CHAPLAINCY WELLNESS AND CARE
“ Finding support in others who serve in similar roles allows chaplains to learn , grow , and support one another as they seek to serve their respective communities .”
share the work they are doing while learning from others . Engaging chaplains from outside education ( such as hospital or prison chaplains ) or reading from the wider corpus of chaplaincy literature also allows chaplains to engage with their field and be supported by other professionals .
Finally , chaplains should engage in restorative practices that benefit their mental , physical , and social well-being . While chaplaincy is a unique role , chaplains are still regular humans who need to attend to these areas of their life on a consistent basis . Chaplains often have irregular or inconsistent hours , and may need to take time during the regularly scheduled work day to care for themselves . I greatly appreciated an administrator who recognized this and encouraged me , as a young chaplain , to take a few hours during the normal working week to ride my bike or play golf . This administrator knew that there would be times that I had to work when others did not and getting away would be beneficial for me and those I was serving . Given that I was new at the school and still early in my career , I do not think I would have had the confidence to take that time without the support and approval of this individual . It may sound cliché but finding regular time for these personal practices , whatever they may be , is vital to the success of a caring and supporting ministry .
Chaplaincy can be an asset to any educational institution , providing support and care within a specific context . Chaplaincy is a unique position within education and has stressors not common amongst other professionals in a specific institution . While this can be challenging , chaplains who prioritize their own wellness by naming their joys and challenges , who seek the support of their tradition and others within the field , and who prioritize their own personal well-being can be an asset for the community they serve . In this , they model a life and worldview that values the community and its individual members , including themselves . •
Reverend Dr . William ( Will ) Whitmore , serves as the School Minister at Mercersburg Academy , a coed , secondary , boarding and day school in Mercersburg , PA . Will also teaches various religion courses at the school . He received his Ph . D . from the University of Gloucestershire , where his dissertation focused on sports chaplains serving in the National Football League and the Premier League .
CSEE Connections Spring 2023 Page 9