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Ten Characteristics of a Competent Christian Chaplain
(June 2002)
By Chaplain Steve Lee
The officer was at the end of his rope. He was at his house–no longer a home–alone. He was alone because he had driven away those who loved him. He was alone because he had grown cynical and abusive toward family and friends and even life itself. He was alone because he had built a thick strong wall between himself and everyone else–including God. He was alone because he had tried to fill the stress-filled hole of his life with everything but what he really needed.
It was late one night when the noise of his life finally quieted down and left him with nothing but a choice between the phone on the wall or the gun in his lap. After careful consideration, he picked up the phone and called his police department’s chaplain. He did not pick up his gun because he knew he had a final option. He would not have survived without it.
I happened to be the chaplain on the other end of the phone that night. I lost some sleep, but that was OK because my friend did not lose a whole lot more.
The Bible tells us that peace officers are God’s servants and that we should all honor, support and pray for them (Romans 13:1-7, I Timothy 2:2). This is fundamentally the reason why Peace Officer Ministries exists. One of the best ways we can “serve those who protect and serve us” is to be or provide them with competent Christian chaplains. What makes a good chaplain? In my experience, I have identified at least ten characteristics or qualities. Incidentally, many of these qualities mirror those characteristics that peace officers themselves need:
Quality #1 – Compassion
Compassion is a form of love, which in turn is the greatest of all human or divine characteristics (John 3:16, 1 Corinthians 13, 1 John 4:7-21). To have compassion is to have the desire and ability to understand and empathize with another person’s situation or predicament, and to also want to help and be able to help. Jesus had compassion for those around him (e.g. Matthew 9:36). As the compassionate Son of God, He took on the uniform of human flesh to become one of us. He understands us. He empathizes with us. He knows what we need. He wants to help and is able to help (Hebrews 2:14-18; 4:14-16). Like Jesus’ example, a good chaplain understands the culture of law enforcement, empathizes with the unique (and common) problems which officers and their families face, and brings a desire and ability to help from a spiritual perspective.
Quality #2 – Character
Law enforcement officers must have character – integrity – in order to function professionally. In order to be credible and effective, chaplains must also have unimpeachable character and integrity. They must model the faith, virtues and hope they champion, or officers – fairly or unfairly – will often dismiss the message along with the messenger. The first and sometimes only sermon preached by a chaplain is a personal example of faith and life.
A huge part of character for a chaplain is honesty – honesty especially to admit failure, and to honestly deal with that failure in a positive way through forgiveness. Without honesty, integrity turns into hypocrisy, because no one is perfect. Officers sometime avoid admitting failure professionally because of liability issues, but this trait, carried over to their personal lives, can be devastating. This is a big reason why they are at such high risk personally. A big part of a chaplain’s ministry is modeling forgiveness, and it begins with a chaplain’s honesty, self-forgiveness, and self acceptance because of Jesus Christ.
Quality #3 – Common Sense
The world of law enforcement requires common sense. An officer without common sense is a tragedy waiting to happen. Officers respect those with common sense and dismiss those without it. Therefore, chaplains must demonstrate “street smarts.” Common sense for a chaplain consists of the following: basic intelligence, appropriately applied knowledge, and practical insight and wisdom.
Quality #4 – Communication
Like officers, chaplains must be skilled communicators. They must be situationally aware. They must know when to listen and when to speak, when to do nothing and when to act. They need specific communication skills, such as active listening skills, to be effective. Chaplains have a bully pulpit, but it is always a pulpit labeled “By Invitation or Permission Only.” A chaplain only goes where invited or permitted, and only speaks when invited or permitted. A chaplain who is a skilled communicator will be able to discern the appropriate moment to listen and speak, and will be ready with words and actions seasoned with wisdom and grace.
Quality #5 – Courage
Like officers need physical courage, chaplains need spiritual and moral courage (they sometimes need physical courage too). Law enforcement requires courage because it confronts evil and tragedy in a no-holds-barred battle. There is no place for cowardice in law enforcement, and no room for cowardice in a law enforcement chaplain. A chaplain must be willing to sacrifice for the cause, whatever that sacrifice entails.
Quality #6 – Conviction
A chaplain must have basic beliefs that form a foundation of ministry. A chaplain needs convictions to be effective, and must be willing to “go to the mat” for them. A chaplain without conviction is a chaplain without conscience. Officers may disagree with your convictions, but they will respect the fact that you have them. The standard or norm of conviction for a Christian chaplain is – of course – the Bible.
Quality #7 – Commitment
Commitment is a four-letter word spelled T-I-M-E. Effective chaplaincy – especially with officers - requires that trust be established. Trust requires building relationships – officers trust the chaplain because they know the chaplain. Officers, with good reason, are suspicious and skeptical people. It takes time to overcome that suspicion and skepticism and develop trust. It takes time to demonstrate the qualities that will win people’s trust. Commitment of time is one of the biggest arguments for having full-time law enforcement chaplains. Effective chaplaincy takes time.
Quality #8 – Congeniality
Officers love a good sense of humor. Humor serves to temper the horrors they witness and the stresses they feel. They typically enjoy what others might consider to be inappropriate or “black” humor. Chaplains must not let their boat get rocked too much by this humor, and must maintain amiability while avoiding becoming “just another one of the gang.” A good chaplain is congenial and has a good sense of perspective and humor, without compromising integrity. Humor is a doorway to friendship – and ministry.
Quality #9 – Confidentiality
Officers are what I call “trained paranoids.” They must be to survive on the street. Typically they also carry this attitude off the street. They will not talk with a chaplain if they are not comfortable about confidentiality. A chaplain is aided by the fact that the “bar” of confidentiality is set high for ministers. The need for confidentiality is a good reason to have licensed or ordained chaplains who are also associated with church bodies that formally support a high standard of confidentiality. The legal definitions of and requirements for confidentiality vary from state to state, and even sometimes from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. A chaplain must have the courage to clearly articulate and practice appropriate confidentiality in this sea of confusion.
Quality #10 – The Cross of Christ
From a legal and law enforcement management perspective, I understand the need for chaplains of various religious persuasions. Furthermore, it is always appropriate for a Christian chaplain to assist folks without prejudice, whether or not they agree with a chaplain’s Christian beliefs, or whether or not the chaplain is invited to bear witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Here there is no compromise with principle. A Christian chaplain renders aid and comfort at the level invited or permitted. This is in keeping with both legal and biblical principles (1 Peter 3:15).
Having said this, it is my strong conviction that only the cross of Christ offers ultimate hope for everyone – peace officers included. Peace officers daily confront the failures of the human condition. They are inundated in a sea of sin and overwhelmed by a litany of loss. The necessary remedy they bring to the gross outbreak of sin is enforcement of the law. But law has its limits, and finally, personally, it cannot save us from our human condition that infects each one of us. We need a Physician who can heal us. We need a Peace Officer who can give us peace. We need a Savior who can save us. I have rubbed elbows with lots of situations, ideas and people in my life. I have yet to find a better answer to our situation than the Gospel of Christ, a better idea than the free gift of forgiveness and eternal life won at the cross for helpless sinners, or a better person than the holy and loving Son of God, Jesus Christ. “Indeed, we can be saved only by the power of the one named Jesus and not by any other person” (Acts 4:12). A Christian chaplain both lives and speaks the cross of Christ. There is no other way (John 14:6).
Let me conclude by pointing out that there is a growing recognition in the law enforcement community of the need for professional and dedicated chaplains. There are many wonderful part time volunteer chaplains who, in addition to serving long hours at their churches as pastors, also devote much time and effort to chaplaincy. We need to support their endeavors. At the same time, we need to also support the development and expansion of full-time law enforcement chaplaincy. There are not nearly enough full-time law enforcement chaplains today, and many of the demands of chaplaincy require full-time attention. Please pray with me that God will send much-needed workers into this harvest field. (Matthew 9:37-38).
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Peace
Officer Ministries
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Chaplain
Steve Lee, Executive Director
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P.O.
Box 1436
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Caldwell,
ID 83606-1436
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Toll Free: (877) 487-1717
Outside
the USA: (208) 454-0955
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