The role of our Prayer Chaplains is, quite simply, to pray. Chaplains are not counselors or advice-givers. The core of a Prayer Chaplain’s commitment is to:
- Hold spiritual space. To hold spiritual space means to stay in a space of non-judgment, to be open to the highest possibilities of Divine Intelligence, and to see the Christ Light in the face of the person to whom they are listening.
- Lovingly listen. To lovingly listen means to listen with an open heart, without judgment, and to be completely focused on and available to the speaker.
- Pray from the heart. To pray from the heart is to listen to the guidance of the Divine and to speak authentically, remembering that this is a prayer, not a performance!
- Hold in confidence what is shared. The last essential piece is a commitment to confidentiality. Chaplains know that a sacred trust is placed in them, and that their commitment to confidentiality is the foundation of people feeling safe enough to open their hearts and share their stories. Without this last and important piece, the Prayer Chaplain Program could not exist.
