WHAT ARE CHAPLAINS?
MILITARY CHAPLAINS
Military chaplains provide spiritual and pastoral support for service personnel, including religious services at sea or in the field. English military-oriented Chaplains, for instance, were priests on board proto-naval vessels during the eighth century. During the First World War, Chaplains were nominated in different countries. A military Chaplain can be any military-trained soldier with additional theological training, or a priest appointed to the army by religious authorities.
LAW ENFORCEMENT CHAPLAINS
Law Enforcement Chaplains serve in the local, county, state, and federal agencies and provide various vital services within the law enforcement community. They should not be confused with Prison Chaplains, whose primary ministry is to those incarcerated either awaiting trial or after conviction. The role of the Law Enforcement Chaplain deals primarily with Law Enforcement personnel and agencies. Law enforcement officers are faced with having to make split-second decisions which at times cause a tremendous amount of anxiety, frustration, and criticism for doing their jobs. Often, this will create problems for the officers and their families and often be reflected in their job performance and, or their on-the-job attitudes towards both other officers and the public that they serve. The Chaplain responds to these unique needs and challenges with spiritual guidance, a reassuring and trustworthy presence, resources, and counseling services. Also, Law Enforcement Chaplains are often involved as resource providers in assisting with hostage negotiations, death notifications in the community, public relations, and other needs that the law enforcement agency might have.
Law Enforcement Chaplains regularly visit the department to contact law enforcement personnel and staff personally. They build trusting relationships and establish credibility. Riding with the officers on their shifts is vital to a successful ministry. Chaplains also provide guidance and confidential counseling for personal, family, and job-related problems to sworn and civilian personnel, families, and others. They refer those in need of professional help to qualified counselors. Chaplains assist families of officers/staff personnel/victims in times of serious injury, illness, or death. They respond immediately to emergencies involving departmental personnel and victims. Chaplains maintain an updated list of spiritual and social service providers to refer to departmental personnel, victims, and their families. The Law Enforcement Chaplain is often the only minister with whom law enforcement can relate. Occasionally, the Chaplain is asked to conduct, or participate in, weddings and funerals by the officers or their families. The Chaplain responds to the need as an opportunity for ministry and witness.
Chaplains participate in basic law enforcement training. They sometimes become training resource leaders in their areas of expertise, particularly in the cultural and practical aspects of differing faith and ethnic communities within their agency's jurisdiction. Law enforcement officers often need someone they feel they can trust to assist them with death notifications, suicide attempts, emotionally upset people who have been traumatized, and a myriad of other problems and challenges. They also need someone to care for their families and themselves during times of trauma or distress.
PRISON CHAPLAINS
This vital aspect incorporates the inmate's spiritual, moral, and emotional development. Achievement in these areas will help to ensure the future success of the offender as a productive member of the community at large. The Chaplain must integrate these tools for change into the programs inaugurated. He will provide comprehensive services to all inmates in the various facilities assigned to him within its security parameters. In the capacity of a pastor, the Chaplain will provide and often conduct Chapel Worship services for the inmates. Depending on the number of Chaplains at a facility, this will mean providing services for all faiths. The Chaplain is also responsible for providing religious instruction for the inmates. It is done through regular Bible Studies or doctrinal classes. This is sometimes accomplished through organized discipleship groups among the inmates themselves. The pastor's role is often extended to families of inmates and prison staff. It may involve counseling and instruction in moral and spiritual development that will establish an environment for rebuilding the family upon the prisoner's release.
There will be a time when the Chaplain is called on to contact friends or relatives. These incidents may involve hardship cases, illness, legal and financial needs, or the death of an inmate. Counseling Prisoners will take on many facets. Therefore, the prison chaplain must understand the inmates, themselves, and their needs.
1. Attending Court hearings and trials
2. Conferring and consulting with prison officials
3. Assisting prisoners to find jobs, housing, and community support upon release
The Chaplain may be asked to provide these same services to prison staff, public officials, and others within the community. He may be asked to work with the local church to provide ministry support through prayer, volunteers, and finances. The Chaplain often becomes a Public Relations Representative to the community on behalf of the prison to Coordinate Volunteer Services. The religious volunteer becomes an extension of the Chaplain in ministering to the inmate's needs. Like that of the church, this mission includes regeneration, spiritual healing, and development. Volunteers need to be integrated into the institution's total objective of religious programming and not just a patchwork of superimposed programs to fill program needs or slots and keep inmates occupied. Training phases are usually sequential and required. Avoid conflicts with training phases and training objectives scheduled. Recognize the philosophy of the chaplain training staff. To be more effective in ministering to the prison community, we should expand our understanding of the correctional process. Richard R. Blake, Christian Education Consultant, Training Director Prison Ministry
CORPORATE CHAPLAINS
Some businesses, large or small, employ chaplains for their staff and/or clientele. According to The Economist (August 25, 2007, p64), there are 4,000 corporate Chaplains in the U.S. alone, with the majority being employees of specialist chaplaincy companies.
Military chaplains provide spiritual and pastoral support for service personnel, including religious services at sea or in the field. English military-oriented Chaplains, for instance, were priests on board proto-naval vessels during the eighth century. During the First World War, Chaplains were nominated in different countries. A military Chaplain can be any military-trained soldier with additional theological training, or a priest appointed to the army by religious authorities.
LAW ENFORCEMENT CHAPLAINS
Law Enforcement Chaplains serve in the local, county, state, and federal agencies and provide various vital services within the law enforcement community. They should not be confused with Prison Chaplains, whose primary ministry is to those incarcerated either awaiting trial or after conviction. The role of the Law Enforcement Chaplain deals primarily with Law Enforcement personnel and agencies. Law enforcement officers are faced with having to make split-second decisions which at times cause a tremendous amount of anxiety, frustration, and criticism for doing their jobs. Often, this will create problems for the officers and their families and often be reflected in their job performance and, or their on-the-job attitudes towards both other officers and the public that they serve. The Chaplain responds to these unique needs and challenges with spiritual guidance, a reassuring and trustworthy presence, resources, and counseling services. Also, Law Enforcement Chaplains are often involved as resource providers in assisting with hostage negotiations, death notifications in the community, public relations, and other needs that the law enforcement agency might have.
Law Enforcement Chaplains regularly visit the department to contact law enforcement personnel and staff personally. They build trusting relationships and establish credibility. Riding with the officers on their shifts is vital to a successful ministry. Chaplains also provide guidance and confidential counseling for personal, family, and job-related problems to sworn and civilian personnel, families, and others. They refer those in need of professional help to qualified counselors. Chaplains assist families of officers/staff personnel/victims in times of serious injury, illness, or death. They respond immediately to emergencies involving departmental personnel and victims. Chaplains maintain an updated list of spiritual and social service providers to refer to departmental personnel, victims, and their families. The Law Enforcement Chaplain is often the only minister with whom law enforcement can relate. Occasionally, the Chaplain is asked to conduct, or participate in, weddings and funerals by the officers or their families. The Chaplain responds to the need as an opportunity for ministry and witness.
Chaplains participate in basic law enforcement training. They sometimes become training resource leaders in their areas of expertise, particularly in the cultural and practical aspects of differing faith and ethnic communities within their agency's jurisdiction. Law enforcement officers often need someone they feel they can trust to assist them with death notifications, suicide attempts, emotionally upset people who have been traumatized, and a myriad of other problems and challenges. They also need someone to care for their families and themselves during times of trauma or distress.
PRISON CHAPLAINS
This vital aspect incorporates the inmate's spiritual, moral, and emotional development. Achievement in these areas will help to ensure the future success of the offender as a productive member of the community at large. The Chaplain must integrate these tools for change into the programs inaugurated. He will provide comprehensive services to all inmates in the various facilities assigned to him within its security parameters. In the capacity of a pastor, the Chaplain will provide and often conduct Chapel Worship services for the inmates. Depending on the number of Chaplains at a facility, this will mean providing services for all faiths. The Chaplain is also responsible for providing religious instruction for the inmates. It is done through regular Bible Studies or doctrinal classes. This is sometimes accomplished through organized discipleship groups among the inmates themselves. The pastor's role is often extended to families of inmates and prison staff. It may involve counseling and instruction in moral and spiritual development that will establish an environment for rebuilding the family upon the prisoner's release.
There will be a time when the Chaplain is called on to contact friends or relatives. These incidents may involve hardship cases, illness, legal and financial needs, or the death of an inmate. Counseling Prisoners will take on many facets. Therefore, the prison chaplain must understand the inmates, themselves, and their needs.
1. Attending Court hearings and trials
2. Conferring and consulting with prison officials
3. Assisting prisoners to find jobs, housing, and community support upon release
The Chaplain may be asked to provide these same services to prison staff, public officials, and others within the community. He may be asked to work with the local church to provide ministry support through prayer, volunteers, and finances. The Chaplain often becomes a Public Relations Representative to the community on behalf of the prison to Coordinate Volunteer Services. The religious volunteer becomes an extension of the Chaplain in ministering to the inmate's needs. Like that of the church, this mission includes regeneration, spiritual healing, and development. Volunteers need to be integrated into the institution's total objective of religious programming and not just a patchwork of superimposed programs to fill program needs or slots and keep inmates occupied. Training phases are usually sequential and required. Avoid conflicts with training phases and training objectives scheduled. Recognize the philosophy of the chaplain training staff. To be more effective in ministering to the prison community, we should expand our understanding of the correctional process. Richard R. Blake, Christian Education Consultant, Training Director Prison Ministry
CORPORATE CHAPLAINS
Some businesses, large or small, employ chaplains for their staff and/or clientele. According to The Economist (August 25, 2007, p64), there are 4,000 corporate Chaplains in the U.S. alone, with the majority being employees of specialist chaplaincy companies.
