Developing ethics for vulnerable situations: Principles, values, virtues and beliefs for practice

1. Developing ethics for vulnerable situations: Principles, values, virtues and beliefs for practice Session 1 Paul Nash MCYM Tutor Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Lead Birmingham Women’s & Children’s Hospital NHSFT

2. What principles, values, beliefs for supporting sad situations…. 1. Have we found that resonates / helpful? • Have we found / discovered in our work? 2. What beliefs / theology have families drawn upon? Critique? Helpful? Pro’s, cons? 3. How do we make sense of / respond to suffering, loss and death?

3. Why is suffering, suffering? • What we care about • Against a persons flourishing • Against our will • Subjective and objective • We care about our own flourishing, but that is not all we care about. • Intrinsic value = subjective • Generic flourishing= objective • Depends on what we each perceive we need to flourish. • Perspective on time eg student who growing up goes back and thanks strict teacher. • Deprive us of desires of our heart

4. What processes can we use to make ethical decisions? Helpful metaphors?

5. Potential values / beliefs / principles for support in berevement: • If you can do theology / practice principles, beliefs and values at the bed side of a dying child you can do theology etc anywhere! • What is always true? • Perhaps try and find 3 principles that hold your reflections together • What metaphors are helpful to us in exploring expressions of our role in the light of these beliefs?

6. Discuss What might be the 3 most essential Christian professional practice principles, beliefs that shape our ethical response to those in pain, suffering, positions of vulnerability? • What can I promise a cyp who; has terminal disease, their best friend has just died? • How, what should I pray for a cyp with learning difficulties? • Share the Gospel with a cyp with cancer? • Cyp wants to know if they are dying. The answer is yes but the parents don’t want them to know

7. Principles for vulnerable chaplaincy situations Wholeness and healing Dissonance Rollercoaster Unconditional Presence: Dignity and Respect: Love Appropriate Hope: Integrity and pastoral expediency Celebrate assets Virtues: Midwife Bridge Liminal Triage Empty handed Virtues: Virtues: Infectious Significance is not measured by length Typical bodies not normal bodies 3-4 way tug of war Sawubona Getting stuck / blocked Interpreter Translator Bilingual Dual identity Whirlpool of anguish Mystery Seed sower Advocate Sore to soar Best interest Wandering in the darkness Do no harm

8. Theology of ethics for Christian chaplaincy Wholeness and healing Dissonance Rollercoaster Incarnational Presence and intervention. Pro and reactive shalom. Compassionate, gracious, discerning personal care. Availability and vulnerability. Hospitality, accompany. Lament & celebration God weeps and rejoices with us Made in the Image of God: We might be ill, disabled, but we are still made in the image of the scarred Jesus in Heaven. Sacred people make sacred space. Redefine perfect Love Redemptive: Bad things happen, good can come out bad, but at the pace and discernment of the family. Redeeming love. Fragile bodies in fragile World. Consequences of free will Integrity and pastoral expediency Celebrate assets Virtues: Grace Midwife Bridge Liminal Triage Empty handed Virtues: Hope and trust Virtues: Compassion Infectious Significance is not measured by length Typical bodies not normal bodies 3-4 way tug of war Sawubona Getting stuck / blocked Interpreter Translator Bilingual Dual identity Hygge Whirlpool of anguish Mystery Seed sower Advocate Sore to soar Best interest Wandering in the darkness Do no harm

9. Comparing scars!By Jodie Cotterrall

10. Our God …….. • Abhors suffering • Can transform suffering (but this needs to be discerned by the family not the carer) • Inhabits suffering • Weeps over suffering.

11. Summary: the tensions… • Always able to pray for peace and strength • Be gracious, gentle, kind and humble • We trust and hope for redemption; deficits • Discern multiple unseen losses • Our hope is now • Be quick with listening and lament, “I am so sorry for your loss” • New normal is possible • And healing many times but not always • And courageous and creative • And see everyone made in the image of God; assets • And gains… from their lead • And not yet • And slow with answers, especially of Gods will!! It is not ours to make sense off • But in (their) time

12. Values and virtues found in chaplaincy • Hospitality • Integration • Caring /Compassion • Inclusive / equal opportunity • Presence / availability • Professionalism • Respect • Efficiency / outcome • Rituals / symbolism • Confidentiality • Assessing and meeting need • Informality • Patient centred • Reflective practice • Self care • Multi disciplinary working • Evidence based practice • Political awareness • Others?

13. Christian case study for theodicy Theodicy, (from Greek theos, “god”; dikē, “justice”), explanation of why a perfectly good, almighty, and all-knowing God permits evil. The term literally means “justifying God.” https://www.britannica.com/topic/theodicy-theology