The Call to Care: Essays by Unitarian Universalist Chaplains

by Karen L. Hutt (Editor)

For the first time, Unitarian Universalist chaplains come together to share why they care, who they care for, and how they care. In sixteen heartfelt and thoughtful essays, they provide a close-up view of their day-to-day ministry in hospitals, hospices, prisons, the military, the police force, and rehabilitation centers. With the increasing secularization of our culture, and the growing numbers of religious seekers, Unitarian Universalist chaplains today play ever-more important roles in these institutions. They model non-sectarian care for a world that is increasingly spiritual but not religious. These writers open a window into the caring arts as they share their stories about companioning people in crisis who are on a journey to find meaning and purpose in difficult times.

218 pages, Paperback

Published December 20, 2016

Reviews

[Neil Harmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this book to try and add some denominational flavor to a course I was taking on Pastoral Theology. The book answered that need but also provided a wide variety of stories of pastoral care in many different settings. The essays were all thoughtful and provided a good picture of what pastoral care in each setting looked like. While denominational theology is mentioned, the stories are not really specific and I think the book would be very useful to those of any (or no) denomination who would like to learn more about pastoral care and chaplaincy in a variety of settings. The first person essays were a pleasure to read and the book turned out to be more than I'd hoped for.

[Corinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be a very eye-opening read. Each of the essays in this book are written by a different author sharing insights into their work as Unitarian Universalist chaplains. All were engaging and thought provoking, but I found Emily Brault's essay, "Spirits Behind Bars" to be especially compelling. I can't help but be a bit in awe of the people who do this extremely delicate and difficult work.