We're a Scary Bunch!
Chaplains have been around for decades and some records even show chaplains serving as far back as 3000 years ago. The "normal" places for chaplains are obvious: military, hospitals, police, schools and prisons. Many government assemblies have chaplains but those are disappearing or being replaced with moments of silence or meditation at the start of a work day. In each of these instances, the chaplain is often looked upon only as a spiritual voice within these locations and is nothing more than a figurehead who says prayers at various functions.
I share that short history lesson because workplace chaplains are quite different although they may still offer to do funerals, weddings and baby dedications or christenings. Chaplains in the workplace are often present for a totally different reason and that is what I would like to look at in this blog.
In my dealings with business owners, management and HR types, it is clear that they see us as something that is "scary". I believe it comes from ignorance (I use that term not in a derogatory way) because chaplains are still seen as "religious" folks that have nothing to add to a workplace environment. In fact, most business owners won't even entertain the idea of having a chaplain by the fact they refuse to listen to the benefits. With the diversity of religions and the growing number of atheists and agnostics, many genuinely fear that the presence of a Christian chaplain will eventually bring lawsuits and other problems. That is the apparent reason because even when chaplains are willing to volunteer their services, businessmen quickly go into hiding.
That is the negative perception which these blogs will try to address, hoping that business owners and HR personnel will take the time to investigate.
My background and my present "jobs", give me some credibility, I hope, to speak to these matters in as clear a manner as possible. So let me begin by assuming most of you don't know much about workplace chaplains and absolutely nothing about this author.
First I will talk about my experience and experiences. I was a pastor for 14 years and a missionary in a country called Estonia for 2 years. I have been married for 39 years to Anne and I have 3 grown children. Prior to those 16 years, I worked as a bookkeeper for a trust company, a Quality Control Manager for a plastic pipe manufacturer, a Customer Service representative in the golf and then mining supply businesses, a courier and finally a professional painter. I had my own painting business after I was a pastor, having painted a 22,000 square foot home before becoming a pastor and then a 8,500 square foot home (the latter all by myself) while I was a pastor. Today I have my own wedding officiant business and have the distinction of officiating the first and only on-field wedding at the Rogers Centre (Home of the Toronto Blue Jays).
In Estonia I facilitated Ethics and Anti-corruption training for the National Police through contacts in Scotland Yard and the Toronto Police Service. I was a hockey goalie in a league that was dominated by Russian players and won the top goalie honour. Through "schmoozing with the US ambassador, we sent thousands of dollars of hockey equipment to help grow Estonian Youth hockey.
I could give you more details but my point is this: I know the business world and I know business owners, CEO's and I have been one myself. Now I will tell you about my passion: chaplaincy.
While I was a pastor, I was approached about volunteering as a chaplain for 41 Division with the Toronto Police Service. I did that for 2 years and then a few months again when we returned from Estonia. I did regular ride-alongs along with weddings and funerals and had a lot of one on one time with those cops while in their cruisers. 4 years ago I was invited to become a workplace chaplain in a window manufacturing company and carried on those duties for 2 1/2 years. Today I am a chaplain for a long-term care facility and at Toronto Pearson Airport. I also spend some time at PING Golf as a chaplain. Along side the officiating, I have a pretty busy schedule.
I have worked along side people of every race and religion and those with no religion at all. I can do this because I never preach at people nor do I proselytize. As a chaplain I am there to help employees when the inevitable struggles of life become too much. As a chaplain I like to describe myself as an Employee Assistance Program with boots on the ground. I am available when all someone wants to do is talk or vent or cry. That is what a workplace chaplain does. It compliments the work of Human Resources and the EAP and often is a buffer between the employee and EAP. The catch: everything is confidential between the employee and chaplain. Management/ownership does not hear about the personal issues of employees unless the employee chooses to do so. The only exception to the confidentiality is when the person is a danger to either themselves or to others.
In the US many large companies have chaplains and in fact more than just one in some cases. I will write about this topic some more in the weeks to come. If you are interested, please contact me and I will give you more information about workplace chaplains and how they may benefit your company. I can also put you in contact with an organization that has supplied chaplains to companies around the world for a few decades.
I share that short history lesson because workplace chaplains are quite different although they may still offer to do funerals, weddings and baby dedications or christenings. Chaplains in the workplace are often present for a totally different reason and that is what I would like to look at in this blog.
In my dealings with business owners, management and HR types, it is clear that they see us as something that is "scary". I believe it comes from ignorance (I use that term not in a derogatory way) because chaplains are still seen as "religious" folks that have nothing to add to a workplace environment. In fact, most business owners won't even entertain the idea of having a chaplain by the fact they refuse to listen to the benefits. With the diversity of religions and the growing number of atheists and agnostics, many genuinely fear that the presence of a Christian chaplain will eventually bring lawsuits and other problems. That is the apparent reason because even when chaplains are willing to volunteer their services, businessmen quickly go into hiding.
That is the negative perception which these blogs will try to address, hoping that business owners and HR personnel will take the time to investigate.
My background and my present "jobs", give me some credibility, I hope, to speak to these matters in as clear a manner as possible. So let me begin by assuming most of you don't know much about workplace chaplains and absolutely nothing about this author.
First I will talk about my experience and experiences. I was a pastor for 14 years and a missionary in a country called Estonia for 2 years. I have been married for 39 years to Anne and I have 3 grown children. Prior to those 16 years, I worked as a bookkeeper for a trust company, a Quality Control Manager for a plastic pipe manufacturer, a Customer Service representative in the golf and then mining supply businesses, a courier and finally a professional painter. I had my own painting business after I was a pastor, having painted a 22,000 square foot home before becoming a pastor and then a 8,500 square foot home (the latter all by myself) while I was a pastor. Today I have my own wedding officiant business and have the distinction of officiating the first and only on-field wedding at the Rogers Centre (Home of the Toronto Blue Jays).
In Estonia I facilitated Ethics and Anti-corruption training for the National Police through contacts in Scotland Yard and the Toronto Police Service. I was a hockey goalie in a league that was dominated by Russian players and won the top goalie honour. Through "schmoozing with the US ambassador, we sent thousands of dollars of hockey equipment to help grow Estonian Youth hockey.
I could give you more details but my point is this: I know the business world and I know business owners, CEO's and I have been one myself. Now I will tell you about my passion: chaplaincy.
While I was a pastor, I was approached about volunteering as a chaplain for 41 Division with the Toronto Police Service. I did that for 2 years and then a few months again when we returned from Estonia. I did regular ride-alongs along with weddings and funerals and had a lot of one on one time with those cops while in their cruisers. 4 years ago I was invited to become a workplace chaplain in a window manufacturing company and carried on those duties for 2 1/2 years. Today I am a chaplain for a long-term care facility and at Toronto Pearson Airport. I also spend some time at PING Golf as a chaplain. Along side the officiating, I have a pretty busy schedule.
I have worked along side people of every race and religion and those with no religion at all. I can do this because I never preach at people nor do I proselytize. As a chaplain I am there to help employees when the inevitable struggles of life become too much. As a chaplain I like to describe myself as an Employee Assistance Program with boots on the ground. I am available when all someone wants to do is talk or vent or cry. That is what a workplace chaplain does. It compliments the work of Human Resources and the EAP and often is a buffer between the employee and EAP. The catch: everything is confidential between the employee and chaplain. Management/ownership does not hear about the personal issues of employees unless the employee chooses to do so. The only exception to the confidentiality is when the person is a danger to either themselves or to others.
In the US many large companies have chaplains and in fact more than just one in some cases. I will write about this topic some more in the weeks to come. If you are interested, please contact me and I will give you more information about workplace chaplains and how they may benefit your company. I can also put you in contact with an organization that has supplied chaplains to companies around the world for a few decades.
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