Wednesday, July 1, 2009

More pursue careers as "spiritual advisers"

Lesley Wright (The Arizona Republic, 6/29/09)

Christian comedy on church sign suggests growing need for a personal spiritual touch
In past lives, Steve Isles was an insurance analyst, and Peter Fabre was a nuclear engineer. Now the two run into each other in the halls of Banner Thunderbird Medical Center, where each is learning the ropes of spiritual care as chaplain interns.

"We all need something that is new at some point in our lives," Fabre said, adding that he could not have appreciated fully the emotional subtleties of patients when he was younger. "As we age and go through the phases in life, what's important takes on a slightly different meaning."

The fields of pastoral care, ethics, and spirituality are changing and growing for a number of reasons: an aging population, the evolution and increasing adoption of professional standards for pastoral care, and interest by mid-lifers looking for meaningful work. Late this year, Arizona State University will add a Master's program in applied ethics and the professions which will span all four campuses. Pastoral-care ethics and spirituality will be taught... More>>

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