Chaplaincy Studies

Lesson #1

Assignment:

Write out a short paragraph or two on what you know of chaplains. Does your faith group or religion have chaplains or not? what is your view of chaplains and their role in society today?

What I know about chaplains:

Chaplains are servants of God who minister to those who are not organized as a parish or congregation of followers. They are called to cater to the spiritual needs of all faiths and must practice tolerance in their service to all God's children.

Chaplains in my faith group:

My own faith group does have chaplains. When I went to Catholic school we had a priest that would come in to counsel and pray with students. Catholics are not the only Christian sect with chaplains. Many of the Christian based faiths send out their ministers to those who cannot regularly attend services or masses at a church.

My view of chaplains and their role in society today:

In this ever evolving world in which we live the role of the chaplain is growing more important everyday. Communities are as diverse as ever and it seems as though many people do not stop moving around. The faithful should never be deprived of their right to spiritual guidance just because they cannot belong to a standard congregation of followers and chaplains fill this role perfectly. The need is especially great in the fire service (of which I am a part), the emergency medical services, and the police departments around the globe. We deal with emergency situations on a regular business and having a chaplain present in the midst of the chaos would ease the minds of many. Sometimes a quick prayer before throwing yourself into a burning structure can make all the difference. No matter how you recognize God, a prayer is always going to be a prayer, and a brief moment of spiritual guidance will always be welcome in the hearts of those who believe.

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