By Lloyd Mackey

DAVID Van Essen is part of a growing cadre of ministers, many with specialized clinical pastoral education, who provide specialized service and ministry to seniors in residential complexes throughout British Columbia.

Van Essen has been on pastoral staffs in Boston and Toronto Baptist churches, and did social work in Victoria.

He and wife Barbara moved to Kelowna in 1997, where he assumed his present chaplain/social work role at two Pacific Sun senior’s ‘villages’ in the city.

Van Essen’s particular responsibilities are at Sun Pointe Village in Rutland, and Village at Mill Creek in the central part of Kelowna.

While Pacific Sun finances the chaplaincy service, Van Essen remains a minister credentialed under the Baptist Union of Western Canada.

In his chaplaincy role, he provides spiritual comfort for people of faith who reside in the villages. In that role, he frequently helps provide answers to questions such as: ‘Is there a purpose for life?’ ‘What is the meaning of pain?’ and ‘Is there a God?’

Essen is quick to point out that he does not try to handle that task alone.

He has a list of spiritual leaders – both Christians and members of other faiths – from the Kelowna area, who are available to visit people connected with their own particular groups.

Continue article >>

Van Essen points out that there have been many changes in the form and levels of health care for seniors in the region over the last five years, and that one of a chaplain’s responsibilities is to see that the appropriate spiritual care is available, no matter the situation.

A fair number of the people with whom he communicates may be living with conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Lou Gehrig’s disease or some form of dementia.

Medication and other levels of help must be arranged; and often the chaplain, as part of the care team, is able to connect some of the needs with the right people.

Local churches of various denominations provide a range of spiritual and social services, and the chaplain maintains a coordination role.

Van Essen points to such organizations as the Catholic Women’s League and the United Church Women as invaluable in extending the care of the church to the people of their particular denominations.

In a city with a number of significantly large churches, the number of residents affiliated with such congregations is proportionately strong.  

One increasingly significant role for the chaplain relates to palliative care.

This involves helping families understand the process of dying, assisting them in sorting through financial affairs, family dynamics and other ‘unfinished business.’

In many cases, it helps to be able to be both a social worker and a chaplain.

April 2008