This book combines theological reflection on key issues in chaplaincy with a collection of stories from those engaged in chaplaincy in a wide variety of contexts. The essays cover issues, skills and tensions - discussing what chaplaincy is and how to do it.

Mark Newitt; Miranda Threlfall-Holmes

Cover

Foreword

The series title

Title page

Copyright

List of contributors

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Part 1 Chaplains’ Stories – The Armed Forces

1 The RAF

2 The Army

3 The Royal Navy

Part 2 Chaplains’ Stories – Education

4 Durham School

5 The Grey Coat Hospital and Westminster City School

6 A further-education college

7 Sunderland University

8 Sheffield Hallam University

9 Selwyn and Newnham Colleges, Cambridge

10 King's College London

Part 3 Chaplains’ Stories – Healthcare

11 Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust

12 The Rowans Hospice

13 Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust

14 Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

15 Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

Part 4 Chaplains’ Stories – The Prison Service

16 HMP Wandsworth

17 HMP Wakefield

18 HMP Low Newton

19 HMPs Acklington and Castington

Part 5 Chaplains’ Stories – Other Sectors

20 London Luton Airport

21 Manchester United FC

22 Community arts in Bensham and Gateshead

Part 6 Theological Reflections

23 Responding to diversity: chaplaincy in a multi-faith context

24 The role and skills of a chaplain

25 Exploring models of chaplaincy

26 Values and tensions

Threlfall-Holmes, Miranda

__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.

The Good Book Stall

Chaplaincy is a growing area of ministry within the Church and this book provides ample resource material for anyone considering a chaplaincy role, whether ordained or lay.  
The majority of the book consists of stories from chaplains working in a diverse range of settings primarily from the Armed Forces, Education, Health Care and the Prison Service. Other settings are included however, specifically Luton airport, Manchester United FC and a Community Arts project in the North East of England. The final section of the book offers some theological reflections on the nature of chaplaincy as a whole, which is a genuine challenge in the light of the diversity represented in the preceding accounts.   
Some common themes emerge – the tension of working in secular institutions, resource pressures, the difficulty of identifying the ‘value add’ that chaplaincy brings, the sense that chaplains are sometimes overlooked or marginalized within the life of the mainstream church…  
What is clear throughout the book is that chaplaincy is a vibrant and deeply rewarding ministry, served by some very dedicated chaplains often working in conditions that are profoundly challenging to people of faith. So this is a hopeful and encouraging book, and surely must be required reading for every candidate for ministry. Let’s hope it can also help the church to acknowledge the work of chaplains with more enthusiasm than sometimes appears the case.

Being a Chaplain

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Being a Chaplain

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