Black Chaplains Association

Comment

Comment by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on October 6, 2010 at 9:46am

What Is A Chaplain And Chaplaincy?



So, just what is chaplaincy? Chaplaincy is a very specialized ministry where the minister serves in a church ministry, hospital, nursing home, or institutional setting; better described as a "para-church" ministry. Chaplains works with the public. The people who make up this community may wear military uniforms, hospital gowns, hard hats, and badges. Like the Apostle Paul, chaplains are generally "bi-vocational": they usually have institutional administrative and staff jobs in addition to their ministries. But that is acceptable to Chaplains, for serving in such "non-ministry" roles puts them in places where people with needs who ordinarily would never darken the doors of a church (much less talk to a minister) will come to talk and interact with the Chaplain.

The Chaplain is there to listen, care, and respond appropriately to the agenda of the client. Chaplaincy is a ministry of presence and availability. There are various types of Chaplaincy. The following is a brief description of some of the more common chaplaincies and their requirements.

Military Chaplaincy

People preparing for and going to war need Pastoral Care! There are Active Duty, Reserves, and National Guard Chaplains in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard. Requirements are a Bachelor's degree and a Master of Divinity degree, usually earned before the fortieth birthday. The Air Force and Navy also sponsor volunteer Chaplaincy in the Civil Air Patrol and Sea Cadet programs.

Healthcare

Veterans' Affairs and civilian hospitals, as well as hospices, hire professional Chaplains. Who better to reach the hopeless, hurting, and dying of society than caring well-trained Chaplains? To be a healthcare Chaplain generally requires a Bachelor's degree, a Master of Divinity degree, and one year of Clinical Pastoral Training (better known as Clinical Pastoral Education CPE) in a healthcare context.

Correctional

God has seen to it that the felon has a chance to contemplate his/her crimes against society. Who better to reach out to the lost, hopeless, desperate, and forgotten of society with a message of deliverance, and hope than a dedicated Chaplain? There are professional and volunteer opportunities in our nation's Federal, state, and local facilities for Chaplains. Correctional facilities are presently the fastest growing industry in America.

Could God be calling you to minister to those who have known nothing but bondage? Or, could he be calling you to support Chaplains who do? Requirements vary according to the correctional facility; for professional Chaplains at least a Bachelor's degree is required. Volunteer positions are plentiful and do not require degrees.

Workplace

Business and industrial chaplaincy is a new and growing field. Employees not distracted by marriage and family crises, alcohol, drugs, and other addictions, as well as a myriad of personal and spiritual problems are safer, more productive employees. Studies indicate that for every dollar spent on workplace chaplaincy results in a $4 to $7 saving for business due to absenteeism, accidents, medical and counseling intervention and treatment, etc. Specializations in the field of workplace chaplaincy include union, truck stop, airport, seaport, fire department, police department, racetrack, and college chaplaincies. Requirements for these chaplaincies vary considerably.

Educational

Public School Chaplaincy for America is the only organization that equips clergy for ministry to students, faculty, and administrators in public schools in the US. A quick glance of the top tragedies of the last several years makes the mandate for this new genre of Pastoral Care painfully clear! Requirements are appropriate specialized training, criminal background check, and Ecclesiastical Endorsement.

Professional Counseling

While Professional Pastoral Counseling is not chaplaincy, but a necessary part of Chaplaincy and it is an endorsable ministry that desperately needs Spirit-filled representation. Professional Counselors hold state licensure(s) and/or secular certification(s) as marriage and family therapists, alcohol and drug rehabilitation counselors, psychologists, etc. Requirements for professional counselors are generally a Bachelor's degree, a graduate degree in psychology or counseling, and a number of hours in a supervised counseling practicum. While these requisites may seem "stiff," think of the impact that pastoral counselors would have on the lives of those who has lost their way, as well as the people of faith who may need a little extra help in life!

Comment by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on October 6, 2010 at 6:56am

This my latest book! If you would like a copy send $10 to...C

haplain Mark Stevens Suite 160
880A Whitehorse Pike
Atco, NJ 08004

Comment by Pr. Byaruhanga Stanley. on October 6, 2010 at 5:05am

Hello Brothers, God Bless, Keep Up The Good Work. pr Stanley-Uganda

Comment by Cameron Ross on October 5, 2010 at 11:55pm

Gospel Jazz Saxophonist Cameron Ross

Comment by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on October 5, 2010 at 8:12pm

Comment by Rev. Michael A. Stanley on October 5, 2010 at 6:29pm

I appreciate your encouragement. God bless.

Comment by Rev. Joyce Irvin Harris, M.Div. on October 5, 2010 at 6:28pm

Chaplain Dave Parham was truly a Mighty Man of God whom I proud and humbled to have known. At a time when women, especially Black women, were not well received in ministry, Chaplain Parham encouraged Black women to follow the calling of God knowing that He would prepare a place for our service. My regret is that he retired just as I came to the Fleet. I would have loved having him as my senior chaplain.

(Photo is of CAPT David Parham, CHC, USN-Ret. with his beloved wife, Marion)

Comment by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on October 5, 2010 at 6:22pm

Rev. Stanley you are on the right track, I hate to say this but there is still a high degree of racism in Chaplaincy, I have seen white people hired with 1 unit of CPE, and Black candidate turned away with 4, The good news is that God can open doors in spite of this, if you have 2 units of CPE GREAT! Keep going until you get 4! 4 Units is like the "Icing on the Cake", I have 4 units and an M.Min...I was told earlier that not having an M.Div would keep me out...but God got me hired at TWO hospital...be encouraged and keep learning and growing!

Comment by Rev. Michael A. Stanley on October 5, 2010 at 6:13pm

This comment is in reponse to your add for Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. Ihave two units of CPE from University Health Systems Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greeeville, North Carolina and have been looking for a place to do a residency. This past June I applied to Sentara and in my heart I know that I am a worthy cadidiate. Along with the 2 Units of CPE. I am five classes shy of a M. Div , serve on the Spiritual Care Advisory Committee at Pinnacle Health Systems of Harrisburg, Pa. What can you do to help a black man continue in this field and if so, help guide me in the right direction?

Comment by Mark H. Stevens, Th.D on October 5, 2010 at 5:57pm

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• …
• 12
• Next ›
• Page