Embracing Change in Spiritual and Religious Care

Embracing Change: Crisis and Opportunity in Spiritual and Religious Care Change can be exciting and stimulating, or it can be frightening and many of us will resist it. This project took place following painful change which could not be fully described to me at the time, by those who saw the need for it. People cannot be summarily fired in order to facilitate change and introduce a more ethnically-diverse chaplaincy department, at least not if the cost is too high for financially-strapped institutions. I was caught in the middle and eventually found an escape in retirement. I was fortunate – others are not so lucky. And yet, the outcome of this painful change has been renewed growth both for me and for the institution. I am glad it happened. As I will note elsewhere, this commentary will suggest that to be truly effective, the best changes take place gradually, allowing for testing, reflection and modification along the way, and leading, in the end, to the best outcomes for the future. Such a change process may still be difficult and painful but the hope is that it will result in lasting transformation.