Faith Based Healthcare and Persons of Faith in Healthcare                            

People of faith and organizations proclaiming faith always end up categorized by one of the religious congregations or societies. For those of us who have served in faith-based organizations or worked for people who wear their faith on their shirtsleeves, there is often disappointment and skepticism. Why? In Christian circles, is it not good enough that Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran and Episcopal organizations that operate hospitals and other healthcare institutions are living out the story of the Good Samaritan? After all, how good was the Good Samaritan? We only know one story of the way he conducted his life. At home, he may have been abusive to his wife. Who knows? We do know this. If he was a real human being, he had his own set of strengths and weaknesses.

For people of faith serving in the healthcare industry, there can be a personal sense of ministry in exercising medical, nursing, or even executive skill in serving God. When they choose to openly talk about their faith or religious life, we tend to hold them to a higher standard. This is probably not a good idea. Many are jaded by personal experience. The truth is we expect something more of religious organizations and people. Why? Well, we just do.

I work with an individual who claims to be an atheist. His life is bereft of any pretense that there is a higher power. The way he lives his life is consistent with his belief system. He is ruthless, self-absorbed and a moral reprobate. Most people really like him. There is no pretense . . . and he can be very charming while he drops that knife between someone’s shoulder blades. One thing is clear at all times, you know that his philosophy of life and faith (or lack thereof) is consistent with the way he lives his life.

I have been guilty of talking too much about my religious affiliation (Eastern Orthodoxy). I have noticed that it puts me in a position in which people expect more from me than others. The truth is that I am a flawed creature like everyone else. I carry a bag of personal and professional strengths to work everyday. Most days, I carry a heavier bag of personal and professional weaknesses.

I have become close friends with an Eastern Orthodox priest. I serve on the Board of Directors of a ministry he started forty years ago devoted to housing and healing. He refers to himself as the “country priest.” When I have discussed these concerns with him, he quips, “We all have a story and pretend that we don't .” It is an honest representation that these religious organizations and religious people have their strengths and weaknesses just like everyone else. Somewhere in our childhood development, most of us were encouraged to show deference, if not reverence, to people of faith. When we find out they are flawed in some way we are frequently surprised and disappointed.

Once I served a religiously sponsored hospital and was shocked to observe that there was behavior at work that was frequently petty, ruthless, ethically challenged and frequently wrong. Where was God when we needed Him or Her?

There was a time when I reported to an individual who wore his religious affiliation from head to toe. Every morning, even at work, he would read from a religious book, meditating on the Word of God. He was generous to a fault and was devoted to his religious organization as much as he was involved in his healthcare organization.

At a point during our relationship, I developed a cardiac illness with potentially life altering consequences. I did not hear from him for eight weeks. The hurt feelings were amplified by the visual recollection of him reading aloud from his meditation manual. His concern was that I would potentially become a financial liability to the organization. There was no concern demonstrated for me or my family. When his name comes up in healthcare circles, the typical reflection on him is this, “. . . that fellow can really hold a good grudge.” It is too bad. In many ways, this is the most generous person I know and was good to me in so many ways.

The essence of how we evaluate people is the way they conduct themselves in their personal and professional dealings. We really do not care very much about what their religious affiliation is or is purported to be. The cultural expectation that religious organizations and people of faith are going to be better than expected is unfortunate and unfair. Remember what the good “country priest” said, “We all have a story and pretend that we don’t.”

Jan Ricks Jennings, MHA, LFACHE

Senior Consultant

Senior Management Resources

, LLC

Jan.jennings@EagleTalons.com

JanJenningsBlog.Blogspot.com

Republished with permission from the Hospital News Group  ✅