Last Friday, 15 August, the Nelson Hospital chapel was filled with gratitude as Stephen Gully was decommissioned from his role as lead hospital chaplain. After nearly ten years of faithful service with ICHC, more recently Hospital Chaplaincy Aotearoa, Stephen concluded both his chaplaincy and his priestly ministry within the diocese. As he and his wife, Lesley, prepare to move to Dunedin, I had the chance to chat with him this week, and reflect on his calling, his work at the hospital, and what this ministry has meant to him.
Stephen: Back in 2014 I had quite a serious health issue. I was in a time of significant need – I wasn’t at the crest of the mountain, I was in the valley.
I had a very significant encounter with a distant family member and her husband. She was being evaluated for a drug trial, and if it wasn’t successful, then most likely she would die. It was a very pointy situation.
So she, her husband and I spent some time talking, listening to each other and praying. It was a very spiritual encounter, and we really plumbed the depths about what life and death were all about, and her anxieties – including things she hadn’t even talked with her husband about.
Through that, God really put on my heart that I could do this.
Three or four months into chaplaincy training, I went on my first ward round in the hospital. After a lot of theory and practice, I went onto the wards to meet patients. I did that with another really experienced Chaplain , and I just knew – with the first patients we interacted with – that this was where God wanted me.
For about the first six years of my time at the hospital, I was a volunteer and a locum, standing in for the chaplain. Four years ago, I was appointed as lead chaplain.
Stephen: The role has several threads: one is to provide pastoral, spiritual and religious care to patients, whānau and staff. Then there’s maintaining and developing a team, and building and maintaining relationships within the hospital and the wider community. And there’s admin and reporting that go with all of that.
The day really revolves around patient requirements. It could start early if a patient is going for surgery and asks for the chaplain to be initially with them. Usually, my morning would involve preparing the chapel, preparing myself through prayer and Bible reading. I’d print the patient lists, do some paperwork, maybe some visiting.
Later in the morning my volunteers would come in. I’d brief them, pray with them, check they were right to go on the wards. 10am-12pm is really the golden two hours for visiting patients. Volunteers would do their ward round, and I’d do similar.
A ward round is essentially going into the ward, identifying yourself to the charge nurse manager, and then either going bed to bed asking whether people would like you to spend time with them – or, in my case, going to nominated people who have requested a visit, or who I’m following up from earlier.
After this, we’d be back to the office to debrief volunteers, making sure they’re spiritually and emotionally okay, and helping them learn from the morning’s visits. This is done as a group, so everyone learns and speaks out what they need to, ensuring they leave clear in themselves.
After lunch is more visiting, and towards the end of the day there’s admin or reporting, and prayer before leaving, handing everything back to God. Most evenings during the week I’m on call, though that didn’t happen a great deal.
Some days I would go to particular units or wards. Other days I’d wait and seek where the Spirit would lead me.
Stephen: Yes, actually. Quite often staff will come in to sit and be refreshed. I've heard of night shift staff going down there and getting replenishment. And, of course, patients and whānau.
While there’s a Christian cross on the wall and an altar, and the ministry is Christian, the space is for people of all faiths and none. It’s important for people to understand that. We’re not just ministering to Christians. We come from a strongly Christian base, but we are equipped and open to meet people where they're at.
Stephen: I had a male patient some years ago who had a very debilitating disease that nearly killed him. I journeyed with him for over a year in hospital. That was pretty much daily visiting, at least three times a week. He was a Christian, so a number of times we had communion together.
He partially recovered, went back into the community, and I sometimes saw him through my duties. Then as an outpatient, he used to come and see me. When we see each other, it’s always a very warm welcome.
Another story, more recent: a Christian woman came in with serious conditions, near end of life. I visited her daily, listened, prayed, and gave her one of our wooden holding crosses. Unusually, she later wrote an email saying that in my presence she had reconnected to God. Her illness had rocked her faith, but she felt reconnected, which enabled her recovery – physically and spiritually. That was profound.
God continues to form me for chaplaincy work, but it’s his work. The Spirit has gone before us. If God hadn’t equipped me, it wouldn’t be like that.
Stephen: One is that it’s ecumenical – across denominations, religions, and people of faith and no faith. It’s a ministry of permission. When we see people, at some point we ask permission to be with them. If we think it might help to hold someone’s hand, we ask permission. Any prayer, Bible reading, anointing – always with permission.
People might also be surprised that we’re not there to convert. Proselytising is not allowed. If I went up to a patient and said “believe in Jesus or you’ll go to hell” I’d be out.
We carry Christ in the way we present ourselves, listen, talk, interact, hold silence, show respect. We don’t speak unless there’s agreement. That surprises some people. If a person is comfortable being Christ’s presence and listening, then hospital chaplaincy could be God’s call for them.
The main area where I help people in their faith is rekindling it – blowing on the coals until the spark turns into a flame. I’ve had parishioners come back to church because of encounters in hospital.
Stephen: Firstly that it's very, very fulfilling.
It’s challenging, and it’s a real opportunity for personal growth and for God to continue to form you.
That happens through interactions with patients, whānau and staff, through reflection, and through debriefing with the team.
It’s about being still in Christ’s presence. It’s always about the other person. In the conversation there are three: Christ, yourself, and the patient. The patient is the key.
You also need to think about how you react in medical situations. If a patient talks about bodily functions, can you get past your embarrassment? Trust me, I've heard a few things! You have to put yourself out of the way so you can focus on them.
And you need to monitor yourself and your team. Most of us have life experience or suffering in our background. You must be careful to help them if an encounter triggers something.
Stephen: We’re called to minister to the “least of these” from Matthew 25. People in hospital are vulnerable. God is a God of grace, love, peace, and healing. Through being Christ in flesh in that situation, we bring those.
You might know the Māori model of wellbeing, Te Whare Tapa Whā. One of the walls is taha wairua – spiritual health. We stand there as Christ, meeting people in their spirituality – not necessarily Christian faith, but their sense of being and what they value.
It’s historically been important, it’s important now, and it will continue to be. Many believe in God but are disconnected from church. Chaplains can come alongside people in an approachable way and enable them to express and celebrate faith and spirituality in ways that meet their needs.
The views expressed in this interview are Stephen’s own and do not necessarily represent those of Hospital Chaplaincy Aotearoa.
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More articles in the
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We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
Last Friday, 15 August, the Nelson Hospital chapel was filled with gratitude as Stephen Gully was decommissioned from his role as lead hospital chaplain. After nearly ten years of faithful service with ICHC, more recently Hospital Chaplaincy Aotearoa, Stephen concluded both his chaplaincy and his priestly ministry within the diocese. As he and his wife, Lesley, prepare to move to Dunedin, I had the chance to chat with him this week, and reflect on his calling, his work at the hospital, and what this ministry has meant to him.
Stephen: Back in 2014 I had quite a serious health issue. I was in a time of significant need – I wasn’t at the crest of the mountain, I was in the valley.
I had a very significant encounter with a distant family member and her husband. She was being evaluated for a drug trial, and if it wasn’t successful, then most likely she would die. It was a very pointy situation.
So she, her husband and I spent some time talking, listening to each other and praying. It was a very spiritual encounter, and we really plumbed the depths about what life and death were all about, and her anxieties – including things she hadn’t even talked with her husband about.
Through that, God really put on my heart that I could do this.
Three or four months into chaplaincy training, I went on my first ward round in the hospital. After a lot of theory and practice, I went onto the wards to meet patients. I did that with another really experienced Chaplain , and I just knew – with the first patients we interacted with – that this was where God wanted me.
For about the first six years of my time at the hospital, I was a volunteer and a locum, standing in for the chaplain. Four years ago, I was appointed as lead chaplain.
Stephen: The role has several threads: one is to provide pastoral, spiritual and religious care to patients, whānau and staff. Then there’s maintaining and developing a team, and building and maintaining relationships within the hospital and the wider community. And there’s admin and reporting that go with all of that.
The day really revolves around patient requirements. It could start early if a patient is going for surgery and asks for the chaplain to be initially with them. Usually, my morning would involve preparing the chapel, preparing myself through prayer and Bible reading. I’d print the patient lists, do some paperwork, maybe some visiting.
Later in the morning my volunteers would come in. I’d brief them, pray with them, check they were right to go on the wards. 10am-12pm is really the golden two hours for visiting patients. Volunteers would do their ward round, and I’d do similar.
A ward round is essentially going into the ward, identifying yourself to the charge nurse manager, and then either going bed to bed asking whether people would like you to spend time with them – or, in my case, going to nominated people who have requested a visit, or who I’m following up from earlier.
After this, we’d be back to the office to debrief volunteers, making sure they’re spiritually and emotionally okay, and helping them learn from the morning’s visits. This is done as a group, so everyone learns and speaks out what they need to, ensuring they leave clear in themselves.
After lunch is more visiting, and towards the end of the day there’s admin or reporting, and prayer before leaving, handing everything back to God. Most evenings during the week I’m on call, though that didn’t happen a great deal.
Some days I would go to particular units or wards. Other days I’d wait and seek where the Spirit would lead me.
Stephen: Yes, actually. Quite often staff will come in to sit and be refreshed. I've heard of night shift staff going down there and getting replenishment. And, of course, patients and whānau.
While there’s a Christian cross on the wall and an altar, and the ministry is Christian, the space is for people of all faiths and none. It’s important for people to understand that. We’re not just ministering to Christians. We come from a strongly Christian base, but we are equipped and open to meet people where they're at.
Stephen: I had a male patient some years ago who had a very debilitating disease that nearly killed him. I journeyed with him for over a year in hospital. That was pretty much daily visiting, at least three times a week. He was a Christian, so a number of times we had communion together.
He partially recovered, went back into the community, and I sometimes saw him through my duties. Then as an outpatient, he used to come and see me. When we see each other, it’s always a very warm welcome.
Another story, more recent: a Christian woman came in with serious conditions, near end of life. I visited her daily, listened, prayed, and gave her one of our wooden holding crosses. Unusually, she later wrote an email saying that in my presence she had reconnected to God. Her illness had rocked her faith, but she felt reconnected, which enabled her recovery – physically and spiritually. That was profound.
God continues to form me for chaplaincy work, but it’s his work. The Spirit has gone before us. If God hadn’t equipped me, it wouldn’t be like that.
Stephen: One is that it’s ecumenical – across denominations, religions, and people of faith and no faith. It’s a ministry of permission. When we see people, at some point we ask permission to be with them. If we think it might help to hold someone’s hand, we ask permission. Any prayer, Bible reading, anointing – always with permission.
People might also be surprised that we’re not there to convert. Proselytising is not allowed. If I went up to a patient and said “believe in Jesus or you’ll go to hell” I’d be out.
We carry Christ in the way we present ourselves, listen, talk, interact, hold silence, show respect. We don’t speak unless there’s agreement. That surprises some people. If a person is comfortable being Christ’s presence and listening, then hospital chaplaincy could be God’s call for them.
The main area where I help people in their faith is rekindling it – blowing on the coals until the spark turns into a flame. I’ve had parishioners come back to church because of encounters in hospital.
Stephen: Firstly that it's very, very fulfilling.
It’s challenging, and it’s a real opportunity for personal growth and for God to continue to form you.
That happens through interactions with patients, whānau and staff, through reflection, and through debriefing with the team.
It’s about being still in Christ’s presence. It’s always about the other person. In the conversation there are three: Christ, yourself, and the patient. The patient is the key.
You also need to think about how you react in medical situations. If a patient talks about bodily functions, can you get past your embarrassment? Trust me, I've heard a few things! You have to put yourself out of the way so you can focus on them.
And you need to monitor yourself and your team. Most of us have life experience or suffering in our background. You must be careful to help them if an encounter triggers something.
Stephen: We’re called to minister to the “least of these” from Matthew 25. People in hospital are vulnerable. God is a God of grace, love, peace, and healing. Through being Christ in flesh in that situation, we bring those.
You might know the Māori model of wellbeing, Te Whare Tapa Whā. One of the walls is taha wairua – spiritual health. We stand there as Christ, meeting people in their spirituality – not necessarily Christian faith, but their sense of being and what they value.
It’s historically been important, it’s important now, and it will continue to be. Many believe in God but are disconnected from church. Chaplains can come alongside people in an approachable way and enable them to express and celebrate faith and spirituality in ways that meet their needs.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
