School Chaplaincy Research Articles

Context, challenge and professional wisdom - stories of contemporary school chaplaincy

ABSTRACT This article explores the role of the chaplain in Catholic schools in England and some of the contemporary challenges. There is a focus on two issues in particular: the celebration of liturgy and the participation of non-Catholic children and the inclusion of LGBTQ+ children in the Catholic school. This article draws out some of the tensions between the pastoral sensitivities around participation in liturgy and the directives of the Prayer and Liturgy Directory and the complexity of the legal and pastoral inclusion of LGBTQ+ children.

Proselytising and pastoral care: chaplains in Australian government schools

ABSTRACT School chaplaincy in Australia is highly contentious. The federal government funds a chaplaincy programme in Australia’s secular public schools, which, combined with the declining influence of institutional Christianity, places Christian chaplains at the nexus of debates on the public role of religion. Yet little is known about how these chaplains integrate their religious convictions with their role. This article draws on 12 interviews with Christian chaplains, and asks: (1) how do these chaplains understand their faith within their role?; (2) how do they practice their faith through their role; and (3) how do they negotiate the ban on ‘proselytising’? This article finds that chaplains see their work as a call from God that enables a deep sense of purpose, and is also aimed at young people’s empowerment. They practically express their faith through care, bridging school and Christian communities, and prayer. Last, they practice conversations about faith, described as ‘dialogical evangelism’. Given the lack of studies of chaplaincy practice in secular contexts, this article is significant for its empirical depth, and discussion of controversial topics. It concludes by examining the significance of these findings for policy makers, and for wider debates about the interaction between religious people and secular institutions.

Time for cathedral building: reimagining school ministry

Expanding on models for school chaplaincy and drawing on the work of Fowler, Parks, Pohlman, Erikson, Williams, and Pannikar this article argues for a new and reimagined approach, shifting from a seminary model of spiritual formation to a cathedral model of spiritual exploration. Grounded in an incarnational theology and an understanding of the spiritual dissonance of youth within a pluralistic culture, the chaplain cultivates Pannikar’s christic vision within the school context. In this way, the chaplain leverages opportunities for engagement in persona Christi as missionary, witness, accompanying presence, and guide in the quest of adolescent spiritual exploration and meaning-making.

Korelacja nauczania religii z innymi przedmiotami szkolnymi na łamach „Miesięcznika Katechetycznego i Wychowawczego”

“Catechetical and Educational Monthly”, which had been published since 1911, was a periodical devoted to matters of teaching and religious education. Initially, it dealt mainly with issues related to school religion classes, as well as education, history of philosophy, theology, apologetics, archeology, contemporary literature and national-patriotic issues. From 1921, issues related to religious education, pedagogy, psychology, religious teaching and school chaplaincy were of the utmost importance. The richness of the subject matter presented by the journal also includes the extremely important postulate of teaching religion as correlated with other subjects. The aim of this study is not only to provide a selection and short analysis of individual articles that were published in “Catechetical and Educational Monthly” but also to draw attention to this important postulate as well as, in some sense, to encourage its continuous implementation.

Williams v. Commonwealth: school chaplains and the religious tests clause of the Constitution

This case note examines the High Court's recent decision in Williams v Commonwealth as it relates to the religious tests clause of s 116 of the Constitution. It was alleged that school chaplains engaged under the National School Chaplaincy Program held offices under the Commonwealth and that the rules governing their appointment constituted a religious test. This case note considers in detail the submissions made by the parties and interveners - something the High Court did not do in its judgment - and critiques the reasoning in the judgments that dealt with the s 116 issues of whether a religious test was involved and whether school chaplains held an office under the Commonwealth. The note also offers a critique of the methodological approach taken to the interpretation of the clause by the Court. It is concluded that the High Court's decision provides only limited and somewhat confusing guidance on the meaning of this important constitutional provision.

Exploring the values of chaplains in government primary schools

Minimal prior research has examined the school chaplaincy programme in Australia. This exploratory study sought to identify the values primary school chaplains feel are the most important to them personally, and in their role as chaplain. Eight chaplains working in government primary schools were interviewed. Inductive thematic analysis was used to determine key themes evident within the data. Results suggested that chaplains identified understanding, tolerance, inclusion, care, compassion, honesty, trustworthiness and integrity as most important to them personally and professionally. Chaplains noted clear boundaries in their work and emphasised that to proselytise or evangelise would be to contravene their role. Of some concern were the information gathering techniques some chaplains employed before referring on to appropriately trained school staff. As the federally funded chaplaincy programme has been controversial in Australia, this study provides valuable insight into chaplains’ values and their role which can help governments and communities make informed choices regarding school chaplaincy programmes.

Chaplains' perspectives on their work in Tasmanian government schools

School chaplaincy services aim to promote student and school community well-being. Given the community interest in chaplaincy services in government schools, it is important that research inform future developments to maximize the potential benefits of chaplaincy services to schools. In this study, 68 chaplains in the Australian state of Tasmania described and shared views on their work through the completion of an anonymous online survey. The findings present a picture of the nature, strengths and challenges of chaplaincy in Tasmanian government schools from the perspective of chaplains themselves. The results are summarized, several implications are identified, and directions for future research are explored.

John Caperon, A Vital Ministry: Chaplaincy in Schools in the Post-Christian Era

John Caperon, <i>A Vital Ministry: Chaplaincy in Schools in the Post-Christian Era</i>

School Chaplaincy is Effective But Could it Be Better?

Analysis of the data collected in the Valuegenesis II study of 3263 students in Seventh-day Adventist schools, indicates that 63% consider the school chaplain has influenced their development of faith. Further, school chaplaincy is associated with statistically significant positive differences in the levels of Faith Maturity, Christian Commitment, Intrinsic Orientation to Religion, Positive Views of God, Denominational Loyalty and Social Responsibility, being a medium to large effect impacting students lives. The potential of reflective practice to improve the outcomes of chaplaincy in the current context of low levels of job satisfaction and chaplaincy retention is considered.

Illegitimate

Illegitimate

Illegitimate Online Newspaper Representations of the Chaplaincy Program

Illegitimate Online Newspaper Representations of the Chaplaincy Program

Religion, Secularism, and the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program

This article examines the structure and function of the Commonwealth of Australia's National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program (NSCSWP) in the context of an inquiry into whether the program should be considered religious, secular, or somewhere in between. The argument advanced is that changes to the program since its inception have rendered it incoherent in purpose and internally contradictory in design. Because of these flaws, the NSCSWP fails to effectively achieve legitimate policy goals. However, the Program can be redesigned to achieve its ends while simultaneously welcoming religious individuals and remaining faithful to a liberal vision of neutrality towards religion.

Responsible Government, Federalism and the School Chaplaincy Case

With its intermingled themes of politics, religion and constitutional law, the school chaplaincy case of Williams v Commonwealth ('Williams') was bound to ruffle feathers.1 In it, the High Court held unconstitutional the mechanism for funding - but not the substance - of the National School Chaplaincy Program. The decision however was all about Mammon, not God. It left the Commonwealth scrambling to reinforce the constitutionality of a whole range of directly-funded Commonwealth schemes. With further litigation mooted, the school chaplaincy saga is by no means over. The Court may yet again find that the program is not properly constituted, and needs to be channeled through state education departments. The Williams decision represents a significant development in constitutional law concerning the Commonwealth executive's power to spend. It casts uncertainty over a myriad of nationally funded endeavours, like direct funding of universities.

‘God has created me to do him some definite service’ (Cardinal Newman): vocation at the heart of the Catholic curriculum

Over recent decades, much has been achieved in developing Catholic school religious programmes, chaplaincy and community life but the ordinary curriculum now needs to be the focus of the school's Catholic ethos. The International Baccalaureate shows the structure by which an educational vision can explicitly inform a school's core curriculum. Using the IB structure, but with different content, Catholic schools can place the call of Christ at the heart of every subject area. In an appendix, a Catholic school leader describes how her school has set about implementing this vision in practice.

Williams v Commonwealth of Australia: [2012] HCA 23: High Court of Australia: French CJ, Gummow, Hayne, Heydon, Crennan, Kiefel and Bell JJ: 20 June 2012

Education – School chaplaincy – Public funding – Australia – School partaking in federal government funding scheme allocating money from consolidated revenue fund to provide for individual schools to buy in chaplaincy services – Parent with children attending participating school - Parent’s children not taking part in school chaplaincy services – Parent claiming use of executive power to fund scheme unconstitutional – Whether parent having standing to challenge scheme – Whether scheme beyond executive power of Commonwealth – Whether appointment of chaplain under scheme contrary to constitutional prohibition against ‘religious test’ for public appointment – Constitution of Australia, ss 61, 116

‘A presence in pilgrimage’: contemporary chaplaincy in Catholic secondary schools in England and Wales

School chaplaincy has evolved from being a sacramentally defined ministry to one that is powered by personal relationship which has allowed it to be peopled, in its contemporary realisation, by lay people and religious as well as priests. What is the understanding of those within the school community of the role and what is its significance in the life of the school?

National School Chaplaincy Program

National School Chaplaincy Program

Young people and spirituality: the need for a spiritual foundation for Australian schooling

The Adelaide Declaration on National Goals for Schooling in the Twenty‐First Century provides a mandate for discussion of the spiritual within secular state schooling, but this discussion has never occurred. This is a serious omission given what could be called an ‘undercurrent of concern’ for the ways in which young people today frame and make their lives in a society focused on material gain and individual pursuits. Current government policies, such as the Values Education Framework and the National School Chaplaincy Programme, hint at what could be called a spiritual approach to education, but in practice these programmes reflect government agendas tied to economistic educational goals which can be seen to be at odds with conditions that might promote propitious frameworks for young people’s wellbeing. Further, these policies fail to grasp what is at the heart of young people’s lives and inherent concerns for the kinds of lives young people are making in today’s society. A spiritual foundation for schooling has the potential to ameliorate many of these concerns, but spiritual discussions are difficult given the concept of spirituality itself is nebulous. However, I will argue in this paper that to counter the possibly detrimental effects of current cultural influences and related government policies, a spiritual foundation is needed for young Australian’s schooling.

Is School Chaplaincy Being Secularised?

The recent Australian government initiative to provide funding for chaplains in both state and non-state schools raises a variety of issues. From a historical and legislative perspective, some question again the long established legislative support for various forms of religious instruction in government schools, as well as the essential meaning of the separation of Church and State in Australia. More contemporary concerns have to do with community involvements in schools and the extent to which chaplaincy intersects with the many issues in ‘values education’. This recent Commonwealth involvement in schooling raises questions concerning the exact nature of the initiative and its intended outcomes. Hill concludes his treatment by examining ethical issues for such chaplains in whatever school system.

Chaplaincy in State Schools in New Zealand

Chaplaincy in State Schools in New Zealand