ABSTRACT
Every professional discipline needs resources to assist their members in the struggle to keep themselves and others informed about best theories and practices. In this respect, hospital ministry is no different from other health care professions. This book provides information for helping hospital administrators, educators, and persons seeking to provide spiritual and pastoral resources to hospitalized individuals and their families. To accomplish these purposes, the book addresses the need for a purposeful, pragmatic, meaningful, integrated, and systemic view of hospital ministry. It is offered as a resource for clergy, pastoral and spiritual care providers, hospitals, and churches with the goal of helping hospital ministry grow as a resource to individuals and organizations. The book is meant to be a resource for the creation, and in some places strengthening, of bridges toward increased integration of hospital ministry in secular and sacred organizations where support and understanding of hospital ministry is weak or nonexistent.
