Any Support out there for Chaplains in your local High School? Yes

It's a little old (last year) but this article may interest any of you who are wondering:
"Is there any SUPPORTIVE press for chaplaincy in schools?!" I wouldn't blame you for asking that, after criticisms were given all the high profile spaces in print media, such as:
* The Secondary Schools Principal's Forum
* Bob Carr
* Diane Giblin from the P& C Federation of N.S.W. &
* Greens Senator Kerry Nettle.

But there are the odd reports of some clearly supportive members of the community.

But, lest we forget, those stories tend to be smaller, and certainly not considered as attractive
(to the print publishers) as people who wish to criticise, or hint at a threat of religious fanaticism
of any kind. Maybe I'm just another one of those 'unpublished stories' that doesn't get told!
(see my earlier post, about our school being interviewed & photographed for an afternoon... but
pulled from the paper in lieu of another public criticism from the Principal's Forum.)

But, we must remember not to enter ourselves in any kind of popularity contest with this
high school ministry issue, or any other public issue.
Jesus reminds: "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you,
and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted
they the prophets which were before you." (Matthew 5:12-13; The Bible.)


Parents group backs school chaplains plan
Posted Mon Oct 30, 2006 6:48pm AEDT Updated Thu Nov 30, 2006 10:46am AEDT

The Australian Parents Council, which represents parents of non-government schools, has welcomed the Federal Government's plan to fund chaplains in Australian schools.
The $90 million plan would allow schools to receive up to $20,000 a year to employ a chaplain for counselling services.

The council's executive director, Ian Dalton, says pastoral care is overlooked in many schools.
He says chaplains can be effective counsellors without imparting their religious views.

"We would certainly see it more as being a process whereby young people's spirituality is addressed and nurtured as opposed to their religious beliefs, as any religious beliefs as such," Mr Dalton said.

(ABC News)

Another perspective on The Role of a State School Chaplain

This is another document going around, attempting to put some defnition on the

"NSCP" variety of a chaplain (as I discussed 2 posts ago: this is NOT the traditional

definition of a Christian Ordained/Lay protestant minister operating within his/her

High school as the place of their ministry.)

Peter Harnwell wrote this doc. as a guideline for churhes and SRE boards, on behalf of

ICCOREIS. I recommend it, because it has some of the 'typical functions' which the

workers are called on to do. I think it describes pretty well how one of us new

"chaplains" can work appropriately, and still remain compliant with our state's

particular "policy environment." With a high level of trust already given over to

churches for the teaching of S.R.E. and unhindered involvement with students through

I.S.C.F. ministry - setting ourselves guidelines is very important. It keeps a balance

in our ministry planning BETWEEN -

a) using the great opportunities we have to preach the gospel/minister directly to students, AND

b) upholding the policy direction of our general school community as based primarily around education (with non-religious content.)

I saw last week firsthand, the discontent and distraction that can be created around someone's

ministry impact as a Christian teacher at our school, by not appreciating the need to
respect this balance in their public environment. A sense of 'entitlement' on the side
of this teacher did not gain him any respect whatsoever with our Principal, who while not
a Christian himself, is very tolerant and supportive of ministry within the provided channels
at his school.

I hope Peter's thoughts will be a further honing of our model, especially for some of you who

are building a model from the ground up, and in a hurry.

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Back to the Basics _ Schools Worker/Chaplaincy Skills

Hi. I felt like giving this page a change of pace from the debatable world of the
National Chaplaincy Programme (which could use a rest for another week or so...please.)

This is a list of "basic Skills" which we worked on for our employing board, to use
as a foundation for forming job descriptions and (more importantly) requisites for
a candidate to become a schools worker. Here's what we came up with -
sorry there's not much detail, but it was kept general so that we could interpret it
for our own High School contexts... I guess you could interpret it in terms of your
High School community.
Al
___________________________________________________________

Skills for a Schools Ministry Worker

Planning
Goal Setting
Planning Implementation
Prioritising

Self-Leadership
Spiritual Orientation
Prayer Life
Supervision

Soft Skills Development
Active Listening & Communication
Empathy
Rapport Building
Empowering the young person

Awareness of Environment
Perceiving & Interpreting the system
Flexible responding
Communication of Significant & Relevant Content

Coaching
Leadership skills
Management of time & event
Training – methods, imparting vision and skills

LAST MINUTE - TRAINING DAY TOMORROW

The Genr8 group (interdenominational) is running a resources/Training day
TOMORROW (MONDAY 16th July) on pastoral care ministry in state high schools.

It's called "Being a Bridge to Care."
There is training talks, electives, and an expert panel to workshop
Pastoral Care issues and ministry topics.

AT: Morling College, Center for Evangelism - 120 Herring Rd. Marsfield
TIME: 9am til 3:00pm

COST: $20.

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This blog page - "Chaplains Chatting" - has been updated a bit. Here's how:

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Al