Foundations of Chaplaincy
A Practical Guide
Author Alan T. Baker ISBN 9780802877499 Binding Trade Paper Publisher WM B. Eerdmans Publishing Company Publication Date February 18, 2021 Size 152 x 229 mmAn approachable overview of the nature, purpose, and functional roles of chaplaincy
Chaplaincy is unlike any other kind of ministry. It involves working outside a church, without a congregation, usually in a secular organization. It requires ministering to those with starkly different religious convictions, many of whom may never enter a house of worship. It is, as Alan Baker writes, “ministry in motion.” Those who are embarking upon this unique and specialized call deserve equally unique and specialized guidance, and Foundations of Chaplaincy offers exactly that.
Baker surveys the biblical and theological foundations of chaplaincy before enumerating four specific responsibilities and skills that define chaplaincy’s “ministry of presence”: providing, facilitating, caring, and advising. Baker’s thorough guidance on these matters is supplemented in sidebars with practical advice and anecdotes from over thirty chaplains currently serving in a variety of settings and organizations.
Chaplains who serve in healthcare, the military, correctional institutions, police and fire departments, sports teams, college campuses, and corporations have essential roles to play in their respective organizations, but theirs is rarely an easy calling. With Foundations of Chaplaincy as an introduction and an ongoing reference, those called to this important vocation may be assured of having the tools they need to cultivate a strong, mission-driven pastoral identity rooted in their own theological tradition while simultaneously participating in a multi-faith team.
“The volume is peppered with . . . valuable and inspiring [insights, . . . coming both from Baker’s own extensive experience, and from chaplains in situ.”
“I have known Alan Baker for decades and can think of no one more qualified to write about the foundations of chaplaincy. This book should be required reading for anyone who is attempting to understand how a positive and powerful ministry can be sustained in an inclusive environment of religious diversity. Alan imparts a wisdom he has forged in the crucible of experience. His wisdom has blessed me during my nearly eighteen years as Chaplain of the United States Senate.”
— Rear Admiral Barry C. Black
62nd Chaplain of the United States Senate
“A clear, lively, and theologically grounded exposition of the distinctive calling of chaplaincy, richly illustrated with stories and biblical resources. The book offers an account of the dimensions of the chaplain’s role as a facilitator or provider of religious services to those of diverse traditions but also a skilled and caring presence for people facing any of the challenges of human life and an adviser to organizational leaders. This is a much-needed resource for a form of ministry of growing importance in our religiously plural world.”
— Sondra Wheeler
Wesley Theological Seminary
“Chaplaincy is one of the most difficult ministries. Alan Baker knows from experience both the difficult challenges and the wonderful opportunities of being a pastor ‘of’ the church while not ‘in’ the church. Thank God he has written this much-needed book on the subject. It is full of wisdom.”
— Richard J. Mouw
Fuller Theological Seminary
“Alan Baker offers an accessible and helpful vision for chaplaincy that prioritizes presence and yet offers helpful insights and tools for navigating and thriving in one’s life as a chaplain. I see this book being widely used as a resource, not least for my seminary students discerning their call to chaplaincy.”
— Chuck DeGroat
Western Theological Seminary
“The calling and role of chaplains has often been relegated by the church to a second-class status. But chaplains serve on the front lines of ministry, bringing a compassionate presence to those confronting pain, anguish, or despair, and suddenly asking their deepest questions about God. Alan Baker is one of the finest chaplains I’ve ever known. As chaplaincy increases even as church attendance decreases, this book will become an indispensable guide. It distills Baker’s rich experience into the most thorough and helpful resource available for anyone considering this high and holy calling.”
— Wesley Granberg-Michaelson
author of Without Oars: Casting Off into a Life of Pilgrimage
“Chaplaincy is both an art and a science, and Foundations of Chaplaincy provides a thorough exploration of both aspects. Illustrating the journey from calling to credentialing to career competence, this primer offers a helpful picture of the science, or ‘how to do chaplaincy,’ revealing a comprehensive array of pastoral care scenarios and institutional environments. But the real insight is in the unveiling of the art of chaplaincy, that is, how to strike the precarious balance of serving the diverse spiritual needs of both the religious and unaffiliated, while remaining a fully functioning member of, and therefore completely within the boundaries of, a secular institution; all the while remaining faithful to the mandates of the chaplain’s own belief and faith tradition. Foundations of Chaplaincy explores this dynamic and challenging undertaking with a deep appreciation for this essential vocation.”
— Rear Admiral Margaret Grun Kibben
61st Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives
“Chaplaincy is a special calling for a unique kind of ministry that only a select few men and women clergy can embrace. It involves working outside and beyond a single faith group to provide spiritual guidance and pastoral care to persons in diverse settings. Chaplains are called to be fluid and open in their approach to ministry to people from various backgrounds. Chaplain Baker captures this well in his writings.”
— Chaplain Michael L. McCoy
former National Director of Chaplaincy in the US Department of Veterans Affairs
“Baker brings his beginnings as a USN Academy plebe through his retirement as the sixteenth Chaplain of the US Marine Corps to this insightful primer on chaplaincy. Foundations of Chaplaincy is both a d
Alan T. Baker is a deeply experienced chaplain who now trains, supervises, and endorses prospective and current chaplains in a variety of settings. Baker's experience includes service in college, corporate, and military chaplaincy. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Baker rose to the rank of rear admiral. He currently teaches at Fuller, Gordon-Conwell, and Wesley seminaries.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. The Foundations of Chaplaincy
The Call to Ministry and the Call of Chaplaincy
Biblical Basis for Chaplaincy
Characteristics, Advantages, and Challenges of Institutional Ministry
Five Ministry Tasks and Competencies
Four Chaplain Functional Capabilities
2. The Chaplain as Provider
Definition of Provide and Perform
Incarnational Ministry and the Center Set
Tribes and the Context of Ministry for Chaplains
Institutional Duality of Chaplaincy
Ecclesiastical Environment in the Institution
3. The Chaplain as Facilitator
Definition of Facilitate and Facilitation
Religious Accommodation
The Constitutional Foundation for Governmental Chaplaincy
Cooperative Pluralism and Practice of Access
4. The Chaplain as Caregiver
Definition of Care and Caregiving
Pastoral Counseling in Chaplaincy
Eight Quick Counseling Questions
Special Counseling Observations
Cognitive Focused Counseling and Distorted Thinking
Suicide Awareness and Prevention
Confidentiality and Privileged Communication
Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)
5. The Chaplain as Adviser
Prophetic Voice of Chaplain to the Institution
Definition of Advisement and Adviser
Public Prayer: Worship Service and Civic Ceremony
6. Bringing It All Together
Integration
Self-Care
Final Thoughts
Appendixes
Organizations and Settings Typically Served by Chaplains
Scenarios and Case Studies
Sample Clinical Pastoral Education Verbatim
Checklist for New Chaplains: Moving from Parish Ministry to Chaplaincy
Helping Churches and Employers Understand the Difference between Chaplains and Pastors
Glossary