Introduction to Workplace Chaplaincy:
Six Mondays from 5:30 – 7:30pm starting on 28th September2015 at 1 Colmore Row.
This course is for people who are interested in voluntary workplace chaplaincy in one of the 15 existing workplace chaplaincy teams across Birmingham and Solihull or wanting to explore their own sense of call to chaplaincy.
The course covers an introduction to key skills and knowledge – listening to others, ‘being a guest’, making a difference, looking after yourself, understanding businesses etc – as well as reflecting on what chaplaincy means to churches and society. The programme involves input, exercises, discussion, a visit to see a Chaplaincy in action and some prayer and worship.
Most people who do the course have had some life experience in listening/caring, have belonged to a church for a few years, are interested in working with people outside of the usual boundaries of the church, and are happy to work with other faiths. Participants on the course have previously come from a wide variety of churches, from Pentecostal to Roman Catholic, house churches to new monastic communities.
Could I be a workplace chaplain? – our leaflet introduces what chaplains do, why it is a growing ministry of the church and typical ground rules for Chaplains.
Churches and Industry Group Birmingham and Solihull has teams of voluntary chaplains to businesses, enterprises and organisations across Birmingham and Solihull, with about 60 volunteers altogether. Our chaplaincies are in places like Birmingham and Solihull Shopping Centres, NEC Group, National Express Buses, Kings Heath High St, Birmingham City Council and the Fire Service. More general information about Chaplaincy is available on our ‘Chaplaincy Fortnight’ page.
The trainers will be Peter Sellick and Elaine Hutchinson. Peter Sellick is currently a chaplain with Birmingham City Council, and has previously done chaplaincies to small businesses, manufacturing and Police for over 15 years. Elaine Hutchinson is the lead chaplain for Retail Chaplains in Birmingham City Centre and is a Chaplain at the Bullring Shopping Centre. Elaine is also a URC Minister, and Peter is an Anglican Minister.
The course is an opportunity for participants to learn about the key chaplaincy ways of working, as well as a chance to discern whether it is for them. The course is not a commitment or a guarantee to proceed into workplace chaplaincy: that subsequent decision is for further discernment at the end of the course. The vast majority of chaplaincy positions in workplaces are unpaid. Other chaplaincy areas – eg Hospital / Healthcare, Education, Prison etc have their own specific training courses and requirements.
Previous course participants have said: “good for learning and understanding chaplaincy”, “very helpful to visit a chaplaincy in action”, “very good course”.
There is a charge of £20 to cover the cost of course materials.
For more information please click here: INTRODUCTION TO WORKPLACE CHAPLAINCY Autumn 2015
To join the course please contact peter.sellick@cigb.org.uk for a Registration Form.