Self-Care: The Need and A Model: A Theological and Scriptural Framework

By Dr. B.G. Edison

In order for clergy and caregivers to maintain spiritual wholeness and resist becoming fragmented involves innovation in self-care. A model of self-care is needed to maintain effective job performance and holistic wellness, particularly in a post-pandemic milieu.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Sep 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9798385005802

Dr. B.G. Edison

Dr. Edison is an inspirational speaker and leadership consultant with proven experience in analyzing programs and projects. He has directed large diverse teams, implemented cost-effective solutions to organizations, provided resiliency support, personal coaching, and self-care in order to continue process improvement. He retired as an Army Colonel after thirty years of honorable service. His earned degrees include Doctor of Ministry, a Master of Strategic Studies, a Master of Divinity, and a Bachelor of Business Administration.

Book preview

Copyright © 2023 Dr. B.G. Edison.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

844-714-3454

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

ISBN: 979-8-3850-0579-6 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-3850-0580-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023916285

WestBow Press rev. date: 9/11/2023

CONTENTS

Abstract

Introduction

Chapter 1 Pastoral Challenge

Target Audience

Self-Care Defined

Applicable Self-Care Strategies

Chapter 2 Why The Need For Self-Care

Introduction

Challenges to Self-Care

Causes of Burnout and Compassion Fatigue

Inter-Personal Factors

Intra-Personal Factors

Uniqueness of Military Ministry

Chapter 3 Theological and Scriptural Framework

Introduction

Old Testament Foundation

New Testament Interpretation

Jesus Modeling Self-Care

Conclusion

Chapter 4 Methodology

Introduction

Research Design: Multiple Methods

Pre-Test Questionnaires

Previous and Current Chaplain Corps Self-Care Guidelines and Promotion

Chapter 5 Critical Results of the Pastoral Research

Introduction

Questionnaire Data Collection

Interview One

Interview Two

Chapter 6 Pastoral Application

Introduction

Proposed Self-Care Model: PAUSE and RELAX (Take A Knee!)

Work-A-Holic Quiz

Conclusion

Appendix A Pre-Test Questionnaire

Appendix B Questionnaire

Appendix C Contentment

Appendix D Tri-Folder

Appendix E Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Definition of Terms

Bibliography

To Cecelia (Proverbs 31:10-11), my answer to prayer for a wife.

No one else could understand and know me like you do; No

one else could be my love-no one else but you!

To my gifts from God, my children, Chloe and Benjamin.

Thank you all for being so understanding and supportive while I conducted research.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

ABSTRACT

SELF-CARE: THE NEED AND A MODEL

A THEOLOGICAL AND SCRIPTURE FRAMEWORK

Issue: This paper addresses the directive from the United States Army Chief of Chaplain as stated in the United States Army Chaplain Corps Strategic Campaign Plan, 2008-2013. The goal is to strengthen the spiritual life of the Army Chaplaincy during a period of persistent conflict. One way to accomplish this is to include a spiritual development plan in every Chaplain Officer Evaluation Report (OER) Support Form 67-9-1b. This study is designed to flush out the spiritual development plan from the aspect of self-care; to identify the need for self-care and to present a model. Self-care can be defined as the acknowledgement of one’s spiritual, mental, and physical (soul, mind, and body) preparedness to conduct life changing ministry. It is the care needed to maintain effective job performance and holistic wellness. The chaplain is a clergy person ordained by God to provide and perform ministry in a military milieu. The demands of the military are great and unique. To provide and perform ministry globally in this demanding military surrounding is challenging. To maintain spiritual wholeness and resist becoming fragmented involves innovation in self-care.

Thesis: To identify the need for self-care in the United States Army Chaplain Corps and to present a model of self-care. To strengthen the spiritual life of the Chaplain Corps self-care is a necessity. A healthy chaplain will benefit the Department of Defense, military organizations, family members and themselves. Self-care is needed not only because of the demands of the military and its uniqueness, but also is due to the fact that the chaplain is called to holiness. The implied task to conduct self-care for military chaplains is given in the United States Army Chaplain Corps Strategic Campaign Plan, 2008-2013 and the Covenant and Code of Ethics for Chaplains of the Armed Forces. The Covenant and Code of Ethics for Chaplains of the Armed Forces is provided by the armed forces ecclesiastical endorsing agents.

Application: The pastoral research project was designed to be used in support of the United States Army Chaplain Corps Strategic Campaign Plan, 2008-2013. The research design consisted of questionnaires and interviews from United States Army, Navy, and Air Force Chaplains, and civilian clergy. Data was collected through permission granted interviews and questionnaires. This qualitative research helped to confirm the hypothesis (there is a need of a formal and/or informal model of self-care in the United States Army Chaplaincy) and develop a Christian/religious component to be used as an option in the United States Army Chaplain Corps Strategic Campaign Plan, 2008-2013, which is nested with the four strategic goals of the Army Campaign Plan. This new component and this accepted model will better equip the chaplain to conduct self-care thus, assisting the chaplaincy of accomplishing its goal of strengthening the spiritual life of the United States Army Chaplaincy.

INTRODUCTION

The United States Army is a professional organization. United States Army chaplains are a part of this professional organization. The United States Army Chaplain Corps was born 29 July 1775. Chaplains have a unique moral role in the Army. Throughout these two hundred and thirty three years, the United States Army Chaplain has helped American Soldiers deal with the rigors of combat and the demands of military life. Approximately twenty five thousand Army Chaplains have served as religious and spiritual leaders for twenty million Soldiers and their families. Their mission is clear: to bring God to the Soldier and the Soldier to God. The chaplain makes personal sacrifices for God and country daily.

The chaplain is exposed to the same physical, mental, and spiritual challenges the Soldiers endure. One unique characteristic that sets chaplains apart from civilian clergy is the responsibility to deploy in a combat theater. Chaplains form a unique bond and relationship because they are side by side on the front lines with their parishioners. When units deploy, people deploy, and when people deploy, chaplains deploy to provide pastoral care. This gives the chaplain the unique opportunity to know and be known by the Soldiers they serve. This enables critical access to them during times of crisis. On a daily basis, chaplains are placed in harm’s way. The question is not will chaplains be affected by the ugliness of war, but when and how much? There is no other military helping agency in the military that can complete the work of a chaplain. This is why it is important to offer a self-care model to better prepare United States Army Chaplains to provide and perform ministry.

In order to be the spiritual backbone of out fighting force, the chaplains must care for themselves spiritual. The chaplain is called to holiness by God. What happens when the chaplain becomes fragmented and his or her ministry becomes stifled?

Are the self-care techniques the chaplain uses adequate or inadequate? What are some of the presuppositions? One example of this is the idea of selfless service, which is one of the Army’s Seven Values. The understanding behind selfless service is to place the mission and others before our own. The question stands, when is the ‘self’ or the individual able to find balance? Where do they stand in the equation? Selfless service many times equates to useless service. Often times it is extremely difficult for the chaplain to practice what they preach, to talk the talk and to walk the walk.

The design of the research is to explore the issues both internal and external that prevent self-care and offer some preventative measure techniques. The research will show the causes and symptoms of compassion fatigue and burnout, which are enemies of self-care.

The author believes the role of a chaplain is a calling from God. When God calls the minister to a military vocation as a chaplain God will continue to equip the chaplain for duty. Due to our humanity and frailty the chaplain is not perfect. The chaplain is in constant pursuit of improving and strengthening themselves in the area of self-care. Self-care is an individual responsibility.

There is a theological view of self-care. This paper will explore some specific Christian views of self-care and present a paradigm providing this specific pastoral model that is rooted in Christian theology. The theological research for this paper will consist of a study from the Old and New Testaments, looking at the foundation and interpretation of self-care. It will examine biblical examples of Jesus Christ modeling self-care; one who always brought balance to His ministry. For the Christian Chaplain, remembering that God is in control comes in nurturing trust in Jesus Christ in the midst of stress and persecution.

The pastoral research project for this paper will present a model of self-care. This model is simple enough to be used daily. The intent of the author was to establish a model that has feasibility. The model can be memorized and used in any ministry environment. Conducting self-care in any environment is challenging. The difficulty increases when conducted in a military milieu. Conducting self-care is not impossible, but takes some innovation. Jesus Christ offered the self-care model of rest, quiet place, benefits of fellowship, and remembering that God is in control. Saint Mark gives the account of Jesus calming a storm (Mark 4: 35-41). The scriptures illustrate Jesus successfully conducting self-care on the boat during the storm. Life often times brings many storms. Conducting self-care will help the chaplain rest in the storm.

CHAPTER ONE

PASTORAL CHALLENGE

T his paper addresses the challenge of military clergy, particularly U.S. Army Chaplains, to conduct self-care in a demanding military environment. Self-care can be defined as the acknowledgment of who one is spiritually, mentally, and physically (soul, mind, and body), and the care needed to maintain effectiveness in all areas. The demands of the military are great. Today, our nation is at war. This country is in a long struggle against terrorism both foreign and domestic; a struggle that has reached our homeland and has become known as the Global War On Terrorism (GWOT). The demands from GWOT are numerous. The military is carrying the burden of fighting wars on two fronts: in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is charged also is with reinforcing political relationships