Community Service Chaplains Gather in Cleveland
By Chaplain Wayne Roberson, Training Coordinator Assistant, Church of God Chaplains Commission
The Chaplains Commission held its 5-day Community Service Chaplaincy training seminar on June 2-6, 2008, at the Church of God Theological Seminary in Cleveland, Tennessee. There were 31 attendees at the seminar which included pastors, ministers, church lay workers and seminary students. Four of the attendees came from outside the US – two from Canada, one from the Bahamas and one from Kenya. At the end of the week of training, each student was presented with a certificate of completion for the Chaplains Basic Training Course.
 |
|
Chaplain Roberson instructs during the recent training session. |
The course is a comprehensive week of training covering essential areas of study that prepare the students for a more effective ministry outside the church. Subjects include: the theology of chaplaincy, ethics, confidentiality, clergy/client privilege, grief counseling, Critical Incident Stress Management/Debriefing, suicide, depression in the workplace, death notifications, legal issues, prayer in the public forum, and many others. The seminar helps to meet the ever-growing need for trained chaplains to serve “beyond the gates” of the church.
The primary instructor for the course was Dr. Doc R. Williams, Chaplains Commission Coordinator of Community Service Chaplaincy and Training. Seminary President Dr. Steven J. Land presented a session on the Theology of Chaplaincy and Dr. Robert D. Crick, Chaplains Commission Director, presented the Pentecostal Care Ministry Model. Dr. Donnie Smith, Executive Director, Care Ministries, spoke on the powerful impact of chaplaincy for care and benevolence ministry. Special guest lecturers were: Dr. Jerry McNabb, Dr. Keith Munford, Dr. John Sweet, Dr. Jimmy DuPree, Chaplain Dean Yancey, Reverend Tom Offutt, Canon Fred Dettwiller, Reverend Tim Burdashaw, Chaplain Judith Moore, and Chaplain John Unthank.
After completing the training course, students who are Church of God ministers or members may apply for chaplaincy certification through the Chaplains Commission.
For more information on chaplaincy training, certification, and how can you serve as a chaplain in your local community, visit the Chaplains Commission website at:www.cogchaplains.com .
