Submitted by: Scott Turresterson

It s absolutely important to get an education in practical ministry, whether your specific ministry is a particular type of chaplaincy, or acting in the counseling aspect of being a pastor or spiritual leader to a group of people.

While I act as a pastor mostly in the moment, I recognize that there are different types of ministry. What I found of particular value in the ULC chaplaincy courses were the various assignments which needed a good look at myself.

In relation to this course was, a willingness to become a soul in a role and have, with careful discernment while also following one’s heart, the (unique) ability to transcend a role, in selfless service to the divinity perhaps invisible in another.

The differences in how to apply one s skills are interesting. Military, police, hospitals, care facilities, the work place, etc., all have their own specific needs and situations. Some are on- going relationships, while others (as in hospice and hospitals) are temporary relationships (Rev. Daniel s urging to read Kubler-Ross was excellent). In many of these situations, we ll encounter varying amounts of need for counseling. In the public safety arena, we will be dealing with those who see, daily, a gross amount of evil and some of the actions of the dregs of our society.

After helping co-workers, I am now open to being helped by them, which makes things run more smoothly.

I enjoyed the ethical aspects of serving as a chaplain, and found this part of the Universal Life Church course the most practical and informative. The ethics aspect is pretty self-evident, I think, but I feel the stress of the legal (and practical) aspect of the priest-penitent privilege was useful, as well as the concept that whoever tells you something in confidence owns that information, even after they die. It brought to mind a situation in my own workplace, several years ago. A co-worker had been stealing from the company. The thought I ruminated on was if she had come to me as a minister, even as a co- worker, I could ve kept silent. It was a hypothetically strange situation, and something I d not given consideration before.

Other behavioral instruction concerning ministry were relevant, and struck me as being very similar to the skills/ behavior necessary for a sales job (which is what I primarily do). Being a good, active listener, I believe, is essential. I think this is likely the largest aspect of ministering, and I agree that this, itself, is a way of aiding people to heal. The information and advice counseling the grieving was excellent (as I inferred, this motivated me to read Kubler-Ross) and I found it particularly fascinating (and somewhat startling) to realize that losing a job is just as big a form of loss as any other and involves just as much grieving as any other kind of loss. For some reason, that hadn’t occurred to me (although I ve lost jobs in the past) and it s something particularly relevant for an industrial ulc chaplain.

Honestly, I cannot think of possible improvements to the course. The lessons were presented clearly, succinctly, and with much self-contemplation in the homework assignments. Rev Daniel is obviously experienced and accomplished in the field of chaplaincy, and an excellent instructor.

Because of taking this ULC Seminary course, I think I am far better prepared to enter the arena as an organized, professional minister, and I m motivated to start formalizing this more as a career.

About the Author: The author is the President of the Universal Life Church Seminary and author of multiple books and courses on ceremonies and various spiritual belief systems.The

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Seminary is a great place to become ordained for free and for life and you can go through a comprehensive

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and chaplaincy program.

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