Chaplain Bible Institute

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!