This will be the first of two e-mails. In this one will be a brief description of the retreat.
My wife and I arrived late Monday afternoon at the Founders Inn for the 2011 IPHC Chaplains, Spouses, and Friends Retreat. Personally, I had not had a day off since August, working as a hospital chaplain in Anderson, SC. I was very much looking forward to this, especially as a recharge. My wife was looking forward to the time we would spend together, as well as talking with the spouses of chaplains who are active/reserve.
My birthday was Tuesday, the 21st, and I was able to enjoy it immensely with a tour of Colonial Williamsburg. I say immensely because my undergraduate degree was in History, Technology, and Society, and spending a day in a "living museum" was quite a treat. Kuhiwa, not so much into history, enjoyed the interior design and architecture, and took away many ideas of decorating and design.
Wednesday, we were both blessed to listen to Chaplain, Major General Cecil R. Richardson.
As a Navy Chaplain Candidate, a great deal of my chaplaincy training has not been military, but civilian; specifically, a hospital chaplain. While being a Resident in CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education), I'm the chaplain for the ER, Psych Unit, Orthopedics, and Pulmonary. The push in this CPE program is to incorporate other religions into our beliefs, using multiple faith groups in chapels and patient treatments, etc. A chaplain is a shepherd, a spiritualist, advocate, ethicist, etc. who stands against judgment and "religious-ism" (very Unitarian Universallist). What a blessing to hear it spoken, aloud and proudly, from a Major General that a chaplain is first and foremost a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!! What renewal of the truth! The sliding greyness has been polarized into a stark contrast, and I feel my heart soar! This was capitalized on by listening and receiving from fellow IPHC Chaplains.
My wife was also able to receive from Chaplain Richardson, but she also spent time learning from the vast resources known as "chaplain's spouses." Several poured into her, and encouraged her in her ministry. She too experienced a new vibrant-ness.
Thursday, we departed and headed for home, and we spoke at length about what we had learned, heard, and received.
We both thoroughly enjoyed this retreat very much!
Adam Erwin
Lieutenant (Junior Grade)
United States Naval Reserve
Chaplain Candidate Program Officer
Associate Pastor/Youth Pastor
Honea Path Pentecostal Holiness Church
Chaplain Resident
AnMed Health System
Emergency Department, Psychaitric Unit,
Orthopedic Unit, and Pulmonary Unit
Anderson, SC
Posted on
Fri, July 8, 2011
by Hugh Morgan