Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, April 9, 1994                   TAG: 9404140020
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By CODY LOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

FORUM WILL ADDRESS THE MANY FACETS OF HEALING

``When I'm in a hospital room and someone wants to pray for healing, I always ask them what they expect,'' said Brown, assistant rector at St. John's Episcopal Church.

There are ``many layers of meaning'' for the word, Brown said, layers that will be explored in an upcoming forum on ``Wholeness in Healing'' at his church.

The forum, sponsored by the Lay Pastoral Care Committee, will become an annual event if this one is successful. The committee is charged with exploring ways lay people can become more involved in the pastoral care of the congregation, Brown said. It also designs some educational programs.

This topic was examined in a popular weekly series of classes at the church this winter and is being compressed into a panel discussion for the general public.

It will explore the realm of emotional and spiritual as well as physical healing and is designed to include viewpoints ``from as broad a spectrum as possible,'' Brown said.

It will be held from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., April 16, in the church.

Speakers will include George Branham-Whitewolf, a spiritual leader of the Monacan Indian tribe; Dr. David W. Hartman, a psychiatrist at Lewis Gale Clinic; Martha J. Hunter, bereavement counselor at Hospice of Roanoke Memorial Hospital; Dr. Stephen S. Kennedy, an oncologist at Oncology and Hematology Associates of Southwest Va.; Gerald R. McDermott, professor of religion at Roanoke College and co-author of ``A Medical and Spiritual Guide to Living With Cancer;'' and Brown, who has special responsibilities in pastoral care at St. John's.

There also will be displays of books and other literature, hospices and the Pastoral Counseling Center.

The session will conclude with a voluntary Chistian service of healing, Brown said. Those who wish may stay after the forum for the service, taken from the Book of Common Prayer. Individuals may come forward to have prayer or a laying on of hands, Brown said. They will not be asked to make any public comments.

``I hope people will come out with a greater understanding of the complexity of healing,'' Brown said.

``Physical healing is only one aspect of the greater whole.''

It is also important to think of healing as a community responsibility, Brown said. Those is need ``should feel fundamentally connected'' to their community - which might be a church or some other group. Everyone should be ``supported by one another.''

Unfortunately, Brown said, ``some people feel abandoned'' during the grieving process because friends and family ``don't know how to deal with'' illness or death.

Death, especially, ``can be such a crucible for the community. Do people rally or do they scatter?''

Brown hopes that forum participants will feel a ``greater sense of responsibility to their fellow human beings. Sometimes all we can do is be with people and not pretend to have all the answers.''

The forum is free. Reservations, to ensure there is enough seating, are requested by calling the church office at 343-9341. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.