Being a Chaplain

by Miranda Threlfall-Holmes

Chaplaincy - a place for those who have sold out, can't hack church ministry and don't believe in mission? Against the negative stereotypes, this book argues that chaplains are a valuable resource to the Church. Embedded in places as diverse as prisons, hospitals, educational establishments and the armed forces, chaplains often encounter social trends well in advance of the institutional churches. Their experiences and expertise can be very helpful for thinking about ministry, ecclesiology and the engagement with contemporary society. The first five parts of this book gather together stories of 22 chaplains working in a wide variety of contexts and from a range of Christian churches. The final part consists of four essays on key themes: multi-faith issues; the core skills needed by a chaplain; models of chaplaincy; and tensions that can arise in the work. This book is for chaplains, students, clergy and all those who are considering becoming a chaplain or have dealings with people in the role. It will be of considerable interest to anyone who wonders what exactly chaplains do, how and why they do it and what the churches can learn from their experiences.

Genres: Christian

162 pages, Paperback

First published June 17, 2011

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like some of the other reviewers, I read this in preparation for some training as a non-religious pastoral care volunteer. It’s usefulness for that purpose was limited. It certainly gave an insight into the roles and motivations of Christian chaplaincy staff, with whom I may end up working, but there was little of anything I’d expect to be of direct use. Looked at more broadly, for those whose prime interest was understanding chaplaincy and the challenges it faces, I guess it would be a reasonable introduction.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting reading

Am reading this as preparation for a course as a non-religious pastoral carer - sounds a bit like a contradiction but the Church are rather the experts in this field! I found this book to be interesting and balanced - stories from various Christian chaplains about what they do, and the pros and cons. Its obviously a little skewed towards Christian ministry, but there is much to highlight here for anyone interested in pastoral care either as a career or an interest.

[Mrs L.A. Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring and challenging book

This book is one to which I will return, having read it in a single sitting. I found it both inspiring and challenging, as it verbalize both the joys and challenges of the chaplaincy role in different settings. The questions posed at the end really did set me thinking. I can conceive of says around some of them.

[North Beds Methodist Circuit Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

With several contributions from chaplains in different situations I found this really helpful to understand the important role a chaplain provides for those seeking God's face. Generally sowers of seeds that others will harvest the role provides an important bridge between the secular and the spiritual worlds.

[Jamie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was pre-reading for a course. Whilst it was a useful insight into chaplaincy, I found I had more questions than answers from reading it. As someone who does not follow the christian faith I found it irritating to hear such condescension towards professions such as counselling.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insights into the life of chaplaincy. A wide range of chaplains from prison to hospital to education share their stories in short chapters which pack in the highlights (and lowlights) of their ministry. A great read for anyone thinking about chaplaincy.

[Jordy Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, very helpful information