It isn't just the depth of the water after all...

Its my intention to use this blog to assist my theological reflection and I am grateful for some friends who have already begun to respond in all sorts of heplful ways and and to facilitate the process of refelction.

'David123' ( a friend, brother and colleague) has made the below comments (in blue) about some aspects of chaplaincy which I guess are general to any kind of chaplaincy but which do set some parameters. For me the most interesting point that David123 raises is the very personal one about the baptism.

David 123 said,

Firstly to be a PASTOR - to be with and alongside those who need our care irrespective of any considerations of faith or lack of it.

Absolutely agree. I don't see how you could be a chaplain if this was not the case

Secondly to be a PROPHET - to be prepared to confront what we believe to be wrong and to be a critical friend. This may mean making ourselves unpopular - but most OT prophets knew all about that!

I agree with this comment too - alhtough I think well-developed diplomatic skills are also essential - particuarly in ineractions with Senior Police Officers.

Thirdly to be PRIEST - to be the cultic "enabler" as and when needed to help others through the rites of passage and in their spiritual journeyings - wherever that may be leading them.

Ditto.
However the below comments were what made me really reflect...

Your dilemma asks the question about how we may reconcile our own denominational theologies with the demands made by those who do not understand the nicities!Did your Baptist hospital chaplain baptise the baby? How would he have felt if a (say) Anglican or Roman Catholic Chaplain had baptised the child of one of his Baptist flock?

Perhaps I should have said that the incident to which I referred was one where the child involved was a new born baby who was not going to live. No other chaplain or minister was immediately available, death was imminent and the Baptist chaplain simply followed the infant baptism service from a colleague's handbook - and baptised the child. My feeling is that in these cases you 'go with the flow' (but I would of course be surprised if an infant of a baptist family was baptised at the parents request - given our theology of baptising believers). But David123, you did make me think about putting the boot on the other foot. What if I attend a dying Roman Catholic say, who is able to ask for the last rites - would that be even more complex - do we just do what will bring relief and comfort to the individuals involved? Should I just cross that bridge when I come to it or should I action plan for such an eventuality?

'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' (Matthew 25:45 NIVUK)