Hospice Chaplaincy
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to be Christian?
We consider a Christian to be a person whose spiritual beliefs and practices are consistent with Truth as revealed in scripture, the Holy Word of God. For us, a Christian is one who believes that: Man is sinful and needs a Savior; that ultimately sin and disobedience to God (to reject or neglect God) and His truth will result in eternal punishment (hell); that Jesus was God in human flesh; that Jesus came to pay the price of our sin; that Jesus, after His crucifixion, rose from the dead; and that any hope of heaven is predicated on the fact of a life of willing obedience to the Lordship of Christ and a life-long quest to understand and practice what Jesus taught. Not only is a true Christian to believe and practice this, but we are also to teach others to do so AND encourage them to teach others to believe and practice these things.
What do we mean by “hospice chaplain?”
We consider a hospice chaplain to be . . .
What is a chaplain? A chaplain is typically a person (male or female) of mature faith, serving a group of people who gather together for reasons other than preaching, worship, prayer, Bible reading, etc.
What qualifications are you looking for in a chaplain?
The candidate should have a successful and proven ministry of at least three to five years prior to applying for the position of chaplain. The candidate is encouraged to hold or be seeking ministerial credentials and ecclesiastical endorsement from his/her credentialing organization. (This is not an absolute requirement, only a recommendation.) The educational, experience and ministerial credentials requirements for a chaplain may vary at the discretion of the emergency services department Chief. If, in his/her judgment, the candidate’s knowledge, practical ministry experience, and references are sufficient to qualify him/her for the position, the chief and/or agency board may appoint him/her as their chaplain.
What qualities are you looking for in a Christian chaplain?
Each department will make its own individual decision regarding what qualities it is looking for in its chaplain(s). From our vantage point, we recommend that a Christian chaplain be an individual that, in both character and conduct, is above reproach. Further, he/she should be free from: 1) the use of any illegal drugs, 2) the use of any alcoholic beverages, 3) the use of any tobacco products, 4) the use of any language considered coarse, profane, or offensive, and 5) the misuse of any prescription drugs. He/she should not have any past or pending felony convictions and be able to pass a criminal background check. He should not publicly or privately engage in the viewing of pornography in any form. He should be above reproach in interpersonal relationships, marriage relationship, finances, parenting, sexual conduct, communications, and any other matters that might reflect negatively on the position of chaplain or on the department. He should have and maintain a good reputation in the community.
In what capacity does an hospice chaplain serve?
The ministry of a chaplain is PRIMARILY a ministry of presence. A hospice chaplain functions much like a pastor but is not often called on to do pulpit preaching. A few key differences between a pastor and a chaplain are that the chaplain serves under a para-military chain of command AND his/her “congregation” is mostly made up of people who are not necessarily faithful followers of Jesus Christ.
Does a hospice chaplain have to be a pastor or credentialed minister?
Some professional organizations say “yes” to this question. However, we feel that both ministers and mature lay leaders can serve effectively as chaplains. Ultimately it is the chief of the department that decides what qualifications he/she will require of the chaplain.
What are some of the duties a chaplain will be asked to perform?
To serve as a spiritual adviser (pastor) to his/her department members and its leaders.
To officiate at funerals and weddings (if properly credentialed to do so) and to offer prayer, invocations, etc. at public events.
To serve as a liaison between the department and the faith community within the district.
To seek out and be available to the individual members of the department and their immediate family members for spiritual and emotional advice, counsel, and support in any matters affecting their overall well-being, providing practical helps where needed and wanted.
To seek out and be available to members of the general public for emotional and spiritual support, especially in times of crisis or tragedy, providing practical helps where needed and wanted.
To respond to emergency scenes where serious injury or death has occurred. Special attention should be given to incidents involving children or the elderly. The chaplain's presence is virtually mandatory when there is serious injury or death to one or more emergency services personnel.
To be trained in and to make death notifications on behalf of their agency when necessary.
To be involved in all aspects of funerals resulting from emergency services Line of Duty Deaths.
To be trained in and provide appropriate group and individual critical incident stress management assessments and interventions including but not limited to Critical Incident Stress Debriefings (CISD).