Prison Chaplains Role

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Chaplains have the opportunity to work in a variety of institutions. One may find a chaplain employed in healthcare, the armed forces, correctional institutions, first responder companies, sports teams, college campuses as well as any other corporate workplace. While a chaplain’s role may vary depending on their place of employment it can be said that wherever they are they play an important role as a supporter and confidant to those they serve. This paper will explore the different fields in which a chaplain can work as well as their responsibilities. The military staffs chaplains in all of its branches including the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Chaplains within the armed services serve in a variety of roles, they…show more content…
While they have some of the same responsibilities as other chaplains, “correctional chaplains are often required to have additional specialized training related to suicide intervention, the criminal justice system, restorative justice issues, diversity within the correctional institution, and victimology.” Prison chaplains serve a unique group of people that are trying to reintegrate and rehabilitate themselves into society and therefore have a unique set of needs. Their work is also unique because they work with people who may be incarcerated for their foreseeable future and in danger of losing hope for life. A prison chaplain may hold regular church services for those incarcerated as well as act as a confidant to the inmates. Sports chaplains have a unique opportunity to serve athletes. Sports chaplains may be volunteers who have a particular interest in sport. They have the unique task of working with young people, often with building notoriety, that find themselves under high amounts of pressure. A sports chaplain can be very useful in providing guidance to these athletes. Sports chaplains may be employed by sporting teams or they may work at special events such as the Olympics. Like chaplains in other disciplines they work to provide for the athlete’s needs, whether they be spiritual, emotional or…show more content…
Each type of chaplaincy has its unique characteristics but overall a chaplain’s duty is to provide for the spiritual wellbeing of those he is serving, no matter which field he chooses. In each different field chaplains are able to fill a role that full time pastors cannot. Since chaplains are out among those they are ministering too, they have a level of access that pastors do not. However just like pastors, chaplains must have a personal conviction for the work they do. “Outside of assurance of personal conversion to Christ, no other spiritual conviction will help a pastor in his journey more than a firm conviction that God has called him to preach. The pastorate is not so much a profession as it is a calling.” Chaplains fill a vital role in caring the souls of those they serve, and their personal conviction of that will carry them through when the work is
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