Cultural Engagement
Definition:
DTS values relationships with diverse individuals, cultures, and ideas, resulting in evangelism, dialogue, application, and service that are Biblical, courageous, and compassionate.
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Cultural Engagement Goals
CPE Unit 1 Goal
To increase my understanding of other religions and cultures that I will be ministering to as an interfaith chaplain.
CPE Unit 2 Goal
To learn about and put into practice spiritual assessments using the Spirtual Aim model.
Strategies
CPE Unit 1 Strategies
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I will take Social and Cultural Foundations at DTS to build on the knowledge I learned taking World Religions.
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I will interact lovingly and practice curiosity with patients and staff from different cultures and religions serving them in the interfaith chapel, supporting them in patient rooms and in all departments, and respecting religious and cultural holidays different from mine.
CPE Unit 2 Strategies
I will attend training on spiritual assessments through the LSU-Ochsner CPE program.
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I will read and study the materials provided by the LSU-Ochsner CPE program.
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I will begin charting patient interactions on the Spiritual Aim Model.
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Resources
Read Developing Multicultural Counseling Competence, attend lectures, complete diversity activity, and take the Addressing Self-Assessment.
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Meet with Father Mark to understand more about the Catholic religion, sacraments, and theology and develop a working relationship with him to address Catholic patient's requests.
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The Spiritual Aim Model
CPE Tuesday afternoon classes engaging with chaplains of different faiths.
Listening to and learning from staff and patients.
Measures
CPE Unit 1
I will make a 90% or greater in the Cultural Foundations Class.
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I will be able to interact respectfully and curiously with patients and staff from different cultures and religions 100% of the time.
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CPE Unit 2
I will complete 100% training in Spiritual Assessment and complete spiritual assessments on patients by the end of October.
Artifacts
For my competence in Cultural Engagement, I am submitting the following artifacts:
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Ochsner-LSU training in multicultural chaplaincy development.
Weekly four hour CPE class online with chaplains from different cultural and denominational backgrounds.
Working with chaplains from diverse backgrounds at LSU-Ochsner.
Building relationships with staff and celebrating nurse's week.
Ochsner-LSU training in multicultural palative care.
Participating with the hospital community. Eclipse 2024!
Resource Board for contacting clergy from diverse backgrounds.
Learning to use Spiritual Aim tools.
Struggled with this book, but learned a lot from it.
Maintaining an interfaith chapel has its challenges.
Learning Reflection Statement
Engaging in the diverse cultures at the hospital has been a rewarding learning experience for me. I was privileged to have deep, vulnerable conversations with people despite our different faiths and backgrounds. I found that most are seeking God, even if it is in their own way, or influenced by their upbringing and culture. However, we all experience crisis, pain, and loss and as humans, we can support each other. I learned to connect with patients and staff who are much different from me understanding that deep down, there is a vulnerable part of us that seeks to know they are not alone and not forgotten. It is a joy to remind them that God is present and that He treasures them. For those who I must respect our differences in faith, or lack thereof, I pray that I am a witness to them of God's love and care which may build a bridge for them to seek Him in the future.
Lifelong Development Statement
As a chaplain, I pray that I will never stop practicing curiosity and learning about other's perspectives. I want to be able to see into their heart and beyond their exterior looks and their man-made religious practices. I desire to learn more about cultural differences so that I understand why people behave and believe in certain ways. At the same time, I desire to practice curiosity and learning at the foot of Jesus so that I can understand why He behaved and believed as He did. I would love to understand what "made Him tick" more everyday and how to communicate with the beautiful, diverse children he has made throughout the earth.