How a training placement with Anna Chaplains changed a man's perspective

It has been a profound experience spending time with Anna Chaplains out and about in the community for one man training to be a Licensed Lay Minister (LLM) in the Church of England. To protect the anonymity of all involved we're just disclosing that the placement was within an Anglican diocese in the south of England. We've kindly been allowed to share some of his theological reflections:

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Using a described method - 'See-Judge-Act '- he was required as part of his ministerial training to 'reflect on the pastoral life of the placement, and how people in and outside of the congregation are nurtured in faith and love.'

Here are some highlights from his time spent with the chaplains, focusing on:

• A Saturday afternoon Carol Service held at a local care home for people with varying stages of dementia.

• Helping at a monthly service and lunch run by Anna Chaplains for elderly people who live a small town

• Working with a local Anna Chaplain to lead a funeral service at a local church (not his own church).

'Firstly, I see a group of very dedicated people. The ministry that they provided to older people is extremely valuable. For example, the people I spoke to talked about the friends they have met through the community café. A couple of people shared their stories that were so similar: married for over sixty years, moved to an area where they did not know anyone and partner had died in the last few years.

I could see the chemistry between them, and they now have a very supportive friendship. I wonder how different their lives would be if these connections had not been made?

I saw chaplains at the care home Carol Service talking to people with dementia, holding their hands, not giving up when there was no response. The home had some residents with very serious dementia issues.

One was completely unresponsive. However, what I did see was the residents ‘come to life’ and attempt to join in when we all said the Lord’s Prayer or sang a carol they knew. The legacy of Christian input in their lives was still there and triggered a response in the service.

Secondly, I saw nearly every old person who was able to communicate with me had a deep, positive story to tell about their life and, primarily, their family. ‘My children have been so good to me,’ ‘I love being able to see the grandchildren,’ ‘I am so proud of what my daughter has done with her life.’

'Surprisingly, I did not encounter any self-pity, just up-beat gratitude for life and what they had now. I look back at my father’s final years, of which the last five were spent confined to bed, he never complained or felt he had been hard done by. I saw a depth of experience in each person from which we could all benefit to some degree.'

'Thirdly, I observed that a lot of the work of the Anna Chaplains appears to go unnoticed. Understandably people are busy with work and family life, and I often think what a privilege it is to have all this life around me. However, it is easy to assume, like me, that older people are all being cared for somehow. I am too busy to stop and think that on a grey rainy Tuesday afternoon in December, sitting in a room in a care home on your own can be extremely lonely.'

'Until the placement I was unaware of the extent to which Anna Chaplains make a difference. Sacrificially dedicating time, for example, on the third Saturday of December visiting people with advanced dementia who they do not know.'

The trainee then spoke of 'the ease with which society ignores the older people. With increasing life expectancy and the resulting rise in physical and mental health issues, many consider old people as an ‘issue’ that they just blank out of their minds or, worst case, wish just was not there. The experience and stories or older people are ignored at our peril.'

'I have learned so much from my interactions during my placement, from people who I had never met. Hearing about their lives, their experiences, their families and, for many, how God has been involved in all aspects of their lives. Some shared very powerful testimony. We cannot ignore people once they are no longer of a working age or ‘economically active.’ With dramatically falling fertility rates the proportion of older people in the world is only going to increase.'

Another observation of his related to the many scriptural references to old age. 'The questions in the Wisdom literature, for example, asking, “Is not wisdom found among the aged?” and “Does not long-life bring understanding?” (Job 12:12). It seems we all need to be reminded of the importance of older people, and we have been for centuries' he wrote.

He asked: how should I ‘Act’ following this placement?: 'One of my observations is that many people are unaware of the work of Anna Chaplains. It goes ‘under the radar’. One way that I would like to act is to specifically encourage that more information is shared about this ministry, particularly at our local church, and how significant it is to our impact in the community. Maybe this would also help encourage others to be involved.'

'These are volunteers, people who give up their time to support a forgotten part our society and the Anna Chaplains need to be acknowledged more.'

'I met some wonderful old people who had many reasons to complain but did not. My personal “Act” is to remember this experience and to remain positive and grateful, especially when I reach the final years of my life.'

Something, he said, had changed in him as a result of the placement: 'A few years ago, I would generally have gravitated towards people that live in the same ‘bubble’ as me. I assumed that everyone else was fine in their other ‘bubbles.’ Now, I see value in a far wide group of people. I see the person in front of me as a priceless image of Christ and of equal value as everyone else. This is true with the elderly people I met on this placement, even those who could not communicate because of dementia. However, it was the experience of helping lead a funeral with an Anna Chaplain that solidified this experience.'

'This was the first funeral that I have ever helped lead. I arrived early at the empty church, at the same time as the Anna Chaplain, early on a cold December morning. We discussed the Order of Service, where to stand and so on.'

While the chaplain went outside to meet arrivals, he spent a few minutes sitting in the church.

'I thought of the fragility and shortness of life. It was a very significant moment for me which I have discussed with the leadership of my home church. These discussions helped my think about how I would approach this to improve my ministerial practice in the future. It was a very, very moving funeral.'

'This cemented my learning and deeper appreciation of the importance of love between people, of how fragile and short life is, and that whoever we come across in life they need treating with love and grace. It has helped me value people more. I hope that I will appreciate more the love that I receive from others and the love that I see between others in my future ministry and life.'

In conclusion: 'I feel better prepared for what lies ahead following this placement. At the café the Anna Chaplains went around the room as part of the service giving individual blessing to those there. I was very touched that they included me in that and was very moved by the blessing prayed over me – it changed something.'

'I have grown and learnt through this placement more than I had anticipated. I have had the privilege of meeting some wonderful people. How this impacts my future ministry is yet be seen but my prayer to the Lord is like that of Samuel ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’

(1 Samuel 3:10).

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