Chaplaincy Program

Chaplains are a special type of minister. Usually, when you hear the word minister. You think of a church pastor who teaches and assists a particular group or denomination. Chaplains on the other hand, are charged with helping anyone who comes to them for help or counsel.

The chaplain will work in a variety of environments and they generally are not bound to a particular faith, denomination or style of worship.  While the chaplain may or may not attend a certain church or be a member or a single denomination, s/he will ultimately be charged with the welfare and spiritual guidance of all people, primarily of those outside the church.

I was ordained in 2006 at Universal Life Church. Universal Life Church is about religious freedom and allows the minister the necessary freedoms and privileges to perform adequately those beliefs and practice of their particular faith or religion. This being said, my church does support the chaplaincy and accordingly they do make available the title of chaplain.

I think that chaplains are charged with the duty of reaching out in fellowship with people of all walks of life, helping these in need, regardless of their religious or non-religious beliefs, and providing both general and specific counsel to those people who may come to him/her for assistance. Their work has a profound impact on society, especially those serving in hospitals, nursing homes, group homes, and the military, as they are so called to assist those dealing with particularly consequential issues and concerns. I honestly believe that the many who come to the chaplain for their needs more often than not will leave the chaplain with a renewed sense of confidence and strength. This in and of itself is very large impact on society at large.

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Many people get ordained through the ULC as a means to become wedding officiants, but also to study through our online seminary. If you need minister supplies or online ceremonies, we have a wide selection to choose from, as well as a place for spiritual articles and spiritual bookmarks. Visit our FB Page at ULC Seminary.

Chaplaincy Studies

 Master of Chaplaincy Studies

Rev. Sandra P. Malloy

Chaplaincy Studies Reflection Essay

No one was more surprised about my decision to enter ministry than I.  As one of those spiritual, non-religious types, I feel that keeping my soul open to the simple directions from God and exploring what ministry looks like for me with an open mind and heart is essential.  As part of this exploration I was called to serve as a prayer chaplain in my community church.  As a lay spiritual leader, I was taught to pray with and for others and to encourage others to be actively involved in their own prayer lives.  I immediately realized a deeper spiritual connection with God through serving and was interested in the way other chaplains served in outreach to congregants in hospitals, nursing homes, and through telephone and home-visits.  I felt I was unprepared for this kind of ministry and my hope was that this course would give me a starting place to find more about what is expected of a chaplain and what I should do to prepare for this kind of volunteer position.  I am grateful that I found this and much more.

The greatest gift from Reverend Moore’s discourses is his emphasis on the chaplain’s role as the one who is there; The one who asks, “How can I help?” Understanding this central message immediately helped me in my prayer chaplain duties.  I realized that knowing the right thing to say or having the right theological wisdom is not what people need from a chaplain.  Giving an honest, “I don’t know why,” and being there with compassion and a tissue is far more helpful than any words of wisdom in times of need.  This helped me see that as a chaplain, I do not need to know what to do, I need only ask how I can help, offer prayer, and stay in the present moment with congregants.  This is something I feel confident and comfortable with doing, so I immediately started participating in the outreach ministry at my church.

Some of my reluctance to serve in outreach as chaplain is I do not always feel qualified to give advice.  Reverend Moore makes the point that honestly answering that I am not an expert in certain areas and making referrals to see someone who is qualified is an important part of chaplaincy.  I enjoy helping people find resources and feel confident this is something I can do.  I now understand that, as chaplain, I should give advice only when someone asks and I should not feel the need to be the great dispenser of knowledge.  Overwhelming someone with information can make the situation much more stressful.  Instead, I can take the current facts of the situation into silent prayer and listen to the congregant and to God’s simple directions.  

Listening is key to being an effective chaplain.  Much of the advice for active listening was review for me, but so important I wrote the key ideas, such as the paraphrasing and reflecting sentence starters, on note cards and added them to my toolbox as reminders.  As someone just beginning ministry, I found all examples of short replies and questions to ask in different situations very helpful.  What they really reinforce is that there is nothing to know.  I only need a willingness to be open to helping others in the way they need to be helped.  Only they know what they need. The toolbox itself is a very useful tip.  It is surprising how well the business cards have worked.  I designed them with my contact information, a nice quote from Mother Teresa, and plenty of room to write a message. As suggested, if someone is asleep when I visit them in the hospital, I leave a note to let them know I’m praying for them and to call me if I can help in anyway.  I’ve also left my card with other congregants, friends, and co-workers to let them know I’m praying for them.  Many people have kept the card, because they like the quote and they comment it is nice to have a reminder someone is praying for them.  I’ve also used some inspirational pamphlets that I keep in the toolkit.  I used Post-It note colored tabs to mark the suggested comforting scripture in my Bible.  Not only can I open right to the passage, but I can color code verses by topic.  In the few instances someone has asked to read scripture with me, I have found it especially touching and comforting to read allowed, chorally.  It is surprising to me how the space around us changed and there seemed no need for further explanation or discussion, but maybe just a hug.  

I appreciate the discussion about the chaplain’s role in ceremony and worship.  The central message is clearly summed up in the statement, “It is to develop an attitude that can bring worship into any space where people meet.”  I identified with story of Moses taking off his shoes to connect with holy ground. I learned it is a greater gift still to help someone hold sacred space for themselves and their loved ones when they are not able to do it themselves.   

Counseling is an area that is new to me, so it is helpful to have Reverend Moore’s ideas for creating a safe place and for listening to the counselee to find out the best way to help them.  I feel that this in itself builds trust, because the counselee feels “heard.”  Again, the focus is not about what I think the congregant needs, but what they feel they need.  Making the congregant the focus makes me more likely to help them make the changes in a way that will work for them and leaves me open to follow my own inner guidance to facilitate the process, rather than dictating it.  I found the ideas for breaking up the sessions and helping people replace old habits with new ones helpful, but I could use more training in this area.  It would be helpful to have more how-tos, but this could probably turn into an entirely separate course.

It would also be helpful to include more sentence starters, general comments, and questions to use with people in different situations.  Those given were very good, but I’d like to know others, for instance some ways to delve for more information to make it easier for me to assist people in counseling.  In my primary job I am a science teacher.  After taking a course on inquiry where good inquiry and encouraging comments where modeled for me, I began designing lessons around them, so I could facilitate the learning process rather than showing an answer. My role as chaplain may be short term, but will still include facilitating a process with the congregant, so the more modeling I can see the more I will be able to do this on my own.  It may also be helpful to receive a list of suggested readings.  I really enjoyed Reverend Moore’s perspective that chaplains should be readers, so I’d love to know what books he suggests.

I plan to continue using guidance from this course to further develop skills in my role as prayer chaplain.  I am currently completing classes for certification as a licensed teacher in my church and I feel what I learned will help in this role also.  In addition, I am pursuing the chaplaincy endorsement and Master of Ministry from the ULC Seminary.  At this point I feel I will continue facilitating people in prayer and spiritual development as a volunteer chaplain and possibly as an assistant to the spiritual leader of a church, but I am excitedly keeping an open mind and heart as to what my ministry will look like after my goals are met.

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Many people get ordained through the ULC as a means to become wedding officiants, but also to study through our online seminary. If you need minister supplies or online ceremonies, we have a wide selection to choose from, as well as a place for spiritual articles and spiritual bookmarks. Visit our FB Page at ULC Seminary.

Chaplaincy Studies

Rev G Douglas Goodson

Essay: Master of Chaplaincy

    I enrolled in the Chaplaincy program offered by ULC because I felt called to serve the spiritual needs of more folks. I have enjoyed facilitating weddings and other rites of passage as an ordained minister for some time now.

I have come to view all positive faiths as beautiful, however my experiences in facilitating religious services have been centered on my own spiritual path. In speaking with people of other faiths I have found that my personal beliefs, in all the significant aspects, mirror theirs. Folks always assume that I am of their faith. It has become apparent to me that I am being called to be of more use to my community. The most common service that is requested is counseling in some form, even if it’s just to lend a sympathetic ear.

I would like to work in hospitals, nursing homes and perhaps a prison ministry, as well as sharpen the skills needed to assist those already coming to me for guidance. I felt that enrolling in this course would further my development as a spiritual leader and after taking the Master of Chaplaincy module I feel I made the right decision.

Through this course I had the opportunity to give some thought as to what someone who has received a spiritual calling looks like. I am fortunate in that I am literally surrounded by ULC ministers. I see the calling in each of them. They all have a sincere desire to serve the needs of others, a kindness of spirit, a calmness that is reassuring, and an aura about them that attracts others seeking their message. The most flattering comment my wife and I have ever received was “You guys are so much more than ministers you’re more like Buddha or Gandhi”. The reference wasn’t in regards to our spiritual path or how we dress, it was in relation to our attitude toward life, our acceptance and love of others, and a welcoming feeling that a wide variety of folks were attracted to spiritually. It was a reference to our ability to find the common ground among all spiritual paths.

    Though this course does not qualify anyone to offer pastoral counseling, it does at least make you aware that those skills will be needed to be an effective chaplain and gives you an understanding of the ethical concerns in regard to offering spiritual guidance to others. Some things are just common sense. For instance not putting yourself in a position that could get you in trouble or discredit your ministry, such as avoiding personal relationships with those you are guiding. What was nice to see in the course were the sections on other pitfalls to avoid such as unhealthy relationships and transference. The advice in avoiding those problems was spot on. There are many counselors of different modalities that use similar methods, such as limiting the number sessions up front.

    The sections concerning the multitude of opportunities for chaplains to serve, was very thorough and laid out not only what types of work you might expect but also the type of educational background and other requirements that each type of opportunity would expect you to have to qualify for the job. Depending on the type of facility or company you plan on serving you will probably need to have ministerial accreditation, possibly a certificate stating you have passed a state certification to counsel and a back ground check among other qualifications.

    Some of the places that use chaplains are Nursing Homes, Hospitals, Prisons, Corporations, aboard ships, Military, Fire Departments and Police Departments. I grew up in area where the most famous chaplain was the Fire Chaplain. We have a bridge that was fairly popular as a spot to commit suicide. This was no low bridge, it was quite high. The chaplain was constantly in the paper because he would climb up to the jumpers and he had a pretty good record talking them down.

I grew up in a home that was Navy friendly. I met many chaplains when they would join our family for the holidays. Most times these chaplains were the only folks available to serve the needs of many service men of different religious backgrounds. I believe exposure to military chaplains sparked an interest early in my life and led me to be very open minded and accepting of people of different faiths.

    More recently, my wife and I volunteered some of our time to cleaning a local church. We were there once a week for about 5 years. It was an Episcopal church. Down the street about two blocks is a Congregational church. The ministers would cover for each other when needed. In our area many hospitals have Priests, Rabbis and Ministers that would alternate acting as chaplain in much the same way. The hospital doesn’t need a full time chaplain because everyone dedicates a little time to see that the spiritual needs of the patients are met. I am a member of an organization that has a good percentage of members that are elderly and of different religious back grounds. There are many in nursing homes. Because they are aging they also spend a bit more time in the hospital for one reason or another. I plan on serving the needs of those folks at a minimum. My hope is to cultivate relationships with the staff and management of those facilities over time as well. Maybe I can get a per deim volunteer position.

    There is a lot of information in this course but I will try to keep this essay within the parameters of 1000 to 1500 words. That said, I will discuss the tools I plan to use.

    The most important tools are education, understanding, the ability to listen and empathize, and the ability to understand and execute the rites of different religions should you be the only one available and it being proper to do so. The second would be a working relationship with, and directory of, other religious leaders of different backgrounds and mental health professionals to refer folks to.

    As for material tools, the most efficient and necessary is my smart phone. Not only does it store my documents and contacts phone numbers it also stores a searchable copy of the Torah, Koran and the King James version of the Bible. The searchable editions are free apps that I downloaded. I also keep briefcase at the ready. It keeps all the things I might need in one place. I have soft cover editions of the same books of holy writ that are on my phone, a pad, pens, Holy water and consecrated oil, stick incense and other assorted interfaith items. Being that most religious observance can be conducted without the aid of props, most things in the brief case are for convenience and comfort.

    I work six days a week at two jobs and facilitate around 30 observances in the course of the year. This course was convenient for me take because it was accessible from my phone. I enjoyed it and believe has laid a solid foundation upon which to build as I complete other courses needed to complete the chaplaincy program.

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Many people get ordained through the ULC as a means to become wedding officiants, but also to study through our online seminary. If you need minister supplies or online ceremonies, we have a wide selection to choose from, as well as a place for spiritual articles and spiritual bookmarks. Visit our FB Page at ULC Seminary.

ULC Chaplaincy Program

 

WHAT IS A CHAPLAIN

by:  Ray Carbough

A Chaplain is a unique minister. He is not expected to transform a persons  beliefs but to support his beliefs with sympathetic advice, comfort and peace. Be as Christ like as possible in human form. To feed the people when hungry, clothe them when naked, support them in their weakness, in a loving manner of tolerance.

A person that is a good example of this is a Pastor for the salvation army Corp. in Wa. He is a man who draws many to his flock because of his quiet acceptance for each individual  regardless of the circumstances of their life. He reflects those qualities of Christ to everyone he encounters. I pray that I would have a few of those qualities.

It has been said that i have a gift to help those who are hurting and use  drugs or alcohol to dull the pain of day to day life stresses.

I made choices as a young man that led me into that life style of drugs and alcohol. I hurt many people along the way.  The Lord was always with me, saved my life several times from physical harm.  He  made me feel a hunger for change in my life, to follow him and become a man of faith and integrity, the hunger only increases as i grow closer to Christ to  bring the gospel to those who need it.

The call to serve has fallen on me like a cloak and I am working to become worthy of that cloak.  The "CALL" is the word used for when the Lord asks us to follow HIM and serve HIS flock. It is a heavy responsibility to help lead and guide those who come to us to seek HIS throne.  Through faith in  Christ alone we can find true happiness and lead productive healthy lives serving.

I have the desire to listen, evaluate and help those who are hurting as I did for so many years. Those with the mantel of helplessness to move past the place they are chained,  reliving that pain and struggle that blinds them to  the truth in God's word.  

I need to work on training in those areas  called to minister.  Seeking out what services are available and the process to obtain them for those in need.  Having been a trucker for so many years off and on i feel there is a need to expand the spiritual guidance available to the many drivers out there today. There are some services available in the bigger truck stops across the country, however  the bigger companies have terminals cross the country also and there is no spiritual food for those who seek being fed. I feel that could be a way for me to serve those on the road who bring supplies to all.

As a military Chaplin serving those in civil war re-enacting, I bring the understanding of the hardships of the 1860's life style and need for faith to sustain life in such hard times. This carries over into today as those who seek my council on family matters and spiritual growth.  As a re-enactor the reality of loss of life, loss of limbs, and all the outside influences translate back and forth from modern days to those of old.

Over the many years chaplains have served they have not worried about having a building.  The chapel was a tent, a meadow or what ever place was available to bring the many together to worship and praise our God.  Today the chaplains have a work space in hospitals, retirement homes,  many churches and a variety of companies that serve the needs within those walls. They may have regular hours and some on call time, it's more of a job to some but to the majority it is still the service of the Lord God that they follow.

I listen to those with complaints of physical pain, emotional or spiritual and prayerfully together we seek God's wisdom and answers.  There was a young lady who was having marital problems but knew God didn't want her to leave her husband, but to stand firm on those marriage vows. She knew she was to forgive and forget his transgressions and to show through her actions the unconditional love of Christ, while in the face of pain and continue to walk head up in faith.  I came along side her praying for her to have strength and to seek Gods counsel in handling the day to day events of life.  Another example of how the Lord used me was i prayed with a young man who had been in alcohol abuse for many years it was a family addiction that bound that family, with God's love the chains were broken and he sought help with the addiction. Together we found a detox through the Salvation Army that helped him recover himself and with the support of his family to continue to follow Christ's lead.

As a chaplain we need to listen to others with our whole being, using that information, to glean the clues to the root of the problem and sift out the unimportant facts that cloud the issue. Maintain eye contact, be attentive and use a calm voice. Remove any distractions from the area, ie: TV,  radio or other people that interfere with the exchange. Avoid any expressions of disgust or disapproval that can impact the person. Allow breaks for the renewing of yourself and the one you counsel, give feedback by reflection on the information heard, affirming and be empathetic. Always ask direct questions to clarify.  Avoid advice, give information on services available for other specialties such as mental health and never try to answer the "WHY" questions only God can answer them.

Studies show "touch" is healthy and healing, creates a bond, as a chaplain we need to develop a touch that is appropriate for the culture and situation. Be aware of the body language of those you are contacting and go from there. Always keep your actions in line with Christ's so no one can misinterpret you touch as unacceptable.

When comforting the grieving a chaplain will need to know and understand the grief process and the understand our own beliefs. Prepare for grief by being strong emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Grief is the normal process of loss, be it a person, a pet job or objects we own. We grieve for them all.  Lead those grieving through the process to allow healthy out come. Do not answer or try to answer those "WHY" questions again only God can. Always follow up after this with a care, a call or a visit. This continues the healing process and allows the person to see you truly care, encourage by saying God celebrates the life lost, and shares your pain of that loss .  This gives hope for the future.

As a chaplain we must understand the context of our ministry.  Know that we have been truly called into this ministry.  Know we are all creatures of habit some good, some bad, always try to teach change of the bad by instruction not criticizing, teach change of focus. Show that as a christian and commitment as a Christian to follow Christ and grow in  faith.  Always be consistent, walk the talk and talk the walk stay the same in action, deed and word.

We as humans  respond to situations in three ways , think, feel, act.  Those three can get turned around and we can act then think or feel then think this tends to get the situation clouded with emotion and that will alter the way we deal with it. So the  process needs to be thought through completely and then follow the steps to a healthy outcome. 

Take the time to think about the situation fully and decide the outcome desired,  and the ways to get there.  Leave the feelings at the door,  analyze what can happen if you do one thing or another and will give the result wanted.

Look at your feelings about the situation, the pros and cons of the whole picture don't act until the emotions are in control.

Actions will then be the best for the situation.  Follow the plan don't deviate and take side roads . Prayerfully let the Lord help you to the outcome desired for the situation.

There are things to avoid that can trap us.  Be self-aware, know your limits and strengths. watchful of those who "manipulate" the situation or you.  Also don't let your own needs and emotions interfere, leave those at the door.

Avoid becoming too attached to those you council, be aware of your emotional need to get an emotional "fix" from those you council be sure to have a strong support system for your own emotional health. 

Respect the sex of the person you council, keep the lines firm as to those, be accountable to your support group. This will insure your continued health and keep you from burn out.

Don't allow yourself to be seduced for money or pride. It is not about "me" but about the one in need. Have the support group that can lovingly tell when you are prideful and bring you back to common sense.   

Follow the institutional ceremonies where you practice as a chaplain, from the hospital, church or civil war re-enaction.  If there are more than one chaplain the one from that area or faculty is the lead take a supportive position and attitude to facilitate the service being conducted.  A worship service is a time when God and people come together. As a person of faith[any denomination] let them worship in the manner comfortable to them.  No church building needed, create a sacred space with candles, a  pulpit, a cross or music.  As chaplain your job is to assist people to worship using the simple rituals of faith to enhance that worship.

A soul friend is one who comes along side and comforts, counsels and prays with you.   There comes a deeper relationship than an acquaintance, one  that through honesty is able to prayerfully give tough lessons and in a loving way mentor you this binds your hearts together. The soul friend is  able to instruct in a loving way with acceptance and give sound advice to you when you are tired  restoring you to emotional health.

There are different levels of accountability  personal, professional, and to God above. The soul friend is that person who you share those with will listen to you and give you wise judgements and advice.. This strong relationship will build strong people.  

As a chaplain carry a "tool box" loaded with items that will introduce yourself, organize, clarify, and  communicate.  Some of those tools are business cards, a calendar, phone, bibles, tracts, and prayer.  Always be aware of your  personal hygiene keep tissues  available and remember that faith, through prayer is the most valuable tool.  

In Christ's Love

Ray Carbough, Chaplin

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Many people get ordained through the Universal Life Church as a means to become wedding officiants, but also to study through our online seminary. If you need minister supplies or online ceremonies, we have a wide selection to choose from, as well as a place for spiritual articles and spiritual bookmarks.  

Visit our FB Page at ULC Seminary.

Chaplaincy Studies

 

ULC Seminary

Master of Chaplaincy Studies

Rev. Nick Federspiel

You Have Only Just Begun… from lesson 20.  No truer words; no matter when and where one is in a project, as the old saying goes this is the first day of the rest of your life,  This day a new chapter in the project has just begun.  Except that with Chaplaincy it is not just your life but others as well and “us” chaplain’s, ministers, pastors, reverends and evangelists have volunteered for this responsibility and duty.   In my opinion this course was full of simple practical information. Did it take?

{About Lesson 5 – The Chapel – Where One Ministers: Hospitals, Hospice, Nursing Homes – Part II;  I decided to call the local hospital and inquire about volunteering as a chaplain. The door was slammed shut, not interest, barriers, rules, etc. “They” said that ministers were only allowed in the hospital by INVITATION  of the PATIENT – IF - the patient specifically requested of the staff to see their minister AND the patient was a REGISTERED member of the ESTABLISHED church’s congregation!  I kid you not. WOW!   Was I deflated! I felt like I had just read a lesson and took a step towards becoming a public enemy. “They” said the rules were made by the legal department. The hospital’s lawyers are now their patients’ spiritual gate keepers and the patients and doctors answer to them.  Generally speaking, it has been my observation that few professions are as void of training in spiritual inspiration and moral discipline as are lawyers and law schools. The local hospital is a tangible case in point.

Later, on Christmas Eve, I attended a special holiday Anglican service held at the college chapel that I pastor services at on Sunday Mornings. The priest has a very active and long standing mission chaplaincy program at “correctional institutions.”  His staff were all “corrected and enlightened.”   A Long story short; he invited me to accompany him on his mission to observe and become aware of the how his program operates. He felt that in the correctional facility one meets many types of personalities, some salvageable and some not, but all were once NOT YET incarcerated and some will be repatriated and those are certainly people any chaplain or minster might meet along the path of life and mission service any time any place. There it was; the chaplaincy door slammed shut and locked tight earlier was suddenly wide open. You Have Only Just Begun.|

Chapter 9 – The Listener -  My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak… (James 1:19, NIV).  This is the hard one for me. I want to jump right in and help right now, impatient am I, and I have to restrain my offer until I fully understand the issue.  THINKING one understands the issue is simply unprofessional and inadequate. One has to be very certain one understands the issue or the person being administered to might feel even more left out and not accept any offer of assistance from the chaplain, lord, or anyone else.}

{Lesson 13 – Traps to Avoid -    When I am asked about an area that I have no training or experience in, I will be honest and say, “I’m sorry, I have no experience there. I can give you some ideas or tips from scripture that you can study but if your problem is serious like you say it is, I can refer you to a professional better equipped to…

I could not help but think of our local lawyer run hospital making care decisions by rule for the patients in an area in which they have no training or experience and worse yet appreciation for another’s profession.  Worse yet, spiritual assistance and the Holy Grace have produced spiritual medical miracles time and time again – look what they are denying their patients!  It is tantamount to torture. In our small chapel I minister prayer requests between the reverent prayer and worship service and the sermon. No private prayer requests is my policy as the power of the congregation in prayer exceeds that of only me.  Last November a new attendee with a long standing and diagnosed inoperable thus lethal brain tumor submitted to God and prayer.  Today he is up and around and feeling fine and the doctors call it a miracle.  Is that chaplaincy or ministry?  I am not sure if there is a difference really, but it shows how the Lord listens and he provides “professional” Godly services to the worthy and open minded.

Appreciating the gifts other devoted and competent people can deliver to help one’s spiritual patient is part of our duty as is bringing God closer to the bedside by bringing the patient closer to God. |

Lesson 14 – Ceremonies -   An application meeting: This is where you meet with both persons. Ask them why they want a “religious” wedding ceremony. I find this to be a wonderful time to learn more about what the couple believes and why. Often this leads to friendships long after the wedding where I mentor them spiritually. I explain my policies for weddings. If the institution has any policies (use of chapel and grounds) also provide them as well. I would also give the couple a “data collection” form that I use to review in preparation for pre-marital counseling.  …

I performed my first wedding of mixed faith partners in December.  Neither was really committed to ‘their religion’ but the parents demanded a “church wedding.”  So the question was to decline a church wedding or make it into an opportunity? Opportunity knocks is my business.  When the lesson 14 like process above was undertaken, and the congregation chipped in to make it a better wedding than the budget allowed for, and the wedding completed – AFTERWARDS – in a chance encounter the couple was exuberant in praise and gracious and generous with appreciation.  A light had been lit - I pray it stays so.}

From lesson 1: The Need is Great - There are hurting people everywhere.  …  A chaplain can help come along side those who are hurting. This unique minister is still viewed as the “keeper of the sacred” by those who are unattached to a religious congregation. A prayer, a word of advice, a simple ritual, and a touch of a caring hand does much for people who seem alone, detached, or afraid. I am reminded of the teaching of Jesus Christ who taught the parable of the sheep and goats: (Matthew 25:34-40, New King James Version).

Matthew 10:1-18 NKJV  “Jesus the Good Shepherd”  Chaplains and ministers many times stand at the gate with the responsibility of inviting many in need IN and explaining to them, ministering to them, as to why IN is better and for them.  The Mansions of God per John 14:1-5  ( …  many mansions … and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.)   The mansions have some fine doors (gates) and it is “our” duty to help as many as we can to have a place PREPARED ready and waiting and an Inviting  Light On in the window for when that time comes. 

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Many people get ordained through the Universal Life Church as a means to become wedding officiants, but also to study through our online seminary.  If you need minister supplies or online ceremonies, we have a wide selection to choose from, as well as a place for spiritual articles and spiritual bookmarks. If you need any assistance in any area of your ministry, please feel free to contact amy@ulcseminary.org and we'll give you all the help we can.

Chaplaincy Program

Final Essay for Chaplaincy Course

By Robert Nelson

               This is a wonderful course.  As a former military chaplain I wondered if I would benefit from the course and I am very happy to say that I benefited greatly.  The course covered every aspect of being a chaplain from the calling, theology, and liturgics to the nitty-gritty logistics of this type of ministry.  I think there is enough detail here about the actual functioning of a chaplain that it would benefit anyone interested in this type of ministry including chaplains in the U.S. Army’s Basic Chaplaincy Course or even chaplains with several years experience, such as myself.

               For me personally there were several areas that were especially beneficial.  I thoroughly enjoyed the sections on the logistics of ministry.  I think this is a weakness for many chaplains who confine themselves to an office and seldom venture into the world of those they serve.  For me, ministry of presence is the essence of chaplaincy.  Reverend Moore highlighted this in several ways as he wrote of learning the institution.  But to conduct this ministry effectively it takes a certain amount of preparation and I think the concept of creating “tool boxes” is probably the best idea I have heard in a while for organizing and preparing for this type of ministry.  I have used this concept to a certain extent myself in the past but think I can do it much better with the intention and detail that Rev. Moore suggests.  In the past my tool box might have been whatever I threw in my pocket but now I think I can do much better by intentionally creating a tool box for the situations in which I will be serving.  My tool box for working with homeless people will be different from that I will use at a nursing home or the one I will use when working with veterans.  I am really excited about this concept and have great hopes for its application.

               I also found the lesson concerning sacred space, objects, and symbols to be particularly beneficial.  As a counselor I have long conceived of the creation of a safe space as an important step in counseling and now this concept has grown to involve the creation of a sacred space (and even a sacred time) as part of ministry.  Certainly this involves a certain logistical reality but to a greater extent it is a function of the attitude and spirituality of the chaplain.  Years ago I discovered that as a chaplain I was much more useful in the motor pool or on a road march than I was sitting in an office in the chapel.  I was able to provide more ministry to more people.  Now I see that when I was most effective I was creating a sacred space or perhaps more accurately, carrying a sacred space with me as I traveled around in my ministry of presence.  This involves logistical factors such as in some cases some sort of privacy and a certain amount of comfort but it also involves creating at least an illusion of having plenty of time and through symbols, actions, and interactions the creation of a sacred space.

               Sometimes this sacred space is created with little more than a smile and a prayer.  At other times it might involve more elaborate interactions and symbols.  But whether it involves a full-fledged altar and vestments or simply the reading of a scriptural passage and a prayer, it is essential to the ministry of a chaplain.

               The sections on counseling, especially grief counseling, were interesting to me since I have spent most of my professional life doing some sort of counseling.   Even at that I found that the section on grief counseling was both interesting and informative.  This highlights another aspect of the course which was valuable to me – the rehearsal of basic principles.  There is often little to be said that is completely new.  We are after all speaking of religion, spirituality, and ministry – ancient activities which are based in ancient traditions of wisdom and which at a certain level are fundamental to being human beings.  But newness is not a requirement for wisdom.  It may be important to fashion and marketing but for ministry it is less important than ancient, profound fundamentals such as compassion and spirituality.  I believe that the pursuit of excellence requires a frequent rehearsal of fundamentals.  This is certainly true in such things as sports where the athletes who are best at fundamentals such as running, jumping, blocking, tackling, and throwing are the ones who are usually victorious.  The same is true for other areas of achievement and such basics as reading, writing, performing arithmetic, and so forth.  So it is with ministry and especially chaplaincy.  Certainly there is a value to gaining as much knowledge as possible and exploring advanced aspects of hermeneutics, liturgics, and homiletics.  But in the end it is the basics of caring, connecting with others, and being present that will bring the most comfort to those we serve.  It is the remembrance of our calling and our personal spiritual foundation that provides depth and meaning to our ministry.  Rev. Moore has reminded me of that principle and has provided a useful handbook for the frequent rehearsal of some of those fundamentals.

               The section on avoiding traps is one of those important fundamentals.  Rev. Moore has spelled it out clearly and reminded me to beware of the temptations and even the appearance of evil.  I have seen far too many ministers who have ruined their calling and their lives through various traps involving sex and money.  I have seen many more flounder because of the trap of pride.  These traps are with us always and frequent, even daily reminders, are important to help us stay the course.

               I am not sure what I could improve in this course.  There are things I would do differently  but that is more a matter of personality and preference than of a critique of substance.  As I was going through the course there were times when I thought something should be added or expanded but on later reflection I felt that some of this was more cosmetic.  In other words, I liked this course.

               My personal goal is to shift gears in my career.  I have been mostly a counselor since I got out of the Army.  I have done some limited volunteer chaplain work with the Veterans Administration and among the homeless but hope to expand that aspect of my life.  I’m looking forward to completing the entire chaplaincy program and the D.Min. program and expanding this ministry with my wife into a holistic ministry and health education among several populations.   I hope to continue working with the homeless and to expand my ministry among the elderly and veterans.  Together with my wife I hope to also do ministry among people who are interested in improving their health.  I would like to get an endorsement from the ULC as a chaplain.

               Thanks for the inspiration and direction.

Rev. Bob Nelson, Ph.D.

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