POSITION
DESCRIPTION -- CONTRACT CHAPLAIN
(for
service at a public facility)
I.
FUNCTION
The
Contract Chaplain (also “chaplain”) provides
pastoral care to meet the religious needs of residents of a
facility. This position does not provide paid annual
or sick leave. Chaplains must have worker’s
compensation, which is paid through a salary reduction.
The
Pastoral Care includes:
A. Plan and lead Sunday/Sabbath
services
B. Lead religious studies
C. Organize, promote, staff and
direct other religious activities
D. Work with volunteers in religious
activities as appropriate
E. Provide pastoral counseling and
emergency visitation
F. Cooperate with facility staff
team in the treatment/ habilitation program for residents
G. In Youth Development Centers, the work
demands a "street wise" person providing a strong
role model and intense relational skills
H. Other duties as assigned.
II.
RELATIONSHIPS
The
Chaplain is employed by the Pennsylvania Council of
Churches, Inc. (also "Council") to serve under
conditions established by a contract with the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania (also “Commonwealth”). The
chaplain is accountable both to the Council (as employer)
and also in each facility to the facility manager. The
facility manager is either the Facility Chaplaincy Program
Director (FCPD) or the facility superintendent or a
designee.
III.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
The
chaplain shall submit a monthly report to the facility
management on forms approved by the Council and the State.
IV.
POLICY
Recompense
is a function of the units/hours of pastoral service
delivered to the Center. Compensation will be remitted
promptly following receipt and verification of the monthly
report of units of service delivered, or (if payment from
the Commonwealth has not yet occurred) promptly upon receipt
of payment from the Commonwealth subsequent to delivery of
service. Please note that the Commonwealth may take up
to forty (40) business days to reimburse for services (from
the date the appropriate Commonwealth department submits the
billing).
A
contract will be executed with the chaplain or the
chaplain's primary employer. The chaplain will retain
a copy of the signed contract.
V.
QUALIFICATIONS
A.
Requirements
The
contract chaplain must maintain full ordination in good
standing with a recognized religious organization (a
denomination or communion, not simply a local congregation),
be ecclesiastically endorsed by that religious organization,
demonstrate through training and performance aptitude for
pastoral service in a specialized setting, be approved by
the appropriate officer of the Center, and perform
effectively.
Academic
preparation should include a baccalaureate degree from an
accredited four-year college or university and graduation from
an AATS accredited seminary. Contract chaplains are
also expected to have completed at least one unit of Clinical
Pastoral Education or equivalent, which demonstrates the
ability to provide effective pastoral counseling.
Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis.
Chaplain
may be evaluated in each calendar year.
This process will involve representatives of the facility and
the Council.
The
Council expects and encourages each chaplain to engage in
continuing education and reflection.
B.
Desired Attributes
-
knowledge of the principles of pastoral care
-
effectiveness in individual and group counseling
-
ability to communicate clearly and persuasively
-
skill in providing religious resources to those encountering
illness, crisis and grief
-
ability in communicating with individuals, volunteers,
families and staff with respect to religious
matters
-
ability to plan and organize religious classes, training
sessions and related activities
-
ability to establish and maintain effective working
relationships with Center staff and volunteers
-
skill in effective expression, especially with respect to the
facility residents
-
commitment to respect differing religious commitments and
persuasions, affirming persons in their own faith traditions
-
mature, experienced and personable
-
team worker, able to maintain positive working relationships
with facility staff and others
-
innovative and able to work without close supervision
-
of good humor and poise
C.
Conditions
The
Council requires a background check with the state police and
the denominational credentialing officer (or church body
executive, not congregational leadership). Contract
chaplains are bound by the policies of the Pennsylvania
Council of Churches including the prohibition of sexual
misconduct spelled out in the standards of conduct of the
Council's personnel policy. Contract
chaplains must present proof of participation in training on
sexual boundaries; the deadline for submission of this proof
will be negotiated, and assistance will be offered in locating
a training opportunity. A contract chaplain must also
undergo annual testing at the facility regarding "PPD
Tuberculosis Skin, Infection and Disease", and submit the
results to the Council.
Employment
as a contract chaplain is contingent upon continuation of the
contract between the Council and the Commonwealth.
Travel and travel time is not compensable. In certain
facilities some flexibility is desired in applicants, so that
more time may be devoted to this position at certain seasons
of the secular and religious year, while less time may be
given in another season.
The
Pennsylvania Council of Church is an equal opportunity
employer.
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