Half a century of chaplains
March 2010
The Civil Chaplaincies Advisory Committee NSW has produced their 2009 Annual Report, entitled Reaching Out, with 2009 also being the year in which they celebrated their 50th anniversary. I have very much appreciated the work of the Chaplains over the years and congratulate them on their many achievements and accomplishments in their first half-century of existence.
The Civil Chaplaincies Advisory Committee deals with individual chaplaincy placements in agencies across the state, and liaises with State Government bodies and member organisations in the three major areas of Health Services, Corrective Services and Juvenile Justice.
One of the Committe's main achievements over the past 50 years has been to not only expand the membership to include most of the major Christian denominations, but to also embrace chaplains from other faiths. The active membership of Buddhist, Islamic and Jewish organisations has created an uplifting atmosphere of shared purpose and inclusiveness that has continued to strengthen the work and influence of the committee.
During the past 50 years there has also been an expansion in the role of chaplains. For instance, in the early 1980s there were just 4 full-time chaplains in all of the State Corrective Services; now there are over 30 full-time, and a number of part-time and volunteer chaplains. It is interesting to note that while Australian society seems to have become more secular during that time there has actually been an increasing demand for the services that chaplains provide, which demonstrates the actual value the community places on spiritual and pastoral care during times of crisis.
One of the most interesting challenges that occurred during the past year was the need to develop a protocol for the display of religious symbols in hospital chapels, at the request of Hon John Della Bosca in his role as then Minister for Health. The question arose when the Royal North Shore Hospital chapel removed its cross when it was internally determined that it was an inappropriate religious symbol.
The resulting policy of the Civil Chaplaincies Advisory Committee recognises that all people are spiritual beings, whether or not they adhere to any specific faith, and that the chapel is there to serve all patients, families, visitors, and hospital staff who need a place for prayer, contemplation or reflection. It is therefore not appropriate for any one faith to dominate the space with their symbols. Some chapels have removable symbols for use only during their worship services, while other chapels have a shelf with all the faith?s particular symbols or texts equally available. It is a triumph of tolerance, harmony and multiculturalism at its best. The entire policy can be read by clicking here. 
Rev the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes AC MLC
|
