Center to Advance Palliative Care

1. This is in reply to Grapik's question about HCMA and the infamous "1600 hours." Let me initially say that these are my personal opinions and do not reflect the position of my institution.

2. This is also my first posting, so I apologize if this is sent to some one who does not need this.

3. First, check out HCMA on their website www.hcmachaplains.org.

4. Note three things: (a) their verbiage very closely parallels that of cognate groups such as the Association of Professional Chaplains and the National Association of Catholic Chaplains, except...HCMA is very firm about being evangelical, period. Proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ and personal conversion (a requirement for an HCMA chaplain) are very clearly the basis of HCMA; (b) HCMA's 1600 hours are, in their words, "mentor based," not "peer based," which, I think (my opinion), is a "straw man" portrayal of the CPE process; (c) HCMA is supported by donations.

5. Translations: (a) HCMA has been recognized by JCAHO for about as long as APC (the old College of Chaplains). They are also recognized by the endorsing agencies of several evangelical denominations, such as mine - the Southern Baptists. However, HCMA has never cooperated with other cognate groups. They were strongest on the West Coast, but are making inroads elsewhere. They were formally known as "Hospital Chaplains Ministry of America." I have followed them, off and on, for about fifteen years, and have noted that they have morphed their standards to look like that of APC and NACC, again, except for their evangelical basis; (b) the 1600 hours is basically a self-study with a distance mentoring, possibly by telephone, with an HCMA "Teaching Chaplain." There is a lot of good technical info, but it is basically developed from a correspondence course. So, there is really none of the theological reflection, group process, individual reflection, and interpersonal communication that CPE requires. And the "Teaching Chaplain" can be just about any HCMA chaplain; (c) HCMA chaplains started out as being offered free of charge to hospitals. Like many other evangelical missionaries, HCMA chaplains can "raise support" from individuals and churches. However, any support must include some percentage sent to HCMA. I think when I checked about 12 years ago, the percentage was about 3- 5%. That also goes for a salary, also - if your HCMA colleague is being paid, he/she should be sending that percentage to HCMA.

6. I also am an evangelical and a BCC (4 units of CPE) with the APC, as well as a CT with ADEC. I inquired with HCMA some years ago to investigate becoming a teaching center for HCMA. I could easily have become a "Teaching Chaplain," but forking over the 3-5% was not cost-effective to me, as well as what I saw as very narrow and inadequate preparation for chaplaincy. I discussed these issues at length with a very collegial HCMA chaplain (who to his credit - again, in my opinion - wanted to see more cooperation between HCMA and APC,) but we concluded that our needs were too far apart.

7. Again, this info is about 12 years old, but I don't think that things have changed that much, except that HCMA (again, in my opinion) is trying to look more and more like the APC and NACC - especially in the area of the "1600 hours." I realize that my opinions on HCMA come off as negative. Certainly, there approach to chaplaincy is very, very different from mine. If there is anyone on this CAPC Forum who would/can challenge me on these opinions, please do so. I am very willing to have my opinions engaged.

8. If I could ask, Grapik, for whom are you and your HCMA colleague working? Just curious.

Randy Miota, MDIV, MRE, MAd, BCC, CFLE, CT
Manager of Chaplaincy Services
Lakeland HealthCare
1234 Napier Avenue
St. Joseph, MI 49085-2158
(O) 269-983-8454
(F) 269-982-4971