Clergywomen face unique challenges. Today’s “Ask the Matriarch” column at RevGalBlogPals addresses a question about enforcing boundaries with a person who is hurting:
Dear Matriarchs,
What?s a gal chaplain to do? I work in hospice and I try hard to be professional and do my job well. What does one do when a bereaved male claims he has ?felt a connection? and asks where you ?do services? or looks at you very intently in the eye and says he gets ?lonely?. So far I?m just taking the professional route and ignoring the hint. Should I call him out and name it in regards to me, risking breaking the ?connection? or trust? Or just continue the professional, empathic way? Does ?compassionate, pastoral, good listener? equate with ?possible hookup? to these guys? I am solidly married with kids and love my work.