Hospital Visitation Then And Now

Hospital visitation is not what it was. Ministers used to have the freedom of the hospital. I went to visit a congregant in hospital, but was stopped by a security guard at the entrance. I said I was a minister. He said: "Prove it." I quoted the liturgy: "We are gathered together to observe the sacrament of the Lord's supper, and we call to remembrance ..." He looked blank. I said: "I quoted the liturgy." This was not my ticket to the hospital. But I needed to see an ailing congregant. I knew of a concealed door behind the hospital kitchen, found it open, and entered in. Unfortunately, a second security guard cornered me at the lifts / elevators. I had no clearance tag. He sent me back to the security guard at the entrance. By this time, the liturgy seemed to have sunk in, and the security guard at the entrance gave me clearance. I went back to the security guard at the lifts -- and I was in.