Kate
Bradford
Much is
written about the role of chaplains.
In literature,
chaplaincy is distinguished from other ministries as a ministry of
accompaniment rather that a ministry of preaching and formal teaching.
Chaplaincy training focuses on sharpening the skills of accompaniment, tequniques
around active reflective listening and increasing awareness of self and others
– listening is privileged over speaking. Good practice is essential, yet as a
chaplain we bring not only our technical skills, but ourselves – we are our
role.
We know
what a chaplain should do but how do we know what a chaplain should be? Christian
chaplains are in essence followers of Jesus. What does being a follower of
Jesus bring to the chaplaincy role? Is there anything special about being a
chaplain who is also a follower of Jesus? A deeper issue or perhaps the prior
question is: how is a follower of Jesus ‘to be’?
In the
distilled words of The Sermon on the Mount,
Matt 5-7, Jesus imparts wisdom concerning how ‘to be’ by detailing the
distinguishing marks of his followers. This wisdom contained within the sermon
is the essence of being a comfortable Christian. Such a person is known by God
and knows personally the comfort and forgiveness of Christ. Flowing from this is
the blessing of a life lived in fellowship with him. A life lived in fellowship
with Christ knows the deep truths of the great reversal. The reversal promises
to those who cling to God: the poor in
spirit, the mourning, the humble, those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, the merciful, the peacemakers and persecuted that they will see
the Kingdom of God. They will receive comfort, mercy, inheritance and
fulfilment – they see his hand in their lives raising them up. The followers of Jesus have lives transformed
by him. This transformation, in turn enables them to endure persecution, extend
mercy and work for peace. Followers of Jesus live truthful lives directed
towards God. (Matt 5:1-12)
In his
Sermon on the Mount, Jesus likens his followers to salt and light, embracing
the world and offering a preserving element against decay, and illumination
against darkness. Once the demands of the law have been internalised, a
follower of Christ is free to inhabit the world. Such a follower does not
simply make short sharp forays into the world only to just as sharply retreat
back to the safety of the Christian burrow. (Matt 5:13 -16)
The marks
of the transformed life are seen in people with integrity that embraces,
reconciles, and honours. Followers are to be trustworthy, willing to forgive, to
have love for enemies, and to be generous without ostentation. (Matt 5:17 –
6:4)
Central to
this passage is Jesus’ teaching on prayer, the Lord’s Prayer. Such prayer reflects a dependant relationship with
the Heavenly Father that in turn deeply informs the pray-er’s identity. Religious
life is discreet, it is between the pray-er and God, true faith is expressed
internally rather than external displays of religiosity. Dependence on God is
expressed in other ways: travelling lightly through life, living life in a
transparent manner and avoiding duplicity. (Matt 6:5 – 24)
The
follower is encouraged to live in the present, trusting God with their needs.
Jesus lays the first plank in relationships, stating that there is a need for
non-judgemental engagement that acknowledges our own limitations and finitude. Space
for discernment remains. There is an expectation that the follower thinks
soberly about themselves engaging a degree of self-reflection. Jesus’ followers
are to engage openly, yet comprehending that not everyone will be open to them
or to the wisdom of God. Likewise the chaplain discerns when to share the
things of God and when not to. There are responsibilities when working with the
sacred wisdom. (Matt 6:25 – 7:6)
Jesus’
teaching has shifted subtly from how to be to what to do; when to speak; and
where to stand. Chaplains help create a space for people to explore their own
questions around belief and meaning. The chaplain responds to these questions
leading and guiding according to the Jesus’ wisdom. Christian Chaplaincy is
concerned with belief and meaning and the connection with Jesus wisdom: a truth
that is beyond a perspectival relativism. Jesus knows that there are many ‘wisdoms’
in the world, but not all are true and not all lead towards his way, truth and
life. For some people, crisis, trauma, sorrow, sickness and distress will lead
to a time of deep seeking and searching. (Matt 7:7 -14)
Jesus sees
truth as being reflected in eventual outcomes, and likens these outcomes to
fruit on a tree, or the integrity of the foundations of a building. (Matt 7:13
– 29).
Christian
chaplaincy arises out of and has its foundational anchor points in the wisdom
of Jesus. Listening and active reflection are the substance of chaplaincy
practice but the wisdom of Jesus is the essence. As the chaplain prayerfully
listens, they respond depending on the wisdom of Jesus and exercising the
discernment of which he spoke – sometimes a time for
silence, sometimes a time for speech.
