An Open Letter to President Kruczlnicki
Glens Falls, May 27, 2008
Mr. David Kruczlnicki, President
Glens Falls Hospital
100 Park Street
Glens Falls, NY 12801
Dear Mr. Kruczlnicki:
On behalf of the area clergy we wish to convey our dismay and concern over the reduction to half-time of Jeff Palmer, the hospital chaplain. Jeff has been a caring and supportive colleague in ministry and has served an important role at Glens Falls Hospital, offering pastoral care to the patients and staff and supporting the clergy in their efforts to serve the members of their congregations.
While our expertise is not in the medical field, we do know from experience that the well-being of patients is impacted not only by medical intervention, but also through spiritual intervention and support. Attending to the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of patients serves to improve the quality of life and healing.
We are well-aware of the financial difficulties under which the hospital is operating – the same difficulties facing our community and congregations in general. This is all the more reason to have the skills of an experienced full-time chaplain at the hospital; particularly in a time when so many people do not have a church affiliation.
We hope that you will reconsider and be able to restore Jeff Palmer to full employment for the benefit of the hospital and the community.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Members of the Southern Adirondack Interfaith Alliance, including:
- Rev. Cheryl N. Colt, Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian Church in Glens Falls
- Rev. Caspar Green, Pastor, First Baptist Church in Glens Falls
- Rev. Deane Perkins, Pastor, Unitarian Universalist Church in Glens Falls
- Rev. Lamont Robinson, Pastor, Harrisena Community Church in Queensbury
- Rev. John Tether, Pastor, Northway Christian Family Church in Queensbury
- Rev. Marsha Garrett, Pastor, Saint Andrew Lutheran Church in South Glens Falls
- Rev. John E. Barclay, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church in Glens Falls
- Rev. Bruce Hersey, Director, The Open Door in Glens Falls
- Regina Baird Haag, Pastoral Minister, Adirondack Friends Meeting in South Glens Falls
- V. Rev. Elias Nasr, St. George Antiochian Christian Orthodox in South Glens Falls
- Rev. Debra L. Peacock, Pastor, Argyle United Methodist Church in Argyle
- Rev. Sung Hee Lee, Pastor, Bay Road Presbyterian Church in Queensbury
- Sister Linda Hogan csj, Parish Life Director, Saint Cecilia's Catholic Church in Warrensburg
- Rev. John Aldridge, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church in Corinth
- Sandra Spaulding, Pastor, Bottskill Baptist Church in Greenwich and Lakeville Baptist Church in Argyle
- Rev. Wilton F. Sharpe, Superintendent, New England Conference of the Free Methodist Church of North America
- Todd N Cochran, Men’s Minister, Northway Christian Family Church in Queensbury
- Rev. James Peterson, Pastor, Granville Baptist Church and First Baptist Church in Whitehall
- Rev. Joseph G. Busch, Pastor, Our Lady of the Annunciation Church in Queensbury
- Pastor Ila M. Smith, Pastor, Village Baptist Church in Fort Edward
- Rev. Scott M. Smith, Pastor, First Baptist Church in Hudson Falls
- Imam Dr. Abdulkadir Elmi, Coordinating Chaplain in New York State
- Imam Masjid Assalam in Albany
- Fr. Thomas Zelker, Pastor, St. Mary's in Granville, Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Middle Granville and St. Frances Cabrini in West Pawlet, Vermont.
- Rev. Scott M. Harding, Rector, Church of the Messiah Episcopal in Glens Falls
- Rev. Phil Richards, Pastor, Christ Church United Methodist in Glens Falls
- Rev. Thomas Parsons, Parish Associate, Caldwell Presbyterian Church in Lake George
- Rev. Joseph Manerowski, Pastor, St. Mary's Church in Glens Falls
- Rev. Shirley A. Mosholder, Caldwell Presbyterian Church in Lake George
- Rev. Terry Mosholder, United Church of Christ in Hartford