The job of a clergy person can be varied and sometimes challenging.
While each of us brings our own unique skills and experience to our work, our roles invite projections and expectations far beyond that for which we are prepared.

Graceful Transitions invites you to participate in this program of continuing education.

People often reach out to clergy around the death of a loved one, or their own diagnosis of a serious disease, assuming that the clergy person will know how to guide, support, calm fears and bring the patient and the family to a place of surrender.

Since this may not have been a subject covered in seminary, many clergy people feel unequipped to meet that expectation; and many congregants feel let down.

Consider the last time you were asked to sit with a person who was dying.

• How comfortable were you with your ability to comfort the patient and their family?
  
  
• Did you know what to say and do?
  
  
• Did you leave feeling that you had helped, or did you worry that your presence was not really useful?
  
  
• Did the visit raise concerns about your own mortality, or invite memories of personal experiences that have not been addressed or healed?

Our program offers insight and experience in the following areas:

• End of life choices that we are faced with in this age of prolonging life
  
  
• Where modern medical ethics and religious ethics intersect
  
  
• Life extending language that doctors use
  
  
• What different religions have to say
  
  
• Living wills
  
  
• Durable power of attorney – issues of law

We will concentrate on the following subjects and skills:

• Individual needs as death approaches; assessing the spiritual needs of the patient and family
  
  
• Understanding the dying process and recognizing the signs
  
  
• Where medical ethics and religious ethics collide
  
  
• The need for self-awareness and self-care when working with individuals and families
  
  
• The impact of cultural and religious factors
  
  
• Advanced directives
  
  
• The structure of the healthcare systems which one may encounter
  
  
• Empowering the clergyperson to advocate for their congregant
  
  
• What does God want?