#159 Journal Article Review: Ministry of Presence…
Summary
“Ministry of Presence as Emotional Labor: Perspectives from Recipients of Care” by Lawton and Cadge (2024) is a research paper that explores how emotion plays a part in the ministry of chaplains. Lawton and Cadge (2024) explore how recipients of care experienced the presence of the chaplain. They consider the idea of emotional labor; its origins and meaning. The researchers conducted fifty interviews over Zoom to find out how people interacted with chaplains and other spiritual care providers. The findings of the paper show that those under the care of a chaplain experienced their care as emotional labor rather than, as chaplains traditionally put it, a ministry of presence. The conclusion of Lawton and Cadge’s (2024) research was that the role of a chaplain may be better surmised as emotional labor rather than as a ministry of presence, or using the words, faithful or sacramental.
Interaction
The paper was interesting in its findings which showed that chaplain ministry is commonly experienced as emotional labor (Lawton & Cadge, 2024). While this fact is of intrinsic usefulness it does not change the Christian's emphasis on faith, sacraments, or ministry of presence. These ideas are central to achieving the result that chaplains seek in caring for care seekers. The reason that a chaplain does what he does is just as important as the results that are achieved. A chaplain cannot achieve what he wishes such as caring for the emotion of the care seeker without first having a good reason for providing that care. Understanding chaplaincy as emotional labor, rather than merely a ministry of presence, may free chaplains from certain perceived obligations. Since care is primarily experienced as an emotional labor rather than as presence (Lawton & Cadge, 2024), the length of presence is not necessarily correlated to the level of care provided. This frees the mind of the chaplain and allows the chaplain to focus more fully on being present in the moment to provide the emotional care that is being sought rather than seeking to always be present.
This particular research is of interest to me as someone who intends on joining the military as a chaplain this year. Military chaplaincy operates in a multicultural environment where the chaplain may be ministering to those of many different belief systems and working with chaplains of varying faith and denominations as well. Understanding how people in general experience the ministry of a chaplain, regardless of faith background clarifies the role of a chaplain outside of being a religious leader within their own denomination while also providing a shared framework for chaplains of varying backgrounds to provide the same standard of care to all soldiers. While this paper is written from a secular background the conclusion it draws is rather biblical and applicable to the work of a Christian chaplain. Romans 12:15 encourages believers to be present and to reflect emotions. While Romans 12 speaks to all Christians, and on a variety of subjects, it may be pointed directly at the chaplain and the ministry that he seeks to do with all of those under his care.
It may be beyond the scope of the article by Lawton and Cadge (2024) but it is lacking in the area of the reasons behind the chaplains actions, the methods the chaplain used to bring about the feelings experienced by those under chaplain care, and the degree to which any particular individual was helped by any particular method. It would be far more interesting and of value if the authors were able to compare the amount of time that chaplains spent with individual patients, the degree to which they believed they were helped, and the degree to which emotions played a role in that experience. As it is currently written, the article is of limited use and application to the Christian chaplain.
Application
This article could be applied to the situation of a chaplain who is ministering to the widow of a soldier that just died at a hospital. The widow likely feels hostile to the military in general as the cause of the loss, as well as towards the care team for failing to save the life of their spouse. The chaplain may serve as the focal point of all the feelings that the widow is experiencing and help them to process their situation and serve as a listening ear. A chaplain in this context may have many people to support at any given moment. That is where the ideas presented in this article become most relevant to the military chaplain. By focusing on emotional presence first rather than on a time based presence or presence based on the beliefs of the chaplain or the widow, the chaplain maximizes the time he has available to minister to this individual by focusing on their emotions.
References
Lawton, A., & Cadge, W. (2024). Ministry of presence as emotional labor: Perspectives from recipients of care. Religions, 15(9), 1135. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15091135
