For the position of
LEAD CHAPLAIN BOARD MEMBER
Christine HAWKINS
WATCH Chris' Election Bio here
Chris Hawkins has just celebrated one year working as Lead Chaplain for Wiltshire Police. She is proud to work alongside her colleagues, helping with their well-being and resilience as they serve the public and to promote the good name of Wiltshire Police in the community.
Ordained in the Church of England in 2001, Chris has exercised her ministry in a variety of contexts, both as a Parish Priest and as a Chaplain. After serving her curacy in North-East London, Chris cut her chaplaincy teeth in a joint role which combined the Parish Priest of two rural churches in Essex, with Industrial Chaplaincy to the business community of a large town nearby.
The experience confirmed her calling to chaplaincy and she was subsequently appointed to the role of Lead Chaplain in an NHS Hospital. In that post, Chris recruited and managed a small team of volunteers and the Free Church and Roman Catholic Chaplains. In collaboration with her team, Chris worked hard to win hearts and minds in the hospital as, prior to her appointment, the chaplaincy service had not been effective and was seen as slightly irrelevant. Her priority for the Chaplaincy Service was to support the hospital’s staff community and to educate them about the value of spiritual and pastoral care in holistic healthcare. Over time, with patience, persistence and through unwavering commitment to the Trust’s values and behaviours, Chris and her team quickly became respected members of the multi-disciplinary teams within the hospital. In 2010, Chris won the Chief Executive’s Award for her ‘outstanding contribution’ to the work of the hospital. Personal circumstances forced Chris’ return to parish ministry – this time in Lincolnshire - but the Chaplaincy Service was ready for a new leader and her successor has stated that he was able to build on the solid foundations that Chris left behind.
Chris is keen to serve on the board of PCUK because she believes that her experience of healthcare chaplaincy will be of assistance to the board, particularly in promoting the professional standing of Police Chaplains, and supporting members. She is keen to see the establishment of national standards for chaplains which will apply to all forces and a formal panel to advise on recruitment and appointment of Lead Chaplains.
It has become clear to Chris that Police Chaplaincy is changing. She would like to see the board take the lead in undertaking or commissioning research into effective chaplaincy to a modern police force, which encompasses the post-pandemic ‘agile working’ environment; resilience issues among new recruits and the role of the chaplain in enabling community cohesion.
Chris is, at heart, a servant minister. She is passionate about the need for and value of chaplaincy and would like to serve the board in promoting and retaining a Police Chaplaincy Service that is, professional, inclusive, fit for purpose and effective.
Name & Force of Proposer - The Reverend Canon Tanya Lord- Lincolnshire Police
Name & Force of Seconder - Major Sharon Robinson - Wiltshire Police
