Affirming the Sacredness of (a) Life
This case study explores a street chaplain’s role in developing a memorial service for an unhoused veteran. Through careful attention to the identities and relationships of the person the chaplain seeks to honor, the case study guides participants through a series of choices involved in developing a ritual, including officiant, location, meaningful objects, and words.
As a result of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Assess how someone’s spiritual and religious history is informing a present situation
- Identify key ingredients in creating meaningful rituals
- Consider the surrounding environment and its impact on chaplaincy encounters
- Distinguish between trauma, moral injury, and spiritual struggles
meaning-making
context matters
veterans
spiritual distress
street chaplaincy
death and loss
This case study was developed by: Libby Gatti (Cathedral Church of St. Paul), Shelly Rambo (Boston University School of Theology), David Fleenor (The Mount Sinai Hospital), Lars Mackenzie, and Liz Aeschlimann.