Healthcare Chaplains

Decisions about care and surgery for children born with intersex conditions/DSDs are often made soon after birth. Healthcare chaplains are on the front lines of pastoral and spiritual support for the parents of children with intersex conditions/DSDs, but may not receive specific training or resourcing to equip them for ministering to intersex people and their families.

As part of the Intersex, Identity and Disability project, the Lincoln Theological Institute is working with healthcare chaplains in Britain to survey the nature of existing resources on intersex/DSD and to find out what form of training or resourcing would be most valuable.

We would be particularly interested to hear from healthcare chaplains or chaplaincy trainers who know of existing materials on intersex/DSD used by those ministering in this context.

For more information about this aspect of the project, or to join the mailing list for news and updates, please e-mail Susannah.cornwall@manchester.ac.uk

 

Prayers for use by Healthcare Chaplains when Ministering to Families of Children with Intersex Conditions/DSDs

These prayers are taken from the Church of England Common Worship service of Thanksgiving for the Gift of a Child (see http://www.churchofengland.org/media/41171/ciritesontheway.pdf). They may be helpful to you if you are a healthcare chaplain working with a family whose child has been born with an intersex condition/DSD.

 

1. Prayer of Thanksgiving

 

God our creator,

we thank you for the wonder of new life

and for the mystery of human love.

We thank you for all whose support and skill

surround and sustain the beginning of life.

We thank you that we are known to you by name

and loved by you from all eternity.

We thank you for Jesus Christ,

who has opened to us the way of love.

We praise you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Amen.

 

 

2. Prayer for Health Workers

 

Father almighty, we give you thanks

for all concerned with the care of N [this mother]

and the safe birth of N [her child ].

We pray for the doctors and nurses,

midwives and health visitors,

and all who will support the health and welfare of this family

in the coming years.

May they be filled with your love,

moved by your compassion

and supported by your presence.

We ask this in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

 

 

3. Prayer when a Child has Special Needs

Living God, creator of us all,

we thank you for entrusting N [this child]

into the special care of N and N [these parents].

Give them and all who surround them

wisdom and understanding, courage and patience;

give them grace to put aside fear and anxiety

and to fulfil your purposes;

fill their hearts with your unfailing love,

that N [this child] may grow up secure in giving and receiving love

and in the enjoyment of your presence,

to enrich our lives and the lives of others

in ways beyond our imagining,

in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.