Page 28 - Presbyterian Connection

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PRESBYTERIAN
FALL 2024
presbyterian.ca
Recognizing 50 Years
of Service in Nova Scotia
Presbyterian Wins
Most Distinguished
Service Award
Connection
Charles Greaves and his wife, Linda.
By the Rev. David Coull, Bethel Presbyterian Church in Sydney, N.S.
On Sunday, June 23, 2024, Bethel Presbyterian Church in Sydney, N.S., held a special service to rec-
ognize Charles Greaves for his life- time of service to the church. The event drew a crowd of about 175 people and included welcoming new members and communion.
Charles has been an elder at Bethel since 1974 and clerk of
Session since 1981. Charles served as clerk of Cape Breton Presbytery, and as moderator during the Covid years. He was moderator of the Atlantic Synod, served as a member of the Syn- od Council and was a member of Assembly Council for seven years. Charles has vast knowl- edge of the church and its issues at the local, regional and national levels.
Charles knows church proto- col. He is very familiar with the Book of Forms and can use this knowledge to steer the Session when difficult situations arise, as they are sometimes prone to do. He has been and continues to be a dedicated member of Bethel and an inspiration to all.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Charles, who has provided unwavering sup- port, wisdom and knowledge to me since my arrival at Bethel in December 2023.
“Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received” (1 Peter 4:10).
By N. Elaine Nagy, R.P., Registered Psychotherapist CRPO, Certified Supervisor-Educator
For the first time, the Canadian As- sociation for Spiritual Care, Asso- ciation Canadienne de Soins Spir- ituels, (CASC/ACSS) has awarded its highest honour to one of its members who is endorsed by The Presbyterian Church in Canada.
The CASC/ACSS is the national association that offers education and certification in the fields of spiritual care practice, psycho- spiritual therapy and supervisory education. Most of its members provide spiritual care in health care, corrections or community settings, or engage in spiritual psychotherapy in private practice.
On April 16, 2024, the Verda Rochon Distinguished Service Award was presented to the Rev. Dr. Philip D. Crowell, who is the Spiritual Health Leader/Director at British Columbia Children’s and Women’s Hospital. He is also a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hema- tology/Oncology, and a Medical Ethics Theme Leader/Educator in the University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine Undergradu- ate & Oral Health Sciences Pro- grams. In addition, Philip serves as the Spiritual Health Lead for the B.C. Provincial Health Authority, B.C. Cancer, B.C. Mental Health and Addictions Facilities, and the B.C. Forensic Psychiatric Hospi- tal. He also regularly offers Pro- fessional Ethics Courses at the Vancouver School of Theology. In his capacity as the Ethics Educa- tor/Leader for the UBC Faculty of Medicine, his teaching addresses the issues of professionalism, ethics, culture, spirituality and resiliency. For a time, he served on the B.C. College of Physicians and Surgeons Ethics Committee with a primary focus on writing the Standards and Procedures for Medicine regarding Medical As- sistance in Dying (MAID).
Philip Crowell is a Presbyterian minister, on the Appendix to the Roll of the Presbytery of West- minster. He began his ministry by serving as Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Chatham Pasto- ral Charge in Chatham, N.B., and as the moderator of the Presby- tery of Miramichi, after earning his doctoral degree in Philosophy and Ethics from the University of
The Rev. Dr. Philip D. Crowell.
Waterloo.
CASC/ACSS presents several
awards each year to those who excel in spiritual care practice and spiritual care research, but the Verda Rochon Award is its highest honour. It is presented to a mem- ber of the association who has made a significant contribution to the spiritual care profession and to its professional association.
In presenting the award, Ajith Varghese, who spoke on behalf of the Board of CASC/ACSS, acknowledged the remarkable leadership Philip has offered his colleagues and the spiritual care profession since 2009, when a B.C. hospital system suddenly eliminated all spiritual care posi- tions and departments. At the time, Philip was the chair of the B.C. Region of CASC/ACSS.
Philip was interviewed by the Vancouver Sun and his com- ments about what spiritual care is became a front-page story. He debunked misconceptions about the role spiritual care plays in health care systems and identified the valuable service professional spiritual care practitioners pro- vide. This led to another interview and a joint statement carried by Global News on the intrinsic value of spiritual care professionals.
Philip and two other spiritual care colleagues were then able to create influential relationships with the Health Minister’s office in B.C. Together, they were able to create policy documents that strengthened the relationship be- tween spiritual care professionals and the Ministry, which led to the funding of several new positions.
Many people in the PCC and from other faith traditions and health care disciplines have ben- efited from Philip’s remarkable achievements.
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