About Us
Pacific Health Ministry (PHM) was established in 1986 as a not-for-profit organization to develop hospital ministry, community spiritual care and clinical pastoral education in Hawai’i. The idea for the agency germinated in the hearts and minds of Hawai‘i hospital and religious leaders. In the early ‘80’s, there was a growing interest in the value of spiritual care in health and healing, means to address complex bio-ethical questions, as well as beginning and end of life issues. A committee of religious and health care leaders gathered to seek ways to address these challenging concerns. Through consultation with the Pacific Region of the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education, models to develop a spiritual care and education program within a multi-cultural, multi-religious context of Hawai‘i were formulated.
Funds to begin the agency were generated from local church groups and a grant from the Pacific Region ACPE. Rev. John Moody was employed as a consultant in 1987 to develop the models with area hospitals. The agency actually began services to three major Hawai'i health care institutions starting in 1988 -- Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, The Queen's Medical Center, and Kuakini Medical Center. Since that time programs have been established at seven other institutions that serve people from all the Hawai'ian Islands and throughout the central Pacific Basin.
Concurrent with these developments, Pacific Health Ministry established a Clinical Pastoral Education Program. It received accreditation in 1988 from the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education and has been conducting educational programming continuously since. It is the only accredited graduate level ministry education program in the State and region. In nearly 20 years of service, nearly 500 clergy and theological students from more than 30 nations have participated in the program.
To expand its community services, a Community Health Ministry Program was begun. It is conducted by Registered Nurses with volunteers that provide health screening clinics and spiritual care at various elderly and low-income living sites as well as with the homeless community on the beaches.
Other community volunteer based programs have also been established. PHM coordinates all the disaster spiritual care services for Hawai'i in conjunction with Red Cross and related disaster services. Local clergy from all faith traditions volunteer to serve in the event of hurricane, tsunami and major disaster events. A Lay Chaplaincy training program was also developed to invite people from congregations and temples to serve as volunteer spiritual care providers in the agency's various programs.
A significant development was the purchase of a training center and administrative building in 2001. The facility provides a learning center for educational programs, a meeting place for community religious leaders, volunteer training site, and the headquarters for Pacific Health Ministry.
Pacific Health Ministry is a truly diverse organization. The people on the Board of Directors come from all faith traditions in Hawai'i. This ministry of care and education is rooted in the rich traditions and spiritual values of the peoples of our Island home. It is governed by a vision that is inclusive of all cultures and needs. It is the express goal of the Board to establish spiritual care services and education in all the health related institutions in the State of Hawai'i. It is the intent of the agency and professional staff to serve as a catalyst for people from the many cultures and traditions to come together to learn ministry skills and offer spiritual and health services to all.