Practical Chaplaincy Pre Course - The Work of the Chaplain Practical Chaplaincy is designed as a highly interactive, activity based course that requires you to wrestle with concepts individually, coming to class ready to discuss in small groups beginning on Day One. The course is designed in such a way that all modules have relevant activities that involves as individuals and in small groups so that you discover things experientially. It is therefore HIGHLY IMPORTANT that you come prepared by completing ALL Pre Course Assignments, responding as completely and in depth as you are able.

By doing so you will get the MOST BENEFIT from this course.

Please be detailed in your responses and elaborate why you consider your points to be significant.

From your pre-class reading assignment from “The Work of the Chaplain," discuss one significant item for each of the following sections that best represents the most important points of the section.

Please click this link to download your reading assignment if you missed it.

Record your individual responses below:

Please be detailed in your responses and elaborate why you consider your points to be significant.

From your pre-class reading assignment from “The Work of the Chaplain," discuss one significant item for each of the following sections that best represents the most important points of the section.

Record your individual responses below:

According to Paget, the chaplain role encompasses many ministry tasks. This chapter will present various legitimate roles of a chaplain—not as an exhaustive list, but as the most common possibilities. Most chaplains must demonstrate at least a minimal competency in all these areas.

Minister—Religious

      *Rites and Rituals

      *Ceremonies

       *Religious Witness

Pastor—Spiritual Care

    *Assessing the Need

    *Offering Counsel

    *Providing Spiritual Care

    *Being a Servant Leader

Intercessor—Advocate and Liaison

  *Personal Advocate

  *Institutional Advocate

  *Referrals

Healer—Physical, Psychological, Spiritual

  *Being Present

  *Listening

  *Encouraging

  *Intervening in Crisis

Please be detailed in your responses and elaborate why you consider your points to be significant.

From your pre-class reading assignment from “The Work of the Chaplain," discuss one significant item for each of the following sections that best represents the most important points of the section.

Record your individual responses below:

By definition, a chaplain is simply a “minister in the workplace” which performs a secular purpose. These chaplains are clergy who usually serve in specialized settings such as first responder (law enforcement, EMS, military, etc.) and community (district attorney office, schools, hospital, hospice, prisons, corrections, corporations, etc.). As specially trained clergy, they seek to encourage others while ministering to the whole person, addressing a person’s spiritual, physical and emotional needs.

The duality of serving both a secular and spiritual purpose within an organization is the key to understanding the challenges and opportunities for this specialized ministry. Chaplains operate at the cutting edge where ministry and social structures intersect.

 *They commit themselves to being available to all people without discrimination to those who are suffering, alienated and confused.

 *They empathetically enter into the crisis, trauma and suffering of others, walking with them in a ministry of purpose, presence and peace with a focus of assisting them towards becoming restored and healthy.

  *They provide a caring, human environment in which holistic (physical, emotional, spiritual, cognitive & behavioral) guidance may be provided.

  *They are an integral part of a professional team within an organization.

Ministry of Purpose

Chaplain ministry ought to be a “force-multiplier” for an agency. Ministry of purpose goes beyond the traditional understanding of ministry of purpose. To be a force-multiplier, a chaplain’s actions must be deliberate in their support of the primary mission of their agency and provide proactive and responsive support to every member.

Decisions ought to therefore be made on what ministry is appropriate while considering the unintended consequences and long-term effects of that ministry even while addressing the immediate ministry needs. Ministry, in any form, ought not to interfere with the mission of, or become a liability to, the agency.

Ministry of Presence

Ministry of Presence entails being fully present to the person who is directly in front of you. It is giving your undivided attention (eyes, ears, non-verbal, etc.) to them. To serve someone is to be present with them, to pay attention to them, to not make judgments or comments about them or their situation but rather to listen attentively and openly. Ministry of Presence encompasses being open, honest, direct and transparent with others in both verbal and non-verbal communication. Ministry of Presence might sometimes imply a corollary ministry – the Ministry of Silence.

Ministry of Peace

The Hebrew concept of Shalom (peace) means that every aspect of an individual’s life (physical, emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and spiritual) is in perfect harmony with God’s desire for their life. A Chaplain’s Ministry of Peace is to empathetically walk with someone in their crisis to holistically assist them in the restoration of “peace” in their life in a sacrificially loving way. When someone is in crisis their “peace” has been shattered and they are thrown into a state of chaos. A Chaplain’s role is to assist them in restoring control of their life and finding a new normal.

Using the definitions above, describe your current ministry being sure to describe at least one significant event or occurrence that best represents the most important points of the section.

What Are Core Values?

Core values are consistent, passionate, distinct convictions that determine our priorities. They influence our decisions, drive our ministry, express our personality and are demonstrated by our behavior. They form the essence of how we will accomplish our mission and the things we will value in pursuing. They are those values which are non-negotiable. Core Values describe who we are or who we are becoming.

Core values are the guiding principles of behavior through time.

Core values influence behavior, communicate what we really believe, are sacred and do not change, provide a moral compass and continuity through change, help make decisions, decentralize decision making, help to be proactive and are integrated into all levels of functions of an organization.

The following defines the SACRED core values of a chaplain.

Spiritual

The search for understanding and connection to beliefs and values that give meaning to a person’s life.

Available

Always present, visible and accessible, ready for use 24/7, 365 days per year.

Credible

Character of integrity, believable, worthy of being trusted, keeps confidences.

Relational

A state of connectedness with others involving a focus upon the well-being of others. Deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the desire to comfort the hurting.

Empathetic

The ability to experience another person’s range of emotions and feelings with the capacity to understand their point of view without prejudgment or ridicule.

Diverse - Multiculturally Competent

A willing recognition, respect, honoring, and serving towards those of other cultures, ethnicities, gender, race, creed, religion, etc., without prejudice or judgment.

From the above reading assignment on the "CAREForce Chaplain Philosophy of Ministry," respond  to the following questions, recording your individual responses below:

CONNECT

The ability to interactively build rapport and relationships in a consistently compassionate and credible manner. Rapport is established quickly through the appropriate use of questions which employ an empathetic relational demeanor and active listening skills. Humility and a servant’s heart is emphasized while meeting the practical needs of another without imposing religious dogma or doctrine while respecting the diversity of individual beliefs.

ASSESS

The ability to properly identify the various needs of another individual for the purpose of reducing the escalation of harm allowing the individual to gain control back of their situation and thereby restoring peace to their life. A chaplain assesses out of a genuine concern for the well-being of others and demonstrates this through their S.A.C.R.E.D. core values. A chaplain will properly employ effective crisis management techniques and active listening skills.

RESPOND

The ability to holistically provide for the practical needs of an individual in crisis (physical, emotional, cognitive, behavioral & spiritual) utilizing appropriate crisis intervention techniques, having the appropriate allies, resources and referrals pre-established to provide, simple, brief, proximal and immediate care which provides hope for restoration and recovery.

ENGAGE

The ability to proactively and appropriately engage the correct resources in order to restore the individual to normal functioning through the provision of meeting basic needs. These may be provided through liaison, advocacy, cathartic ventilation, social support, information, stress management, problem-solving, conflict resolution, cognitive reframing, or spiritual care.

From the above reading assignment on the "CAREForce Chaplain Philosophy of Ministry," respond to the following questions recording your individual responses below: