Strengths
Good Listener
Practical
Patient
Empathic
Creative
Determined
Ability to "think outside the box"
Thirst for knowledge
Well rounded knowledge
Awareness that I know very little in the "Great Scheme of Things"
Ability to admit I don't know things
Pragmatism
Weaknesses
Shy
Aversion to attention (in groups)
Procrastination
Confidence (or "unwillingness to do salesmanship"?)
Tendency to over-organise rather than do
Paper qualifications
Short plan (in progress already)
Exposure treatment to overcome shyness
Facilitating small group work to work on aversion to group speaking
Daily Planning - combats procrastination and the over-organisation compulsion
Working on paper qualifications by courses
Research your religion's qualifications for Chaplaincy
I'm not sure if I can say I "have a religion". I believe in a Greater Power, that it is inherently Good and totally awesome. :-). I would like to be an Interfaith Chaplain.
And…I'm not actually firghtened to say it…as a therapist for many years, I have found that "qualifications" and "registration" are, 90% of the time, a gimmick to gouge fees. It doesn't take much research to find that an "organisation" or "directory" is linked to a "training centre" and will only list those having completed their training, professional supervision can only be performed by those members of those organisations, and supervisors must have taken their supervisor training course. Not only that, but links to "reputable" organisations (such as training institutions and "registers of professionals", increase someones ranking in Google. It doesn't take much to find out that that "Training School" has staff members who run "This Directory" which lists only their practices. Unless you wish to pay the £100/yr registration fee and then pay £100 every couple months to their supervisor. It only takes a couple "organisations" and an independent therapist is short of money to pay the rent. I don't do it, and generally don't waste my time looking for bogus organisations so my website looks good. Where is the honesty in that. (It isn't a rant, it is a statement of opinion.)
But in the interest of doing the assignment, I have had a Google, and amongst all of the "Chaplaincy Training Schools/Registers", I did manage to find…...
(Varied Chaplaincy requirements would obviously vary by organisation and locality)
- To work as a hospital chaplain, you'll need at least a master's degree in religion, pastoral counseling, divinity, or theology. Some employers prefer a doctorate degree. You'll also need 2-5 years of experience as clergy or chaplain and experience in palliative care and hospice. (study.com)
- To become a Army Chaplain (US Army)
- You must obtain an ecclesiastical endorsement from your faith group. This endorsement should certify that you are:
- A clergy person in your denomination or faith group.
- Qualified spiritually, morally, intellectually and emotionally to serve as a chaplain in the Army.
- Sensitive to religious pluralism and able to provide for the free exercise of religion by all military personnel, their family members and civilians who work for the Army.
- Educationally, you must:
- Possess a baccalaureate degree of not less than 120 semester hours.
- Possess a graduate degree in theological or religious studies, plus have earned at least a total of 72 semester hours in graduate work in these fields of study.
- Applicants for active duty or the National Guard MUST be U.S. citizens. Permanent residents can ONLY apply for the Army Reserve.
- Be able to receive a favorable National Agency Security Clearance.
- Pass a physical exam at one of our Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS).
- A minimum of two years of full-time professional experience, validated by the applicant's endorsing agency (This requirement is not applicable to Army Reserve applicants.)
- Must be at least 21 years of age, but younger than 42 at time of Regular Army commissioning or less than 45 at time of Army Reserve commissioning. Prior service applicants with at least 3 years of prior AFS or creditable USAR service must be younger than 47 at time of Army Reserve commissioning.
- UK Chaplaincy
- National Health Service
- Personal characteristics and skills
- As a chaplain in the NHS, you'll need to be
- willing to work with other faiths and people with no faith
- able to work with staff, patients and families from all walks of life
- flexible
- caring and compassionate
- able to work as part of a team with healthcare staff
You'll also need
excellent communication, including listening, skills
able to see things from another person's point of view
good organisational skill
Training and development
Chaplains new to the NHS have training which includes
an introduction to healthcare chaplaincy
spirituality and chaplaincy in a multi-faith context
working in the NHS
working with people who are mentally ill
UK Board of Healthcare ChaplaincyStandard Criteria for Registration.Full Registration will be available to chaplains subject to the following criteria:
- complete, accurate and contemporary personal record;
- declaration of compliance with the UKBHC Code of Conduct and Continuing Professional Development requirements;
- evidence of relevant qualifications and training. This would normally include:
- evidence of study relevant to the applicants faith community or belief group such as, theology, religious studies, philosophy of religion and belief;
- a Board Accredited postgraduate chaplaincy qualification such as a Postgraduate Certificate in Healthcare Chaplaincy;
- evidence of employment (honorary or salaried) in a healthcare chaplaincy post: this would normally be at a minimum of AfC5; or evidence of at least 6 months competent autonomous practice as a healthcare chaplain, for example in a voluntary chaplaincy placement supervised by a Board Registered healthcare chaplain;
- evidence of a recognised or accredited status within a mainstream faith community or belief group, including the Humanist Society (UKBHC Competence 4.2.3.);
- no known existing professional conduct issues;
- payment of the relevant registration fee.
Provisional / Student Registration will be available to chaplains subject to the following criteria:
- Complete, accurate and contemporary personal record;
- declaration of compliance with the UKBHC Code of Conduct and Continuing Professional Development requirements;
- evidence of undertaking postgraduate chaplaincy study for example a Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma/MSc. in Healthcare Chaplaincy
- evidence of at least 1 month's competent autonomous practice as a healthcare chaplain, for example in a voluntary chaplaincy placement supervised by a Board Registered healthcare chaplain.
- evidence of a recognised or accredited status within a mainstream faith community or belief group, including the British Humanist Association (UKBHC, 2015; 4.2.3.) see guidance below.
- no known existing professional conduct issues.
The Chaplaincy Institute(This doesn't list qualifications per se, but gives an idea of the vast scope of Chaplaincy which would required varied skill sets)Types of Interfaith MinistriesInterfaith ministry is a mix of established forms of ministry and cutting-edge possibilities that expand the boundaries of how one can be of service. Some ministries, such as hospital or hospice chaplaincy, offer a more traditional career path. Other emerging opportunities, such as eco-chaplaincy or animal chaplaincy, tend to be more entrepreneurial.Whether in a traditional setting or one that is on the frontier of what ministry is becoming, the ability to provide care for people of any faith - and those with no faith tradition - will make Interfaith ministers a valuable asset in any number of contexts.Below is a sampling of how some of ChI's ordained clergy are providing spiritual care and promoting peace, healing, harmony, and justice in the world. We hope their stories and forms of ministerial service will inspire you as you discern your own vocational path.My advice to someone looking for a Chaplain would be the same as that I give to people looking for a therapist:Most importantly - Talk to several and choose someone who understands you and who you are comfortable to trust and and open and honest with. Start your list by finding those who are at least registered with a couple ESTABLISHED and INDEPENDENT registers which have a published set of standards for membership.Hopefully this does't sound jaded. But I find that a therapeutic relationship, and am sure that a spiritual relationship, is best based on honesty and transparency.
