Chaplaincy - Collaboration in God's Mission

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“God’s church falters from exhaustion because Christians erroneously think that God has given them a mission to perform in the world. Rather, the God of mission has given his church to the world. It is not the church of God that has a mission in the world, but the God of mission who has a church in the world.” (Tim Dearborn, “A Passion for Christ, a Heart for Mission”).

Chaplaincy, in all its many forms, is a dynamic and vigorous expression of God’s mission. At a time when the church no longer has a privileged position in society, chaplaincy is a role for both professional specialists and, increasingly, Christians from local congregations. Their ministries are complementary. Local people responding to local needs can change the church and the world.

Pope Francis has written, “Mostly, people are looking for someone to listen to them:someone willing to grant them time, to listen to their dramas and difficulties.” Chaplaincy begins with a readiness to listen to people, and in doing so, communicates something of the love of God. It is a ministry amongst people of all faiths and none, offering the church contacts and insights which it would otherwise lack.

(Incudes points from the Methodist “Chaplaincy Everywhere” course)