What is a Chaplain? What do they do?
Essentially a spiritual representative, Chaplains may or may not be certified, have a theological education, be ordained or commissioned by a particular denomination, but many are.
The term Chaplaincy, traditionally associated with representatives of the Christian faith, is now used for representatives of any faith.
Some are expected to represent multiple faiths, acting as a sort of neutral resource serving the spiritual and emotional needs of others.
They might perform wedding or funeral ceremonies, administer communion, deliver spiritual messages, offer prayer at public meetings, provide regular counselling or meet the needs of the moment, usually through listening and perhaps a prayer.
Chaplains may also function as advocates; hospital chaplains, for example, may make requests of a nurse to help meet a particular patient's needs; military chaplains may provide for marriage enrichment retreats.
They work in many environments, most commonly attached to the military, hospitals, law enforcement, fire services, political bodies, sports teams and to educational institutions.
Some corporations, music groups, and even households (historically the nobility, and now certain monarchs), may also employ Chaplains.
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