Moi

My name is Jacqueline Hope Derby. I am an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, with my professional emphasis being on Pastoral Care. I currently live in Florida–with a special shout out to you Farkers–which is that magical place of the crazy, the scantily clad, and the nearly dead. My professional areas of interest include: bereavement, sudden traumatic loss, the role religion plays in suffering, ethics versus morality, and creating a new language, outside of religious dogma, to describe transcendence and spiritual connection. (Could someone please put that in a cross stitch?) My professional fears include: spiritual manipulation, the overtaking of Jesus’ central messages of love and peace by a “gospel” of hatred and war, any kind of fundamentalism and inerrancy. Oh! And do not call this Sista a Christian; I have issues with that (irony noted). “A woman following the path of Jesus” would be a more accurate description.

My personal areas of interest include: logic, kayaking, cribbage, photography and the holy trinity of green vegetables–broccoli, spinach and asparagus. My heart beats passionately for my puppy Emma Wayne. I would also love to find a man who reads books and rides a mountain bike. Perfecting my chocolate souffle would be cool too, but I am not so sure I should bake. My personal fears include: falling off my mountain bike, men in tank tops, parking (I suck at it!), teeth scraping against metal, and paying off my seminary debt. (Cash donations are always encouraged and accepted.)

So, why “My Middle Name is Hope” beyond the obvious answer that it is?! Because I continue to believe that hope is that place within us that imagines all that life can be even in the places where everything screams at us that there are no possibilities, no way through, no love, no joy, no compassion, no peace, no forgiveness. I possess great hope for my life–regardless of the outcome–that family, friends, laughter, insight, healing and love will be with me all along my journey and even when the shit is hitting the fan.

Mini CV:

AA in Liberal Arts from Stephens College
BA in Liberal Arts from St. Thomas University
MDiv from Duke Divinity School
CPE Internship at the University of North Carolina Hospitals
CPE Residency at Rush University Medical Center, with clinical rotation as the first Chaplain for Trauma at the John M. Stroger Hospital of Cook County
Advanced Bereavement Facilitator
NIH Informed Consent Requestor

Disclaimer: This blog does contain information about certain interactions I have with patients, families and co-workers. All identifying information has been omitted or changed to honor my commitment to the sacred trust of their confidentiality.