Rev. Dr. Benita Livingston, 13th Episcopal District
The 13th Episcopal District, under the leadership of Bishop E. Anne Henning Byfield and Supervisor Ainsley Byfield, held its Mid-Year Convocation on March 24-26, 2022, at St. John African Methodist Episcopal Church in Memphis, Tennessee. One of the highlights of this meeting was the presentation given by the Rev. Dr. G. Dianne Lewis, Chief of Chaplains at the Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia, and the Connectional President of the Henry McNeal Turner Chaplains Association. Dr. Lewis’ presentation entitled “Overcoming Stress, Depression, and Frustrations” was to clergy only. It was an opportunity for clergy self-examination to identify signs of burnout, opportunities to practice better self-care, and engage in a lively question and answer session.
At the request of Bishop Byfield, the Chaplains in the 13th Episcopal District met with Dr. Lewis to discuss organizing a spiritual care team for clergy, the endorsing process, and membership in the Henry McNeal Turner Chaplains Association. Clergy stress is enormous, and as Dr. Lewis stated in her presentation, pastors report significant stress-related crises. Therefore, there is a need for clergy support and spiritual care, and the Chaplains of the 13th Episcopal District will be providing spiritual care in grief and bereavement support, end-of-life care and planning, and trauma and crisis care for individuals in-person or through video meetings. District meetings will also provide on-site care, if needed, and offer various presentations in specialized areas. A pastoral care team will also compile a list of various professional counselors that clergy and lay may utilize and referred if needed. When clergy request spiritual care, a Chaplain will respond to the request to assess the need, provide the assistance or work with clergy to connect them with a professional counselor in their area. The 13th Episcopal District has also agreed to pay for three professional counseling sessions for clergy.
Chaplaincy is a calling. The ministry of Chaplains is diverse. Chaplains offer spiritual care, support, guidance, and the ministry of presence to individuals, family members, and institutions. Chaplains minister in government facilities, hospitals, hospice settings, workplaces, on college and university campuses, and on military bases. Chaplains are ordained ministers who take care of the spiritual needs of people from a variety of religious backgrounds. Chaplains must have a Master of Divinity, complete a residency of Clinical Pastoral Education, be endorsed by the denomination through the process as outlined by The Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and obtain Board Certification through the Association of Professional Chaplains or the Department of Veteran Affairs. Chaplains are clinically trained, educated, and well qualified to serve the present age. Chaplaincy is a vital ministry of our denomination. We praise God for the vision of Bishop E. Anne Henning Byfield in establishing a Chaplain’s Spiritual Care Team to provide care to clergy.
The following are members of the 13th Episcopal District Chaplain’s Spiritual Care Team: the Reverends Dr. Benita Livingston (Coordinator), Dr. Sarita Wilson, Dr. Dianna Watkins-Dickerson, Elizabeth Shell, Melissa Hale, Omaràn D. Lee, Linda Jackson, and Nachia Woods.
