CHAPLAIN MINISTRY

Ministering Around the Globe

Support Anchored International Relief

LEADING OTHERS IN VARIOUS WAYS

Our chaplain’s ministry has been active all over the world, especially during the pandemic. In Tijuana alone, more than 200 police officers gave their lives to the Lord as a direct result of our chaplains ministering in the stations. We were the only outside organization allowed into the stations during the lockdown. They also distributed food, and badly needed medical supplies to both police and hospitals in Tijuana. In the United States, our chaplains responded to hurricanes in Louisiana ministering to police in fire after the devastating one-two punch of hurricanes Laura and Delta last year. In addition, we have ministered to and done training for police officers in Nepal and Uganda. We also bring teams to disaster areas that have chaplains and teams working to help in physical ways.

We have trained police/civilian chaplains that can respond to any incident and are currently beginning to work with the police in Mexico and Nepal.

What Is Chaplaincy?

  • Chaplains are specially trained, licensed or ordained members of the clergy attached to a law enforcement agency through the support and auspices of a responsible organization.
  • In the case of this program the responsible organization would be Anchored International Relief, a United States based non-profit.
  • Chaplains may be but are not required to be members of the police agency.
  • In fact the benefit of outside members is that they are removed from day to day operations and are able to focus solely on the welfare of law enforcement and civilian personnel.

Chaplaincy Defined

  • Chaplains lead with a spiritual/secular purpose.
    • 1. Chaplaincy recognizes that human beings are multi-faceted with a physical, spiritual and emotion make up.
    • Therefore our efforts to help those individuals in crisis must also be multifaceted and holistic.
  • Chaplaincy is relational and requires the chaplains to spend meaningful time with the people they are serving to be both available and approachable.
    • Chaplains are to be available to all persons regardless of their spiritual or secular orientation without discrimination.
    • They are focused upon assisting people whether police personnel or civilians who are suffering emotionally.
    • Chaplaincy is a ministry of “presence” and involves walking along side a person who is suffering wherever they may find them.
  • Chaplaincy is interventional in that we are there to bring a person to a state of coping.

This is not counseling, though counseling could be available if the person so desires.

The Work of the Chaplain

  • A chaplain serves in support of the primary mission of the public safety agency they are supporting.
    • A chaplain by definition is not to interfere with or become a hindrance to the agency’s mission.
    • Chaplains are tasked with helping to make the agency the most effective and efficient organization possible while not becoming a liability to them.
  • Chaplains are to be an aid to the agency not a burden.
  • Our goal is to make your work easier, provide a resource for you that will assist you in your service to your staff and the community.
  • Chaplains can also be an important part of a Community Policing program.

Chaplain Selection

  • Our selection process for Chaplains with our agency is rigorous.
  • We do not accept everyone who applies with us.
  • Because we are faith based they must follow and ascribed to our statement of faith.
  • They must be willing and able to minister to people of all faiths or to those who have not faith background.
  • They must have experience in Christian counseling
  • They must have a clear history in Mexico.
  • They must pass our training course.

Chaplaincy in the US

  • Chaplains have been an integral part of the United States government from before it’s founding.
    • On July 29, 1775, the Continental Congress established the office of military chaplains who were actually paid $20.00 per month along with expenses.
    • The first chaplain in the United States Congress was the Reverend William Linn, who was installed on May 1, 1789.

Need for Police Chaplaincy

  • Chaplains serve a dual purpose, first to minister to law enforcement personnel and secondly to be available to the public during times of extreme crisis.
  • Amongst law enforcement police agencies have long noted a higher than average number of suicides (17 per 100,000 people versus the national average of 14 per 100,000).  Police officer suicides occur at a rate that is 3 times the number of officers killed in the line of duty. Police officer suicides often stem from marital or relationship problems. Feelings of isolation and no support system. Suicidal police officers experience intense emotional pain. Issues related to intense emotional trauma or pain are domestic violence, substance abuse, excessive force.
  • A psychological unit alone is ineffective when dealing with these types of issues especially within the law enforcement culture.
    • Most officers adhere to a code of silence when it comes to emotional strain whether it be their own or a fellow officer.
    • This is may be due to distrust of the departmental psychologist and fear of endangering their employment.
    • In addition cultural values, which encourage the “macho” and impervious image of the police officer, lead to reluctance to go for help.
  • The public is often afraid to go to the police for help.
    • Chaplains act as a buffer between the police and the community.
    • Present a softer more caring image.
    • Can assist in death notifications
    • Can also be a liaison during critical or unusual incidents (talk about bank hostage situation in San Clemente)

Chaplain Training

Chaplains are trained in such areas as:

  • Critical Incident Stress Management
  • Critical Incident Stress Debriefing
  • Public Safety related stress
  • Post Traumatic Stress, it’s symptoms and treatment
  • Relationship counseling
  • Individual Counseling
  • Grief Counseling