If I had to choose between my wife and my putter... well, I’d miss her.
Being a chaplain
Return to the book list for titles beginning with 'b'.
Miranda Threlfall-Holmes and Mark Newitt (editors), London SPCK, 2011. ISBN 978-0-281-06385-7
The book consists of 22 short chapters of chaplains’ stories by serving chaplains arranged in five sections reflecting the spheres where chaplains serve – the armed forces, education, healthcare, the prison service and finally “other sectors” which includes one chapter on sport. This is followed by 4 chapters of theological reflections on what has gone before.
The book includes some helpful material on chaplaincy in an inter-faith context reflecting on how it is interpreted in army, prison and health sectors, the challenges of shared space and how Christian mission and ministry fit into inter-faith chaplaincy. While chapaincy is often inter-faith, the book notes that chaplaincy’s heritage is Christian and “the inherited language is Christian, including the term chaplain itself and key concepts such as pastoral care”.
Chaplaincy is not always valued as a ministry. The book tells a story of two clergy who were concerned that their curates were struggling with parish life and suggested that they might be better off as hospital chaplains where pastoral weaknesses would not be exposed – a view not surprisingly rejected by the editors.
A prison chaplain shared an interesting perspective on ministering to everyone: “If you’re too friendly with prisoners, the officers will not open up to you; if you’re too friendly with the officers the prisoners will not trust you; if you’re too friendly with the governors no one will speak to you!” That is a principle which applies very widely in chaplaincy.
After the chaplains’ stories there are several chapters of reflection on the nature of chaplaincy. The attempt to identify the skills required to be a chaplain is really helpful as is the discussion of the issues chaplains face. There are also two lists of models of chaplaincy – theological and secular models
I noted a number one-liners which, for me, seemed to encapsulate the ministry of a
• journeying with people;
• ministry of presence;
• Love is more important than faith, and we can sometimes forget that;
• a glimpse of heaven, to those caught up in hell;
• a long and slow missional journey, sowing seeds rather than reaping harvests;
• Loving teenagers into heaven;
• looking out for the signs of God working in people’s lives and blessing that;
• embodying something of God in the place where you minister.
While there is only one chapter on sports chaplaincy, there is much that is applicable. I fully recommend the book