The Fundamentals: The Why, What, Who and How of Chaplaincy: The Chaplain Skill Set Series, #1

THE CHAPLAIN SKILL SET SERIES

Volume 1: The Fundamentals

Chaplain Keith Evans

The Chaplain Skill Set Series

Volume 1: The Fundamentals

The Why, What, Who and How of Chaplaincy

Second Edition

Chaplain Keith Evans

Also, by Chaplain Keith Evans

The Chaplain Skill Set Series

Volume 2: Understanding Spirituality and World Faith Expressions

The Chaplain Skill Set Series

Volume 3: Understanding the Spiritual Assessment

Essential Chaplain Skill Sets: Discovering Effective Ways to Provide Excellent Spiritual Care

Bloomington, IN: West Bow Press, 2017

www.westbowpress.com

ISBN: 978-1-9736-0011-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-0012-1 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-0010-7 (e)

THE CHAPLAIN SKILL SET SERIES

VOLUME ONE: THE FUNDAMENTALS

THE WHY, WHAT, WHO AND HOW OF CHAPLAINCY

Second Edition

By Chaplain Keith Evans

Copyright © 2018

Keith A Evans

ISBN: 9781730789595

Independently Published

All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical articles or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without written permission from the author. Failure to comply with these terms may expose you to legal action and damages for copyright infringement.

Cover image and design: Cyndilu Original. Used by permission.

Chaplain Evans does a masterful job of capturing the essence of what it means to be a Chaplain. His book is very balanced, and a MUST READ for anyone who is seriously considering a future as a Chaplain. This volume is dedicated to revealing the necessary skills one should have to minister effectively. His closing chapter illustrates exactly how a Case Study should be written. If you are seriously thinking about the chaplaincy, you need to buy and read this book. It is well worth the investment!

Quick and prompt - excellent quality!

Chaplain Keith has done a marvelous job in addressing the topic of chaplaincy. Reading this work one understands the reason of chaplain's existence, how chaplains work, where they work, what they do and how chaplains are trained. I strongly encourage this work, which is written in a very simple and comprehensive manner. Plus, it’s very affordable. I enjoyed it.

Contents

Preface

Chapter One: Why the Need for Chaplains?

Chapter Two: What is Chaplaincy?

Chapter Three: Who can Be a Chaplain?

Chapter Four: How is Chaplain Care Administered?

Chapter Five: Bringing the Pieces Together

Chapter References

Preface

Second Edition

This revised and expanded edition includes more elaboration and empirical evidence to the why, what, who and how of chaplaincy. For the analytic minded reader who seeks well-grounded concepts that support chaplaincy, previous sections on theological and theoretical context for public ministry and chaplaincy have been expanded upon. An additional section on spiritual care outcomes have also been added.

For the practical minded reader, additional real-life verbatims from various chaplain ministry settings are presented in the Putting It Together section. Extra self-reflection questions are included to assist the reader in developing more skill sets in observation as well as analysis of the individual encounter and themselves.

First Edition

The Chaplain Skill Set Series emerged from the vast amount of resources that I have gathered throughout my own quest to become the best minister and professional chaplain that I can eventually be. The goal for this project is simply to share well-respected resources and learned lessons which any chaplain of any faith background and any ministry setting can utilize quickly and effectively. I will speak from my own experiences and from time to time lean heavily upon my own Christian theology to support various chaplain theories, functions and skill sets. Please understand that it is not my aim to offend any reader from other spirituality or religious doctrines. It is the responsibility of every chaplain to develop their own pastoral identity based upon how their life experiences and their own faith informs them. The contributors of this Series will share their perspectives.

The Series will touch upon the primary points which any minister should consider to become a highly skilled and competent chaplain. I am aware that this series may not be exhaustive for all the nuances of chaplaincy, but I will strive for it to be as comprehensive as possible in forming an effective foundation. The Series has a three-fold purpose. It is designed for: 1) individuals who are unfamiliar with the unique field of chaplaincy, 2) for laity or clergy who are discerning whether to go into chaplain ministry, and 3) for seasoned clergy and chaplains who simply want to revisit the tried and true skillsets which produce an excellence in chaplaincy. I will always attempt to give credit where credit is due as well as share the many resources which have been helpful in my own chaplain formation.

The Series begins with this initial volume on The Fundamentals. This first volume will attempt to succinctly answer four basic questions: Why the need for Chaplains? What is Chaplaincy? Who can be a Chaplain? and the most practical question for you, the reader, How is chaplaincy administered? How does it work? The last chapter will attempt to succeed in Bringing the Pieces Together for you through the presentation of three clinical verbatims. I hope you enjoy The Chaplain Skill Set Series. If you sift through and dig out just a few pearls of wisdom from each volume which you can readily use in your own chaplain ministry, then I will consider my efforts to have been worthwhile. May God’s peace be upon you as well as upon your specific ministry.

Chapter One: Why the Need for Chaplains?

Do you believe there really is a need or place for chaplaincy or chaplains? If there is a need, then is the need only a perceived need for religious people or is chaplaincy supported by solid anecdotal or qualitative evidence? If there is good information supporting chaplains, what makes chaplains needed? I hope to succinctly answer those questions plus many more in this first volume of The Chaplain Skill Set Series.

The Widening Gap from Organized Faith

Have you truly considered, Why the need for Chaplains? In research compiled by the Barna Group (www.barna.org), data reveals that 59% of 18-29-year olds with a Christian background have dropped out of attending a church regularly. In 2015, Barna discovered that 25% of unchurched adults are skeptics of God’s existence, labeling themselves as either agnostics or atheists. This trend is more predominant in younger adults who are more educated, racially and ethnically diverse.

Across gender lines, females are noted as more religiously skeptical than males. Barna states, the three primary components that lead to disbelief in God’s existence [by Skeptics] are 1) rejection of the Bible, 2) a lack of trust in the local church and 3) the cultural reinforcement of a secular worldview. This information led the Barna Group to develop a post-Christian metric which looks at multi-dimensional factors to describe the rich and variegated experience of spirituality and faith. Spirituality is indeed diverse and is being defined and expressed in many ways. Anecdotal evidence will also reveal that this trend is also occurring throughout all the primary organized faiths: Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, etc.

A 2017 study noted 80% of 4,700 people surveyed stated they believe in God. But only 56% believe in the God as described in the Bible. The remaining responses state that they either believe in a higher power or spiritual force (9%), while 10% state they have no divine or spiritual force beliefs at all (Pew Research Center, 2017). 

For ministers and chaplains, this data does not come as a surprise, but as a validation of the changing expressions of faith and spirituality in America as well as across the globe. This is especially true if one holds to the premise that each person,

Is spiritual,

Possesses an inner spiritual nature or spirituality, and

Is consciously or unconsciously searching for meaning and purpose in their lives.

With this observable trend, I have found that the topic of spirituality may be the best place to begin any faith conversation. In fact, it might even prove to be quite difficult to find anyone who would not accept the statement that all humans are spiritual and possess a spirituality, whether they recognize it or not. If you look around and observe your friends, neighbors and co-workers, you will see individuals who are constantly in search for meaning and purpose in their lives and about situations they experience. With so many of the population not active in a local church or organized faith community, there is a great need for effective soul care to be brought to them in their respective places of work, by their co-workers, friends, and even by professional, workplace chaplains.

Spirituality is defined and expressed in many ways.

With so many of the population not active in a local church or organized faith community, there is a great need for effective soul care to be brought to them in their respective places of work by their coworkers and friends…Chaplains are uniquely qualified to bridge this growing gap in our society, which has pushed back against organized religion yet still strives to find meaning and relevancy in their spiritual selves (Evans, Essential Chaplain, 2).

Michael Langston, a retired military chaplain and a professor of chaplaincy, said,

However, in the midst of all this change, religion and spirituality continue to thrive and provide a sense of hopefulness for millions of people around the world. People are buoyed by their faith and continue to seek out avenues to practice that faith (Evans, vii).

Observing this trend and the need for practical and relevant ministry applications, Langston continues,

Today, there is a strong trend and desire to have that spiritual need addressed in the workplace, where people live 30–40 percent of their lives. In the workplace environment, life goes on and people experience all the joys, excitement, successes, heartaches, struggles, and failures that life brings. In an effort to maintain productivity, corporations and institutions search for ways to address workers’ specific religious/spiritual needs so that productivity continues to meet expectations of the organization, board of directors, and shareholders. Many of these corporations, health-care systems, and institutions see the importance of providing