Non-Denominational Spiritual Care Givers and the Development of their Spirituality
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1558/hscc.40706Keywords:
spiritual care, non-denominational, spiritual competence, lived spirituality, professionalization, the NetherlandsAbstract
In the Netherlands, a growing number of spiritual care givers are working without being endorsed by any church or worldview organization. Since 2015, these non-denominational spiritual care givers can undergo an assessment of their “spiritual competence” on top of their Master’s degree in Spiritual Care, which leads to a mandate in this area. This enables them to obtain full membership of the professional Association of Spiritual Caregivers in the Netherlands (Vereniging van Geestelijk VerZorgers, VGVZ), from which they previously were excluded. The VGVZ seeks to secure the quality and professionalism of spiritual care, and full membership is a condition typically required by clients or employers. The VGVZ’s Professional Standard outlines the membership criteria and states that a spiritual care giver needs to have both a certain expertise, derived from a Master’s degree, and authorization, derived from an endorsement or mandate that ought to safeguard their spiritual competence and authentic, lived spirituality. However, as this study illustrates, the terminology used in the Professional Standard is rather unclear. Reference is made to “spiritual”, “worldview” and “hermeneutic” competencies, which are all situated in the domain of substantive, process-orientated and personal capabilities. This article critically examines the notion of spiritual competence as a leading concept in the acceptance and assessment of non-denominational spiritual care givers. By doing so, it offers a novel systematic analysis of the field and sets the agenda for future research.
References
Ammerman, N. (2014). Modern altars in everyday life. In P. Berger (Ed.), The many altars of modernity. Towards a paradigm for religion in a pluralist age. (pp. 94-110). Boston: De Gruyter.
Berghuijs, J., & Liefbroer, A. I. (2017). Meervoudige religiositeit in het leven van geestelijk verzorgers. Tijdschrift Geestelijke Verzorging, 20(87), 13-22. Retrieved on 21 January 2021 from https://vgvz.nl/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/4-87-Meervoudige-religiositeit. pdf
Bernts, T., & Berghuijs, J. (2016). God in Nederland 1966-2015. Utrecht: Ten Have.
Bure?n, A. af (2015). Living simultaneity. On religion among semi-secular Swedes. Doctoral dissertation, So?derto?rn University, Sweden. Retrieved on 21 January 2021 from http://sh.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:800530/FULLTEXT01.pdf
Cooper-White, P. (2004). Shared wisdom: Use of the self in pastoral care and counseling. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress Press.
Droogers, A., & van Harskamp, A. (Eds.) (2013). Methods for the study of religious change. London: Equinox.
Foucault, M. (1977). Discipline and punish: The birth of the prison (Trans. A. Sheridan). London: Penguin Books.
Fricker, M. (2007). Epistemic injustice: Power and the ethics of knowing. Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198237907.001.0001
Huijzer, R. (2017) De binnenkant van het ambt: Een groundedtheory-onderzoek naar de ambtsbeleving en levensbeschouwelijke identiteit van protestantse pastores in zorginstellingen, in dialoog met Paul Ricoeur. Delft: Uitgeverij Eburon.
IKNL (Integraal Kankercentrum Nederland)/Palliactief (2018). Richtlijn zingeving en spiritualiteit in de palliatieve fase. Utrecht: IKNL.
Liefbroer, A. I., Olsman, E., Ganzevoort, R. R., & van Etten-Jamaludin, F. S. (2017). Interfaith spiritual care: A systematic review. Journal of Religion and Health, 56(5), 1776-1793. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-017-0369-1
McGuire, M. (2008). Lived religion: Faith and practice in everyday life. New York: Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195172621.001.0001
Morice-Calkhoven, T., Smeets, W. & Lammers, H. (2013). De geestelijk verzorger van morgen. Een onderzoek onder studenten en alumni van de algemene masteropleidingen. Tijdschrift Geestelijke Verzorging, 16(69), 46-50. Retrieved on 21 January 2021 from https://vgvz.nl/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/13-69-De-geestelijk-verzorgersvan-morgen.pdf
Nolan, S., Saltmarsh, P., & Leget C. (2011). Spiritual care in palliative care: Working towards an EAPC Task force. European Journal of Palliative Care, 18(2), 86-89.
Park, C. L. (2013). The meaning making model: A framework for understanding meaning, spirituality, and stress-related growth in health psychology. The European Health Psychologist, 15, 40-47.
Pieper, J., Hijwege, N., & Smeets, W. (2016). Attentiveness to religious/spiritual coping and meaning questions of patients. A survey among physicians in Dutch academic hospitals. Journal of Empirical Theology, 29, 78-100. https://doi.org/10.1163/15709256-12341336
Puchalski, C. M., Vitillo, R., Hull, S. K., & Reller, N. (2014). Improving the spiritual dimension of whole person care: Reaching national and international consensus. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 17(6), 642-656. https://doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2014.9427
Regiegroep VGVZ (2013). Eindnota Toekomstig Bestel Geestelijke Verzorging. Amsterdam: VGVZ. Retrieved on 21 January 2021 from https://vgvz.nl/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/ Regiegroep_Eindnota_april_2013.pdf
Schmeets, H. (2016). De religieuze kaart van Nederland, 2010-2015. Den-Haag: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek. Retrieved on 21 January 2021 from religie-regionaal-2010-2015.pdf
Smeets, W., & Morice-Calkhoven, T. (2014). From ministry towards spiritual competence. Changing perspectives in spiritual care in the Netherlands. Journal of Empirical Theology, 27(1), 103-129. https://doi.org/10.1163/15709256-12341291
Uwland-Sikkema, N. F., Visser, A., Westerhof, G. J., & Garssen, B. (2018). How is spirituality part of people's meaning system? Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 10(2), 157-165. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000172
Verhaeghe, P. (2019). Over normaliteit en andere afwijkingen [On normality and other deviations]. Amsterdam: Promotheus.
VGVZ (2016). Beroepsstandaard geestelijk verzorger 2015 (2nd ed.). Zoetermeer: VGVZ. Retrieved on 21 January 2021 from https://vgvz.nl/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Beroepsstandaard-2015.pdf
VGVZ-cahiers 2 (2002). Beroepsstandaard voor de Geestelijk Verzorger in Zorginstellingen. Amsterdam: VGVZ.
VGVZ-cahiers 4 (2010). Ambtelijke Binding. Amsterdam: VGVZ. Retrieved on 21 January 2021 from https://vgvz.nl/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/VGVZ-Cahier4-AmbtelijkeBinding_eindversie_totaal.pdf
VWS (Ministerie voor Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport) (2018). Letter to Parliament by Minister Hugo de Jonge, 8 October 2018. Retrieved on 21 January 2021 from https://www.tweedekamer.nl/kamerstukken/brieven_regering/detail?id=2018Z17868&did=20 18D48117
Waaijman, K. (2003). Spiritualiteit: Vormen, grondslagen, methoden (4th ed.). Kampen: Kok. https://doi.org/10.2143/SIS.13.0.504589
Woodhead, L. (2016). Intensified religious pluralism and de-differentiation: The British example. Society, 53, 41-46. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12115-015-9984-1
Zock, H. (2019) Chaplaincy in the Netherlands. The search for a professional and religious identity. Tidsskrift for Praktisk Teologi: Nordic Journal of Practical Theology, 2, 11-21
