Civilian Chaplain Program

The Situation Needing Addressed
Depending on which studies and news articles you read, somewhere between 40% and 60% of Americans, when hit with a personal crisis, have no existing support network to turn to. In the old days we had support networks built into our lives: church families, Granges, Fraternal organizations such as Eagles, Odd Fellows. Even your neighborhood tended to be close-knit and supportive. But, who can you turn to today to support you through a death, divorce, job-loss or other personal stress?

The Concept behind the Civilian Chaplain Program

The program will create a corps of volunteers committed to providing a caring ear and emotional support when someone in crisis approaches them. Much like the military Chaplain program, a civilian chaplain’s job is to be visibly available so someone can easily find a caring, capable person to turn to in time of crisis.
Within that context, the Civilian Chaplain will wear an emblem which is readily visible and which communicates that the wearer “is available when you need me.”

Who can serve as a Chaplain

• Any person willing to volunteer to be visibly available, and
  • is trained or is willing to be trained in basic listening and empathizing skills
  • has knowledge of how to tap into the network of help providers in his/her community, in order to know where to go with someone needing support beyond the simple caring that a Chaplain is equipped to do
  • is comfortable with the idea that a chaplain must serve people of all faiths and of none
  • will refrain from all evangelizing, proselytizing, or other promotion of a particular religion or religious viewpoint, except:
  • if a chaplain receives spiritual questions from someone, it is then permissible to share of his/her beliefs, encouraging the inquirer to explore further and providing information on various opportunities to do so. It is the Chaplain’s obligation to lead by example, not by salesmanship. It is the Chaplain’s obligation to help others experience God’s love through the caring shown for those who are hurting.
  • a Chaplain essentially serves a passive role - never offering help unless a door has been opened by the ultimate recipient or in some other way.

The current status of the Civilian Chaplain program

We are still developing its operating structure and programs to create public awareness of Civilian Chaplains as a resource in stormy times.

If you would like to know more, or wish to find ways you can support this program -

Please let us know. We will put you in our contact list to keep you informed.

Civilian Chaplain Program
Revelation Spiritual Church of Christ/Cincinnati
4251 Hamilton Av
Cincinnati, OH 45223
513 853 6180

Pastor@ourchaplain.com