Title:
Survivors of personal and professional trauma: exploring the lived experiences and continuous career decision of female clergy diagnosed with cancer
Author:
Latoya S. Moss
Committee Member:
Joe Stewart-Sicking
Committee Member:
Tom Rodgerson
Committee Member:
Mandy Robbins
Committee Member:
Jill Snodgrass
Degree Granting Institution:
Loyola University Maryland--College of Arts and Sciences
Place:
Baltimore (Md.)
Publisher:
Loyola University Maryland
Date Created:
2014
Type of Resource:
text
Genre:
thesis
Language:
eng
Format:
application/pdf
Physical Form:
electronic
Digital Source:
born digital
Abstract:
According to the American Cancer Society, in 2013 more than 1.6 million Americans were diagnosed with cancer and nearly half, 48.5%, were women (American Cancer Society, 2013, pp. 1-4). When diagnosed with cancer, one's spiritual and religious beliefs may serve as both ?ǣa resource for coping and as a source of struggle in itself"" (Pargament, Desai, and McConnell, 2006, p. 122). This qualitative study employed an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to gain a greater understanding of the lived experiences of female clergy diagnosed with cancer. It explored how members of the clergy, who are called to assist survivors but are survivors themselves, continue to meet the demands of a career in religious leadership. How do female clergy cope with all that they have been called to carry and simultaneously make meaning of their own adversity and trauma? This study explored the key factors that assisted them in bouncing back and moving ahead after their experience(s), and the effect(s) of their cancer experience on their continued ministerial service. Six women ordained within various Christian denominations participated in semi-structured interviews. Results indicated that the women relied on direct and indirect relationship with God to cope and find meaning in their experiences. Their relationships with God revealed profound transparency as they engaged in real but reverent conversation with and prayer to God. Furthermore, they used the arts as a means of self-expression and communication with God. Following their cancer diagnoses, many participants evaluated their career commitments but reaffirmed their obligation to ministry and to God. Participants indicated positive outcomes from their experiences with cancer including a deepening of their spirituality and the birth of ministry opportunities within the community. The study concludes by noting' contributions to the literature and offering implications for pastoral counseling practice with female clergy diagnosed with cancer. Finally, recommendations for future research are given.
Subject:
Electronic dissertations
Degree:
Doctor of Philosophy
Level:
Doctoral
Discipline:
Pastoral Counseling
Restrictions on Access:
Author has given permission to make this work available online.
Use and Reproduction:
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Identifier:
MossLS-14
