A chaplain is a trained professional, who provides spiritual, emotional, and psychosocial support in secular or religious institutions, serving people of any faith or no faith. The term chaplaincy can refer to the chapel, facility, or department in which one or more chaplains carry out their role, as well as to the profession itself. The name originates from Martin of Tours, who gave his cloak to a veteran in need during a snowstorm.
Though the term chaplain originally referred to representatives of the Christian faith,Compare: it is now also applied to people of other religions or philosophical traditions, as in the case of chaplains serving with military forces and an increasing number of chaplaincies at U.S. universities. In recent times, many lay people have received professional training in chaplaincy and are now appointed as chaplains in schools, hospitals, companies, universities, prisons and elsewhere to work alongside, or instead of, official members of the clergy.Norman, J. (2004). At The Heart of Education: School Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care. Dublin: Veritas. The concepts of a multi-faith team, secular, generic, or humanist chaplaincy are also gaining increasing use, particularly within healthcare and educational settings.
In the Catholic tradition, a chaplain is also a traditional title for an auxiliary priest (i.e., priest assistant/cooperator) assigned to a parish and subordinate to its pastor. This position is now officially called parochial vicar or assistant priest; some dioceses use the term chaplain officially. Side buildings of some parish houses (i.e., rectories) are traditionally called "chaplain houses". This historic term originated because the chaplain was usually assigned to a filial church or a chapel. Until 1983, the 1917 Code of Canon Law (canons 471–476) distinguished 5 types of parochial vicars: , , , , and , the latter of whom is traditionally called a chaplain. The 1983 Code of Canon Law does not distinguish such subtypes. The parochial vicar can take charge of part of the parish, groups of parishioners (e.g., youth, students, older adults, etc.), or specific tasks.
Military
The first chaplains were in the military during the Roman Empire after its Christianization. Military chaplains provide pastoral, spiritual and emotional support for service personnel, including the conduct of religious services at sea, on bases or in the field. Military chaplains have a long history; the first English military-oriented chaplains, for instance, were priests on board proto-naval vessels during the 8th century. Land-based chaplains appeared during the reign of King Edward I. The current form of military chaplain dates from the era of the First World War.
Chaplains are nominated, appointed, or commissioned in different ways in different countries. A military chaplain can be an army-trained soldier with additional theological training or an ordained person nominated to the army by religious authorities. In the United Kingdom the Ministry of Defence employs chaplains but their authority comes from their sending church. Royal Navy chaplains undertake a 16-week bespoke induction and training course including a short course at Britannia Royal Naval College and specialist fleet time at sea alongside a more experienced chaplain. Naval chaplains called to service with the Royal Marines undertake a grueling five-month-long Commando Course and, if successful, wear the commandos' Green Beret. British Army chaplains undertake seven weeks training at the Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre Beckett House and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Royal Air Force chaplains must complete a 12-week Specialist Entrant course at the RAF College Cranwell followed by the Chaplains' Induction Course at the Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre Beckett House of a further two weeks. The United States Navy will often give chaplain training to cadets seeking a theological route in the military. Additionally, they are granted instant employment as a Navy chaplain once ordained. Additionally, in the United States military, chaplains must be endorsed by their religious affiliation in order to serve in any facet of the military. In some cases, like that of the U.S. Navy, a Religious Program Specialist may be appointed to help alleviate some of the duties bestowed upon Naval chaplains.
Military chaplains are normally accorded officer status, although Sierra Leone had a Naval Lance Corporal chaplain in 2001. In most navies, their badges and insignia do not differentiate their levels of responsibility and status. By contrast, in air forces and armies, they typically carry ranks and are differentiated by crosses or other equivalent religious insignia. However, United States military chaplains in every branch carry both rank and Chaplain Corps insignia.
Though the Geneva Conventions does not state whether chaplains may bear arms, they specify (Protocol I, June 8, 1977, Art 43.2) that chaplains are non-combatants. In recent times both the UK and US have required chaplains, but not medical personnel, to be unarmed. Other nations, notably Norway, Denmark and Sweden, make it an issue of individual conscience. Captured chaplains are not considered Prisoners of War (Third Convention, August 12, 1949, Chapter IV Art 33) and must be returned to their home nation unless retained to minister to prisoners of war.
Inevitably, a significant number of serving chaplains have died in action. 100 chaplains of the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps were killed in action during World War II: a casualty rate greater "than any other branch of the services except the infantry and the Army Air Corps" (Crosby, 1994, p. 23). Many have been decorated for bravery in action (five have won Britain's highest award for gallantry, the Victoria Cross). The Chaplain's Medal for Heroism is a special U.S. military decoration given to military chaplains who have been killed in the line of duty, although it has to date only been awarded to the famous Four Chaplains, all of whom died in the sinking in 1943 after giving up their lifejackets to others. In addition to these, five other U.S. chaplains have been awarded the Medal of Honor: Chaplain (LCDR) Joseph T. O'Callahan, USN (World War II); Chaplain (CPT) Emil Kapaun, USA (Posthumous, Korean War); Chaplain (LT) Vincent R. Capodanno, USN (Posthumous, Vietnam War); Chaplain (MAJ) Charles J. Watters, USA (Posthumous, Vietnam War); and Chaplain (CPT) Angelo J. Liteky, USA (Vietnam). (Later in life, Liteky changed his name to Charles, left the Catholic priesthood, became an anti-war activist, and renounced his Medal of Honor). Chaplain Fellowship Ministries military chaplains are nondenominational. To be considered for appointment to serve as a military chaplain, candidates must first be ordained and have an ecclesiastical endorsement by a valid religious faith group recognized by the Department of Defense. Candidates must meet all DOD requirements. The Chaplain Fellowship had military chaplains serving in Iraq and now in Afghanistan.
In 2006, training materials obtained by U.S. intelligence showed that insurgent snipers fighting in Iraq were urged to single out and attack engineers, medics, and chaplains on the theory that those casualties would demoralize entire enemy units. The United States European Command has co-sponsored an annual International Military Chiefs of Chaplains Conference every year since 1991 to consider the various issues affecting chaplaincy ministry and other military personnel. At times, the existence of military chaplains has been challenged in countries that have a separation of Church and State. However one of the major issues affecting chaplaincy and military personnel is that of moral injury arising as a result of international conflicts and terrorism.
Health care
General Information "Chaplains" are known by a large range of interchangeable titles. Other terms include: Spiritual Care Provider, Pastoral Care Provider, Spiritual Health Practitioner (especially in CASC/ACSS - the Canadian Chaplaincy Organization), Clinical Pastoral Education Supervisor (for ICPT-certified educators).
In healthcare chaplains are employed in acute care medical hospitals, pediatric hospitals, behavioral health hospitals, long-term facilities (assisted living, skilled nursing), out-patient clinics, addiction treatments and hospice/palliative care. There are over 10,000 professional chaplains in the United States including a large number who serve in Veteran Affairs health care settings. Chaplains care for people of all faiths and no faith.
The 2000 Chaplaincy White Paper was the first joint statement by five major U.S. and Canadian chaplaincy organizations. It defined the professional role, training, and value of chaplains in healthcare, emphasizing their contributions to holistic care and establishing shared standards across faith traditions and institutional settings. It includes the following two section:Professional chaplains offer spiritual care to all who are in need and have specialized education to mobilize spiritual resources so that patients cope more effectively. They maintain confidentiality and provide a sup-portive context within which patients can discuss their concerns. They are professionally accountable to their religious faith group, their certifying chaplaincy organization, and the employing institution. Professional chaplains and their certifying organizations demonstrate a deep commitment and sensitivity to the diverse ethnic and religious cultures found in North America.
Professional chaplains are theologically and clinically trained clergy or lay persons whose work reflects:
Sensitivity to multi-cultural and multi-faith realities Respect for patients' spiritual or religious preferences Understanding of the impact of illness on individuals and their caregivers Knowledge of healthcare organizational structure and dynamics Accountability as part of a professional patient care team Accountability to their faith groups
The Functions and Activities of Professional Healthcare Chaplains The following comes from the foundational document published in 2001 commonly referred to Chaplaincy White Paper of 2000. When religious beliefs and practices are tightly interwoven with cultural contexts, chaplains constitute a powerful reminder of the healing, sustaining, guiding, and reconciling power of religious faith. Professional chaplains reach across faith group boundaries and do not proselytize. They provide supportive spiritual care through empathic listening, demonstrating an understanding of persons in distress. Professional chaplains serve as members of patient care teams. Professional chaplains design and lead religious ceremonies of worship and ritual. Professional chaplains lead or participate in healthcare ethics programs. Professional chaplains educate the healthcare team and community regarding the relationship of religious and spiritual issues to institutional service. Professional chaplains act as mediator and reconciler, functioning in ways for those who need a voice in the healthcare system. Professional chaplains may serve as contact persons to arrange assessment for the appropriateness and coordination of complementary therapies. Professional chaplains and their certifying organizations encourage and support research activities to assess the effectiveness of providing spiritual care.
BCC - Board Certified Chaplain In the United States, health care chaplains/spiritual care providers who are board-certified meeting the following requirements:
completed a minimum of four units (1,600 hours) of Clinical Pastoral Education training a Masters of Divinity degree (or its equivalent) faith group ordination or commissioning, faith group endorsement demonstrated mastering of the 29 Common Qualifications and Competencies by first submitting extensive written work and then sitting before a Certification Committee.