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Gospel'Chaplaincy'In'a'Secular'World'

Chris'Thomas'served'in'the'Royal'Navy'for'over'20'years,'then'trained'at'London'Theological'Seminary.'
He'has'been'Pastor'of'Oak'Tree'Church,'Bournville'since'2000.'Chris'has'been'Chaplain'to'his'local'Sea'
Cadet'unit'since'2005,'and'has'recently'enrolled'as'a'Voluntary'Chaplain'to'West'Midlands'Police.'

Introduction''

1. The'Venerable'Bede'informs'us'that'in'the'8th'century,'a'priest'called'Utta'accompanied'a'
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princess'on'sea'voyage'from'Northumbria:'an'early'reference'to'a'Chaplain'and'his 'work.''During'the'
years'of'Christendom,'Chaplains'have'ministered'in'a'wide'variety'of'settings,'living'and'working'
alongside'people'of'every'conceivable'different'point'along'faith's'spectrum,'but'until'recently'always'
within'a'fundamentally'Christian'understanding'and'value'system.''Much'faithful'work,'and'many'
blessings'have'proceeded'from'these'ministries.''However,'for'an'Evangelical'ministering'now'there'is'
an'urgent'need'to'reTexamine'Chaplaincy'for'at'least'three'reasons:'

x Christendom'is'on'the'wane'and'secularism'is'in'the'ascendancy.''Chaplaincy'is'now'conducted'
within'pluralistic'secularism'rather'than'Christian'context,'but'Chaplaincy'traditions,'assumptions'
and'exemplars'are'largely'located'in'Christendom.'As'this'transition'continues'to'work'through,'
Chaplains'will'need'to'be'sure'of'their'Biblical'moorings.'

x The'predominant'ecclesiology'of'many'Chaplains'seems'to'have'been'Anglo'Catholic,'who'have'
contributed'much'helpful'thinking'and'practise.''A'consciously'Evangelical'pastoral'theology'does'
not'seem'to'have'been'applied'to'Chaplaincy.'Evangelicals'need'to'develop'this'for'the'integrity'
and'credibility'of'their'own'ministries,'and'to'contribute'to'the'Chaplaincy'of'the'wider'church.'

x Few'if'any'writers'of'any'persuasion'seem'to'have'attempted'a'BiblicalTtheological'examination'of'
Chaplaincy.''This'may'not'be'a'critical'weakness'among'the'many'gifted'Chaplains'who'
unconsciously'sense'what'their'calling'requires'of'them,'but'for'the'rest'of'us'it'probably'is.'

2. The'aim'of'this'paper'is'to'inform'and'equip'Evangelicals'and'others'in'developing'a'Gospel'
approach'to'Chaplaincy'in'a'Secular'age.'It'will'do'so'first'by'identifying'the'Chaplain͛Ɛ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚ ƌŽůĞ'(Part'
1),'and'then'second,'matching'a'BiblicalTtheological'template'to'it'(Part'2).''This'approach'is'necessary'
because'we'come'to'an'existing'ministry,'rather'than'seeking'to'develop'a'new'one'from'Biblical'͞first'
principles͟.'Some'practical'suggestions'will'be'also'made,'and'both'principles'and'practice'discussed'in'
relation'to'Chaplaincy'may'also'bear'on'the'Church͛Ɛ'ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŚƌŝƐƚŝĂŶ͛Ɛ ǁŝĚĞƌ ƉůĂĐĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ.'''

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'For'simplicity,'male'pronouns'will'be'used'throughout,'but'women'may'be'well'suited'for'Chaplaincy'in'many'
settings'unless'a'particular'job'description'required'preaching'and'teaching'to'men'(unusual'in'current'chaplaincy).'
A'Chaplain'usually'carries'no'authority'and'so'the'headship'principle'does'not'seem'to'be'at'stake.'

Gospel'Chaplaincy'in'a'Secular'Age'ʹ'page'1'of'9'ʹ'September'2011'