Why Hospital Chaplaincy?

Carolyn Bade is relishing her new volunteer role as Hospital Chaplain at Hervey Bay Hospital.

“It’s a way (to express) Christian service,” she said.

“I’ve always volunteered in some capacity whether in the church or in the community. I thought this is something I might be able to commit to – giving something back to the community and being of service to people.”

Lutheran hospital chaplaincy ministry is run by Lutheran Services for the Lutheran Church of Australia Queensland District. Your donation to the LCAQD Lutheran Services Lenten Appeal helps ensure hospital chaplains are trained and ready to enter service.

Lutheran Services Hospital Chaplains lend a listening ear, spiritual support and pastoral care to Queenslanders at major hospitals in Brisbane, on the Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Hervey Bay, Mackay and other regional centres.

Hospital chaplains can provide comfort and reassurance, assist with spiritual guidance and help people to come to terms with the particular challenges they are facing while in hospital and also when they leave hospital. Our Lutheran hospital chaplains make a considerable difference to people’s experience of hospital and their work is highly valued.

Carolyn said hospital can be a lonely experience at times.

“The ward is very much medically focused … there’s not a lot of time for staff to chat to patients … hospital can be very daunting,” she said.

“(To approach people) I just say ‘Hi I’m Carolyn, the Hospital Chaplain. If you’d like to chat, I’m here to listen’.

Some of our chaplains operate as ward chaplains like Carolyn, providing pastoral care to anyone in their designated ward who requests a visit by a chaplain, irrespective of their religion.

Others operate as denominational chaplains, providing assistance to those in hospital who have identified themselves as Lutheran and have requested a visit by a Lutheran chaplain. Either way, the chaplain’s role is always responsive to the needs of the patient.

Want to know more about hospital chaplaincy? Contact Cathy Brown, Lead Chaplain of LCAQD Volunteer Hospital Chaplains for Lutheran Services. Phone 07 3858 3000 or email catherine.brown@lca.org.au

Donate to the LCAQD Lutheran Service Lenten appeal – Hospital Chaplains here Hospital Chaplaincy | LCA Donations & Payments.