Page 2 - 1.gospel-chaplaincy

Part'1'8'A'Chaplain''s'Role'

3. Definition.''The'Concise'Oxford'Dictionary'defines'a'Chaplain'as'a"member"of"the"clergy"attached"
to"a"private"chapel,"institution,"Regiment,"etc.'Most'of'these'host'͚ŝŶƐƚŝƚƵƚŝŽŶƐ͛ ƌĞƋƵŝƌĞ ƚŚĂƚ Chaplains'are'
ministers'in'good'standing'with'their'churches,'appointed'by'an'ŝŶƐƚŝƚƵƚŝŽŶ͛Ɛ'leadership'for'the'benefit'
of'the'institutions'they'serve.''Implicit'in'that'appointment'is'the'value'to'an'institution'of'having'
someone'to'attend'to'the'spiritual'dimension'of'its'people:'whether'that'is'seen'in'eternal'terms,'moral'
terms,'costTbenefit'terms,'or'simply'a'vague'superstition.'''

4. Chaplaincies.''In'contemporary'UK'culture'ŝƚ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ͞ ŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ ŐĞŶĚĂ͟ (often'suspiciously'
regarded'by'Christians)'which'in'making'allowance'for'the'spiritual'needs,'gives'Chaplaincy'work'
justification.'The'bottom'line'is'the'institutions'are'prepared'to'provide'and'even'pay'for'a'spiritual'
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ministry,'sometimes'in'the'most'secular'environments .''Some'institutions'try'to'recruit'Chaplains'from'
religious'constituencies'so'as'to'represent'roughly'the'makeTup'of'the'people'whom'they'will'serve.'It'is'
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usual'for'a'Chaplain's'terms'of'reference'to'require'him'to'serve'all'within'the'institution 'rather'than'
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only'those'of'the'particular'Church 'from'which'we'are'sent,'even'though'it'is'the'sending'Church'which'
gives'us'our'qualification'to'serve'as'Chaplains.'Finally,'most'Chaplaincies'are'multiTfaith'and'
ĞĐƵŵĞŶŝĐĂů͘ dŚŝƐ ŶĞĞĚŶ͛ƚ ƉƌĞĐůƵĚĞ ĞǀĂŶgelical'participation,'but'it'does'take'careful'thought'at'times.'

5. Relationship'to'the'parent'Church.''The'Chaplain'is'not'a'freelance'Christian.'The'requirement'to'
be'a'minister'in'good'standing'with'a'church'or'denomination'is'probably'seen'by'the'host'institution'as'
simply'a'safeguard'to'ensure'they'are'getting'someone'reliable'and'qualified.'The'Chaplain'and'Church'
value'their'mutual'relationship'for'other'reasons:'the'Church'valuing'the'opportunities'and'openings'for'
extended'Gospel'ministry'by'one'of'her'own:'the'Chaplain'valuing'and'relying'upon'the'Church'to'
support'him'in'prayer'and'practicalities.''Chaplains'represent'Christ'in'his'Church'to'the'world.'That'is'
the'very'nature'of'the'work.'

6. Evangelical'Paradigms.''Evangelical'ministers'identify'from'the'Scriptures'that'they'are'called'to'
preach'Christ'and'Him'crucified.''This'is'easily'traced'from'apostolic'example'and'command,'and'
proficiency'here'is'a'key'component'of'the'call'to'the'ministry,'however'perceived'and'recognised.''
However,'majoring'on'Gospel'preaching'is'not'a'model'of'ministry'expected'from'Chaplaincy,'nor'would'
it'be'effective.''Worship'activities'may'result'from'an'effective'Chaplaincy'in'a'secular'setting,'but'they'
cannot'be'its'focus.''Proselytising/evangelism'is'usually'prohibited,'and'anything'which'could'be'
construed'as'coercion'is'most'certainly'out'of'court.''Hence,'a'Chaplain'is'a'witness,'not'a'missionary'ʹ'
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
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'Chaplaincies'can'be'paid'or'voluntary.'Paid'chaplaincies'are'found'in'Universities,'Hospitals,'the'Armed'Forces,'
and'a'few'larger'firms'(eg'British'Airports'Authority):'voluntary'chaplaincies'in'a'host'of'charity,'government,'and'
commercial'organisations.'A'ůŽĐĂů ĐŚƵƌĐŚ ƉĂƐƚŽƌ͛Ɛ ƌĞůĂƚŝŽŶƐŚŝƉ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ůŽĐĂů ƐĐŚŽŽů 'and'perhaps'other'instiututions'
can'also'be'similar'to'a'voluntary'chaplaincy,'in'fact'if'not'in'name.'

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'Sea'Cadet'Chaplains,'as'their'Naval'counterparts'are'"the'friend'and'adviser'of'all'on'board",..."to"provide"
guidance"and"leadership"in"spiritual,"moral"and"community"matters.''Police'Chaplains"are"people"of"faith,"which"
informs"what"they"do."They"only"act"in"a"religious"way"if"appropriate"and"when"asked"to"do"so.'

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''Most'ChaplainĐŝĞƐ ĂƌĞ ŶŽǁ ŵƵůƚŝ ĨĂŝƚŚ͗ ŚĞŶĐĞ ĨŽƌ ŚƵƌĐŚ͕ ĂůƐŽ ƌĞĂĚ ͚Faith'Community͛'

Gospel'Chaplaincy'in'a'Secular'Age'ʹ'page'2'of'9'ʹ'September'2011'