What is chaplaincy?

Chaplains are ..

People who are appointed by the Church to work in all kinds of places ‘beyond the walls of the church’. There are chaplains in hospitals, workplaces, prisons, the armed forces, shopping centres, rural areas, colleges, universities and schools to name but a few. In all these places chaplains try to show God’s love through offering care and support, and by representing Christian values and beliefs. In our diverse society, chaplaincy has to show the greatest sensitivity and respect. Christian chaplains often work in ecumenical teams or alongside colleagues from other faiths.

Chaplaincy is an ancient tradition …

St Martin of Tours ( 316-397ad) was a Roman Army officer who encountered a destitute man near the gates of Amiens and cut his army cloak (capella) in half and became known as the firstcapellainor chaplain. After ordination, he was commissioned to work away from the main church building in places where people were in special need. Buildings created for this special work were known as chapels!

So from the beginning chaplains have had a particular pastoral and practical care for people in critical need.

They work alongside people, in their normal daily lives – on ‘their’ patch, not waiting for others to come to them. Martin incidentally, began his ministry as a lay person.

…part of the ministry of Jesus

The Gospels have only a few references to Jesus being in the Temple

and one of him in a synagogue at Nazareth. Apart from these, the ministry of Jesus is conducted largely outside the confines of the gathered community of faith. This is a context that chaplains recognise as they follow their call to discipleship, living out the gospel in word and deed, making real the ministry of Jesus in our time and place.

Our origins and self-understanding as a Church are essentially missional. Chaplains (amongst others) essentially have a ‘sent’ status – conferred by the Church – representative of the Church and the whole Christian cause. Chaplains may have a prophetic role to speak a word of caution or to be a ‘critical friend’ – working towards creating the kingdom of God.

…living and working in a plural world

Most chaplains now work in a multi-faith environment. This is not an option, it is a necessity and it can also be a blessing.

Most chaplaincy also engages with people who do not know the Christian story or have any structured spiritual understanding. They might be very cautious of using religious thought-forms or language. So chaplains need great sensitivity for such engagement.

All of this says that chaplaincy is a way for us to involve ourselves in a mission within secular institutions and to the whole of society and this is a huge opportunity.

Chaplaincy is also a slightly hidden ministry. Most people are amazed to find out that there are over 500 chaplains in the North East.