General Chaplaincy - General

Chaplain Responsibilities

What does a 3-Dimension Character Chaplain do?

A Chaplain is a special person who brings compassion and concern on the scene at the right time.  He or she is a person who not only appraises life from an academic or physical perspective, but also from a spiritual perspective.  A chaplain is interested in the personal things that challenge or energize other people, and enjoys edifying people, solving problems and improving relationships.

A Character Chaplain also brings a life improvement purpose to their surroundings, by focusing individuals and teams on the significance of becoming people or teams with high character, morals, and habits.  A Character Chaplain has been trained in specific methods of conveying character traits and habits that elevate a person’s dependability, responsibility, loyalty, reliability, morality and attitude.  They have a goal of creating teams of higher character people who achieve higher objectives and results together.

A Three-Dimension Character Chaplain is unique in their world-view and in their equipping.  They understand that a person is created in three parts: spirit, soul and body, and that each of the parts influences the other parts and is an integral component of the whole person.  Therefore, problems and behaviors that appear to be initiated within one part of the whole person may be in fact created by a hurt or void in another part.  Managers, coaches, and fellow team players need to see each other as Three-Dimension people, not just what you can touch, see, hear and smell.

Whether the environment is an athletic team, a workplace, a school environment, or a team of first responders, the Three-Dimension Character Chaplain will bring an ingredient of wellness to the scene that will over time elevate the appreciation of one another, bringing out the best in a person for the common good, while being available to deal with the worst in a person, privately.

The 3-D Character Chaplain begins his or her purpose the first day they are introduced to the staff, crew, company or team.  He or she will quickly explain their purpose, routine and accessibility to the group and individually.  They will explain that they are not there for religious purposes and are not there to talk someone into converting from something to something else.  They do have answers to spiritual questions, but those issues must be initiated by the group member, not by the chaplain.

The 3-D Character Chaplain does have a beneficial goal of spreading higher level character traits and habits as he or she travels through their weekly visits.  They will explain that they are very accessible to every person just by the member mentioning that they want to talk with the Chaplain about something, or to pray about something.  If that will take longer than a few minutes on the job, it can occur at break time, lunchtime or after hours.  Any personal consultation with the Chaplain is done “off the clock.”

The 3-D Character Chaplain is clearly available to each person directly, by just a phone call or an email connection, any day of the week.  Appointments can be set up at mutually available times.  Emergency calls are a part of the relationship with the 3-D Character Chaplain, although non-emergencies must be conveyed after 8 AM and prior to 8 PM.  Everyone has access to the Chaplain’s phone number.

You will find that Chaplains respond quickly to crises and emergencies.  They are genuine advocates in times of stress or trauma.  If there is ever a common crisis within the team or workplace, the 3-D Character Chaplain should be called immediately.  If this is an entire staff crisis, such as a fire, death of a team player, robbery, assault, homicide or national emergency, other Chaplains and counselors may be brought in for assistance.

This is what chaplaincy is all about.  The chaplain will come to the workplace or place of business once a week, except for vacations and holidays.  Management may have set up a staff meeting, at which time the 3-D Character Chaplain will present a Character talk focused on the Character habit of the month.

At all other times, the weekly visit will be to walk through the entire facility, encouraging each team member individually with a word about a character habit, asking a personal question and giving the person a helpful word.  In most cases, a small handout card will be given the staff member.  If at any time during the Chaplain’s walk-through any person wishes a private conversation, they just say so to the Chaplain, letting him or her know what the need is about.

Occasionally, the Chaplain will refer the person to a specialist or another Chaplain to provide the appropriate intervention in the best interest of the employee or team member.  This could be another Chaplain of the same gender as the employee or team member, a specialist counselor, physician, nutritionist, social worker, attorney or other resource.

These services are available to all covered players, team members and employees:

• Planning and officiating weddings and infant dedications.
• Pre-marital counseling sessions
• Planning and officiating funerals and memorial services for family members
• Grief counseling and in some cases other family administration connected with a death
• Hospital visits to the member
• On-call personal intervention in a member’s stress or behavioral issue
• Dispute resolution among members
• Personal and family character development

Counseling at the Chaplain’s office or the office of a designated counselor is scheduled in groupings of four appointments at a time:

• Long-term grief support
• Spouse or child abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Drug abuse, gambling or other habitual degradation
• Emotional support
• Financial coaching and money management
• Alcohol dependency
• Serious or terminal illness
• Marriage problems or dysfunctional family situations
• Conflict resolution
• Divorce or divorce recovery
• Disorderly or antagonistic children and blended family issues
• Other behavioral and emotional stress disorders

All 3-Dimension Character Chaplains are commissioned, licensed or ordained ministers (clergy) and are by law subject to client confidentiality restrictions, except in cases revealing child abuse or self destruction or self harm.*  All conversations with individuals, in private, including counseling or personal advice conversations, are privileged and may not be repeated to anyone, any court, employer, or family relative, without the written consent of the person involved.  They will not convey any information to management that will be entered in an employee or player record.  The Chaplain will not appear in a court of law as an expert witness or as a deposed witness for defense or plaintiff.  Chaplains are not required to keep notes or personal records of ministry and advice to members or their families.

Confidentiality with members is a cornerstone of the 3-D Character Chaplaincy ministry.  *State law requires that if child abuse or self-harm is discovered within a counseling session, the Chaplain or counselor is legally considered a mandatory reporter of such dangerous information for the protection of the people involved.  Please refer to mandatory reporting law in your state.

You can apply to become a 3D Character Chaplain by clicking here

You can learn more about chaplain jobs, 3D Character Chaplaincy and the training requirements by clicking here 

 If you have questions check out our FAQ section by clicking here