NACP Conference

Adaptable Chaplains: the changing face of

chaplaincy in diverse settings.

The Rev Canon Dr Andrew Todd

Chaplaincy?

• Chaplains are members of (and represent) faith communities

• Chaplains extend the work of faith communities beyond their own life – into schools, hospitals, prisons, universities, business, shops, the military, sport, the emergency services, etc.

• They serve the work of education, health, justice, peace-keeping, protecting the public

• They are public figures, in multi-cultural, multi-faith settings

Range of Chaplaincy

Working:• In Education• In Healthcare• In the Military• In Prison, Detention Centres, Courts• In Commerce and Industry• In Leisure and Sport• With Seafarers• With Government• With the Emergency Services

Dimensions of Chaplaincy

• The mission of the organisation (Prevention of crime and disorder)

• Pastoral• Spiritual• Ethical• Ritual

Mission of Chaplaincy

Chaplaincy is:• Present – engaged humanitarian service• Public – offering a faith perspective in dialogue

with diverse peoples and positions• Moral – living the faith tradition in order to act

as a critical friend• Ritual – offering pastoral inclusivity and the

public celebration of the personal• Plural – seizing the opportunity to enable the

expression of diverse beliefs

Chaplaincy?

Society

FaithCommunity

TheOrgan-isation

Chaplaincy

(Todd, 2007)

Chaplaincy Issues

Challenges concerning Chaplaincy• Models of chaplaincy – ‘in the service’ but not

of it; ‘part of the family’, but which member?Particular roles:

• Chaplains and trauma – insights from healthcare and military chaplains

• Rituals and memorials – further insights from a range of chaplains

Chaplaincy Issues

Faith Community Questions• The conundrum of conversion/evangelism in a

world suspicious of ‘proselytisation’• Mission and dialogue in a plural setting• ‘Core business’ and public theology – the

selective approach of congregational/community life?

Chaplaincy Issues

Relating to Organisations• Organisational cultures and rituals• New management and accountability in the

public sector• Risk, blame and the media

Chaplaincy Issues

Relating to a Changing Society• Religion, spirituality and the secular• Religion within a framework of diversity and

equal opportunity – the development of multi-faith chaplaincy

• ‘Social imaginaries’ and driving images and narratives (‘the economy’; ‘choice’; ‘enjoy!’)

• The sacred?

Models of Chaplaincy

Traditional (Practice) Models• Pastor – faithful presence• Priest – symbolic pastoral presence• Prophet/Jester – critical friend, advocate• Incarnational – immersion, being alongside,

preaching without words• ‘Non-judgemental’ – listening with openness to

diversity, but also respect for vulnerability!

Models of Chaplaincy

Service Models• Spiritual/religious care specialist – the tasks of

the health professional• ‘Force multiplier’ & ‘moral component/compass’• Broker of religion and spirituality• ‘Subject-matter expert’ on religion/spirituality• Expert on ‘values’• Monitor of ‘extremism/radicalisation’• The professional, ‘neutral’ chaplain

Military Chaplaincy

• Being with military personnel in the midst of combat operations

• A model of incarnational pastoral care(A practice model)

• A model of the ‘force multiplier’(A service model)

• How do they interact?

Healthcare Chaplaincy

• Spiritual care and unconditional regard• A practice model meets service models• Mission – a sponsor’s service model• Employer-defined models• Evidence-based practice

– Assessment & intervention– Cost-effectiveness

• The multi-disciplinary team– Multi-specialism healthcare

Police Chaplains

• A particular role – police and public (covenant)• Predominantly volunteer chaplains – part-time,

or a significant extension of a wider local role and involvement?

• Being there for the Force, but not being in the way! Building trust by listening & availability

• Engaging with those who work in the public sector, and in the public eye

Police Chaplains

• What are the dimensions and mission of police chaplaincy?

• What are the issues that are most pressing for you (in relation to chaplaincy itself, faith communities, society, the organisation of the police?)

• What traditional models of chaplaincy practice inspire you?

• What service (Force) models shape what you do?

Andrew Todd, 2007. ‘Engaging with Trends in Chaplaincy: Living faith in other people’s houses’, in Royal Army Chaplains’ Dept. Journal 46: 4-9

Andrew Todd, 2011. ‘Responding to Diversity: Chaplaincy in a Multi-Faith Context’, in ed. Miranda Threlfall-Holmes & Mark Newitt, Being a Chaplain. London: SPCK: 89-102

Andrew Todd, 2011. ‘Chaplaincy Leading Church in(to) the Public Square’, in Crucible: The Christian journal of social ethics, October-December issue: 7-15

References

Andrew Todd & Lee Tipton, 2011. ‘The Role and Contribution of a Multi-Faith Prison Chaplaincy to the Contemporary Prison Service.’

http://www.stmichaels.ac.uk/chaplaincy-studies-research-activity.php

South Yorkshire NHS SHA (2006). ‘A review of some theoretical models of healthcare chaplaincy service and practice.’ http://www.mfghc.com/cfts/cfts_models_06.doc