that influence patients' well being. Russell Dicks brought the verbatim, including recording the minister's prayers, into the light of observation and learning. And countless others have added to this in over 70 years- of practice.

Following my CPE unit in a mental hospital, I entered a unit in a general hospital and a child evaluation center, then one in a seminary counseling program, then units in many areas of a general hospital system. I have now completed 12 1/2 units of CPE. Rather than entering a Ph.D. program at Vanderbilt after completing a D.Min. degree there in 1980, I moved to Birmingham to become a CPE Certified Supervisor. I knew this training experience had transformed my, understanding of ministry, and I wanted to be a part of that kind of learning with others. This training is the foundation on which pastoral counseling training is built.

A year ago four outstanding institutions began collaborating to
begin a new CPE program in Nashville. The Pastoral
Counseling Centers of Tennessee had a distinct honor in
participating in its evolution, but the real commitments for this
unique program took place through hospital chaplains,
administrators, and development officers in Vanderbilt
University Medical Center, Saint Thomas Hospital,
McKendree Village Retirement Community, and Baptist
Hospital.. These men and women joined together to create
what may become a premier training experience for ministry. I
applaud these institutions and their leadership for their
commitments to this venture; and I took forward to celebrating
the positive results for training that CPE can produce. The
Nashville Clinical Pastoral Education Partnership is open for
training and beginning this fall. We hope to contribute to
understanding the living human documents who journey to
these fine institutions for health care crises and needs. Contact
me if you would like information on the Residency and
Internship programs in the Nashville Clinical Pastoral
Education Partnership. You might find CPE just the right
experience for transforming you own life in ministry.

It has been said that greed is an inborn trait. Giving of oneself to others is not. It is a trait that must be developed. Giving away one's earnings to those in need is unselfish. Children who see their parents and other nurturing relatives regularly giving charity are being taught to be unselfish.

Abraham J. Twerski, M.D. stated, "A person who regularly gives charity is indeed deserving of a reward. What finer reward can there be than having wise children?" What better legacy is there than charitable children?

For your legacy, the legacy of your parents and that of your parents' parents, we thank you for your charity in 2001. May we continue to bless and be blessed with charity for each other for many years.

OPEN HOUSE
The Franklin Center hosted an Open House in October. New contacts were made during the time allotted for the tour of the new facilities and the day concluded with a seminar open to the public on Adolescent Depression and Suicide. Jeffrey Hamilton, the second pastoral counselor at Franklin, presented the seminar, which was not only a lively one but much appreciated by the attendees. Two weeks later another seminar was presented by Lawrence Clark on Critical Incident Stress Debriefing. The center continues to offer outreach to the community and is currently revising their strategic plan that would reach into the next three years. The center now has three volunteers that provide Tuesday night coverage, and the continued affirmation of the supporting congregations helps the center extend the church's mission into the community. Thank you to every one that made the Open House a success.

WE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE GIFTS FROM THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS:
Benefactor's Fellowship
Cal Turner Family Foundation
HCA Foundation

Patron's Fellowship
Louie M. & Betty M. Phillips Foundation

Advocate's Fellowship
Baulch Family Foundation
Lifeworks Foundation
Dororthy Cate and Thomas Frish Foundation
James Stanswell, Sr.
Bob and Adrienne Parker
Don and Nancy Williams
R. G. Anderson

Sustainer's Fellowship
Blevins Family Foundation
Richard G. Bruehl
George and Vera King
Richard and Sharalena Miller
Ron Perry

Friend's Fellowship
Starfish Foundation

Founder's Banquet Honors Rev. Bob Cowperthwaite
On October 12, 2001, the Rev. Robert W. Cowperthwaite, Rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Franklin, Tennessee, was honored by Pastoral Counseling Centers of Tennessee. The annual Founder's Banquet was held at the University Club in Nashville, Tennessee. Rev. Cowperthwaite, wife, Susan, and children, Sarah and Christopher, have been at St. Paul's Episcopal Church for 13 years. They previously served at Trinity Episcopal Church Wall Street in New York City.

Bob is well-known as the "pastor to those who are ill". His hospital ministry and his Chaplaincy for the Williamson County Police Department, Fire Department and Rescue Squad have shown his generous nature and his regard and care for human life and suffering. Bob was recently appointed to serve on the Episcopal Church Status of Women committee. He has also served as a delegate to several National Epicopal and Diocesan and Diocesan committees. You will also find Bob chairing the Advisory Council at our Franklin Center located at 506 Fair Street. We are grateful for the ministry and life of the Reverend Robert W. Cowperthwaite.

The Clinical Pastoral Therapist Program will also start in September. This is a program for persons who seek a vocation in pastoral counseling. The two-year program provides individual and group supervision, didactic and reading assignments, and regular evaluations in clinical development. Persons who complete the program may seek certification with the American Association of Pastoral Counselors. Applications for the Clinical Pastoral Therapist Program need to be received by June 1, 2002. For brochures and applications contact Carrie Seabolt at (615) 370-9547 or send an email to Training@PastoralCounselingCtrs.org.

The Bruce D. Henderson Award
Each year we honor a clinician on the staff for her or his outstanding service achievements through the Pastoral Counseling Centers of Tennessee. The Reverend Meredith Neill, Th.M., our Clinical Services Director, received the 2001 Henderson Award for her performance in 2000 and her contributions to the PCCT system. Mr. Henderson, a graduate of Vanderbilt University and Harvard Business School and founder of the Boston Consulting Group, was an outstanding student and practitioner in the art of working with organizations. Bess Henderson, his wife, serves on the Board of Directors of the Pastoral Counseling Centers of Tennessee.

The Award provides a Certificate of Appreciation, a Recognition Dinner, and a cash gift. We will appreciate your nominations of clinical staff members for the 2002 Henderson Award. The Screening Committee reviews nominations for the clinician's quantity and quality of service, work habits and relationships, innovation, and self-improvement. Please send your nomination to Dr. James R. Coffman, c/o PCCT before February 1, 2002.

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

Archived Issues:
Summer 2004
Winter 2003: Nuturing the Institution
Fall 2002
Winter 2002: Ethics In The Workplace
Fall 2001: Room for Laughter
Spring 2001: Suicide - A Loss of Hope
Winter 2001: Helping a Child Through Loss
Fall 2000: Adolescence and Substance Abuse
Summer 2000: Hospitality, A Context for Care and Healing
Spring 2000: The Cry of Anguish