I met Wayne Oates in 1968, when I was discharged from the US Navy and entered Southern Seminary. I discovered we had some common ground. Wayne had been at Mars Hill College with my Dad in the 1930's and his son was in the Navy, though we never met. Wayne introduced me to a concept of ministry I never imagined . . . pastoral care. He had a desire that ministers be considered professionals along side other healthcare professionals. I was fortunate to be one of those chosen for the "Norton Program" in 1970. There were ten of us. About eight of us were over six feet tall. I remember walking down the hall at Norton as a group one afternoon, and Wayne said, "No one would ever accuse that bunch of being sissy preachers."

I did clinical training twice with Wayne. The Norton Program in 1970, and again at Norton in 1985-86 as part of my graduate program at Southern Seminary. I learned a great deal under Wayne's supervision. At the same time we had some clashes over my independence at times. I usually found a way to not follow Wayne's advice or direction at least once during our relationship as supervisor/supervisee. At the same time, Wayne always treated me like a colleague. I appreciated that very much. He is my role model for supervision. Wayne taught as he supervised.

Though we were not close when I was not his student, I have felt a great sense of sadness since finding the memorial on the Institute Web Page. What Wayne brought to the field of Pastoral Care and Counseling, as well as to the ongoing discussion with other healthcare professions on The Psychology of Religion, including the current research on Spirituality and Religion in Clinical Practice, was innovative and centered in the ministry of the church, without apology. There is a hole in the fabric of the interface of spirituality and healthcare treatment. I trust that Wayne has passed on to enough of us his visions and his desire to keep that fabric intact that the hole will be filled, though we know it takes several persons to fill the space created when Wayne leaves a place. Good-bye Wayne, and God-speed.