Dont Tell Me Im Dying

Providing End of Life Care among Patients from

African Pentecostal Communities
5 October 2015
Dying is a social and cultural event in every community. Among faith groups there are
rites and rituals, beliefs and taboos which may make caring for a dying person and
those who support them complex for a multi-professional team.
This day will explore ways in which healthcare professionals are able to support
patients and families from African Pentecostal communities and seek to describe
Pentecostal beliefs and how they affect conversations and decisions at the end of
life. The paradigms of faith, language and conflict will be explored, including the
Pentecostal understanding of death.
Participants will be invited to engage in the day with a number of case studies, used
to develop thinking and deepen understanding of the world views and belief model of
Pentecostalism
The day will include perspectives from social work, medicine and chaplaincy. Each
profession will consider the opportunities and challenges of working with patients and
family members who have a Pentecostal Christian faith.

Facilitators
Rev Dr Andrew Goodhead, Spiritual Care Lead,
St Christophers
Andrew Goodhead joined St Christophers as Chaplain in
January 2005, completing his doctoral research in 2007. He is a
Methodist Minister with 14 years Church based experience
gained in several localities throughout the UK, both urban and
rural. Andrew graduated in 2014 with the Kings College, London,
MSc in Palliative Care.
The Rev Nana Kyei-Baffour, Chaplain/Spirituality & Disability
Advisor, Guys & St Thomas NHS foundation Trust
The speaker is an Associate Professor of Theology with Global
University (USA). He is a Pentecostal Minister with Assemblies of
God, UK and has been in Church Ministry since 1992. He has
also been a Pentecostal/Generic Health Care Chaplain at Guys
& St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, London since 2004. His
other current roles include: Senior Pastor at Victory-City
Assemblies of God Church, Wallington, London; Spirituality &
Disability Advisor / Chaplain at Guys & St Thomas NHS
Foundation Trust and a Distance Learning Tutor with Assemblies
of God Bible College in Mattersey Doncaster.

Additional speakers
Topics will include

Describing Pentecostal beliefs.

Doctor and Social Worker perspectives.
How Chaplains can help.
Pentecostalism and the end of life.
Talking to the children
The place of spirits and the reality Evil; its role in Pentecostal worldviews.
Working in different paradigms; language, faith and conflict

Dr Emma Hall, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, St Christophers

Gill OHalloran, Principal Social Worker, St Christophers

Who should attend

This day is for chaplains, social workers, bereavement workers, doctors nurses and
other professionals working with people at the end of life.

Follow us on twitter @stcheducation or sign up for

updates on education news, courses and offers via
www.stchristophers.org.uk/education/emailupdates