Christian Leadership

Definition: Implementing Christlike values of leadership which equips others and emphasizes humility with sacrificial service.

Christian Leadership Goals

CPE Unit 1 Goal

To overcome my shyness with staff and learn to interact with them in a way that provides support to them and not be afraid to ask for things I need from them.

CPE Unit 2 Goal

To work on my "seeking outside affirmation." I wrongly put emphasis on seeking approval from staff and have not kept my focus on pleasing God alone, and improving in chaplaincy leadership because I love the ministry with all of my heart.

Christian Leadership Strategies

CPE Unit 1

I will read the Minister's Manual and Taking Up Your Role to educate myself on my role as a chaplain.

I will step out of my comfort zone and initiate conversation and relationships with staff.

I will speak to my CPE Unit chaplains group on Tuesdays about my progress and get feedback.

CPE Unit 2

I will align myself with God in prayer each morning seeking to please Him in whatever the day brings.

I will stop and reflect on moments when I find myself doing things to please people at work.

I will discuss my progress with my CPE group of chaplains in our online Tuesday meetings and ask for input.

Resources

The Bible

Prayer Journal

CPE chaplain group

The Minister's Manual

Taking Up Your Role

Christian Leadership Measures

CPE Unit 1

I will read the Minister's Manual and Taking Up Your Role with 100% completion.

I will step out of my comfort zone and initiate conversation and relationships with staff at least three times daily.

I will speak to my CPE Unit chaplains group on Tuesdays about my progress and get feedback about this goal every other week during the meeting.

CPE Unit 2

I will align myself with God in prayer each morning seeking to please Him in whatever the day brings each day of work before leaving for the day.

I will stop and reflect on moments when I find myself doing things to please people at work and reassess how I should be focusing on God's approval at least 70% of the time.

I will discuss my progress with my CPE group of chaplains in our online Tuesday meetings and ask for input once every other week during our meetings.

Reflection Statement

Leadership is not my spiritual gift. However, I understand I must develop these skills to be a Spiritual leader in ministry. I feel most comfortable leading conversations with patients and their families. It seems to come naturally and I am well received.

However, never having worked in the hospital setting, I was unsure how the dynamics between staff members. Working in several areas in the hospital is also challenging, because it requires getting to know multiple groups of staff members.

My greatest joy is when a staff says, "I'm so glad you are here. Will you please go see the patient in room 18?" It makes me feel appreciated and a respected part of the team. I have had to learn, though, that my audience is God alone. No matter what the reception of the staff is, I am there to please Him and trust on His strength for every situation. I am there to represent HIM, not get "likes."

My CPE group of Chaplains have been an enormous help with teasing through this with me. They are gentle, but direct. They see things in me where I have blind spots. I take their advice seriously because they know me well and also know my job well.

Setting a purpose of aligning myself with God in the morning before work is invaluable. It keeps me from going on auto pilot, and often gives me a boost of encouragement and love that I would not have gifted myself.

Artifacts

Morning time with God to focus my mind and heart on Him.

Doing a lot of reading to build my confidence and skill in ministry.

Pediatric ICU staff are so welcoming.

As Iron sharpens Iron... I learn so much from my CPE chaplain group.

Didactic presented November 2024 for CPE Class: Self-Reflection.

Learning Reflection Statement

I have experience a sense of identity change working as a chaplain at LSU-Ochsner. When I began and people would refer to me as "Chaplain Wendy", I felt some imposter syndrome. It is a change when you go from being a seminary student to being someone seen as a minister. They treat me differently, apologizing for slips of bad language and sharing private details with me that I would not normally be entrusted to as basically a stranger to them. Taking this new identity and learning to interact with staff has been challenging. I am seen as an appreciated Spiritual leader by most, but questioned by my presence by others. I have had to intentionally look to God for assurance and strength in this new role.

Lifelong Development Statement

While this new identity and role of leadership has been challenging, I have never had more joy doing anything in my life. It has changed me. Guiding people through painful situations, including unexpected death, has healed and strengthened my own heart. I am so honored to represent God's care at the hospital. I make mistakes, and they are humbling. And there are times when I wish people would just see me as another person so that I feel accepted as one of them. However, seeing the anxiety melt, seeing smiles and peace come over a patient's face, and seeing how God has woven my difficult story for long term good is such an honor. He has so much more work to do on me and I slowly trust His pruning and guidance little by little. I am 53 and I know that this will be the ministry and leadership for the rest of my working days. What a way to spend my sunset years. Going back to school was so worth it.