Page 19 - WMPF Federation JUNE-JULY 2019-flip_Neat

“ John has made our What is multi faith What do chaplains do?

chaplaincy hugely
chaplaincy?
Chaplains try to:
l Pray regularly for the Force in general
Multi faith chaplaincy is available to
supportive of the
and for the situations and members of
staff they are involved with
faith, religious tradition or no faith at
work of WMP. The any individual or group regardless of l Be available to anyone of any faith or
all.
It provides a team of people who none who needs someone to talk to who
medal is richly are committed to working together to is outside the structures of the Force
offer pastoral and spiritual care and l Be an ongoing presence in the
deserved and huge confidential support to those who work workplace, aware of the stresses and
strains of life in the Force and able to be
within the organisation and to their a critical friend to individuals and the
congratulations to families. There is also a team of advisers organisation
from different faiths to help those who l Visit, if appropriate, staff who are ill at
him. need support from a person of their home or in hospital and provide care to
own faith. family and friends
There are also a number of NPU l Provide care for the bereaved and be
chaplains who are recognised within involved if a member of staff dies
their own faith community, and who particularly if this is while in service
volunteer their time and efforts to l Lead formal religious services as required
“
apprentice after leaving school. support specific NPUs and by the organisation or individuals.
But he left that position in 1986 to departments.
spend three years to attend theological The chaplaincy team is committed How do they do it?
college and train for the church ministry. His to building up relationships within the Each chaplain will develop their own way of
first church was in Hackney, East London organisation and to be alongside working but they will incorporate some, or
where he was minister from 1989 to 2002 people in both the good, and the not so all, of the following:
when he moved to his current church, then good, times. l Loitering with intent – many chaplains
called Hockley Pentecostal Church. Their ministry is threefold: will just drop in, trying to be around at
His interest in force chaplaincy began in l To be a presence that reminds us of shift change or other times when
the early ‘90s while he was in London. our humanity officers and staff will be about
John explains: “It all started back in 1992 l To be a pastor to assist people in l Accompanying officers and staff on their
when I was invited to a clergy/police times of need duties to understand the stresses
meeting in Hackney where we could discuss l To be a prophet in speaking out involved in modern day policing
and tackle together some of the problems in against real or potential injustice in l Attending LPU and departmental
the area. the structures. meetings to understand the issues
“At that meeting one of the Each chaplain will do that in their affecting the day to day and longer term
superintendents arranged for me to visit the own way, depending upon their operations
local police station and suggested a late personality, circumstances and how l Attending awards ceremonies and other
evening/early morning tour around the long they can give to their NPU. The social events to meet people in a
streets of Hackney in one of the patrol cars. I NPU chaplain may be at awards pleasant setting rather than at a time of
must admit that I probably learnt more evenings or be seen out on patrol. They crisis
about Hackney and its problems on that will certainly be available for support in l Providing input to training.
patrol than I had done all the months I had times of crisis whether that is to an
previously lived there and worked as a individual or to the management team. Find out more
church minister. They will be a confidential listening ear
“Not only did it prove to be of great and will accept all confidences without If you want to contact a chaplain or a multi
benefit for my own local knowledge, but on judgment. faith adviser, you can contact John Butcher
that occasion I was able to share with the Chaplaincy is never a vehicle for at Lloyd House, on extension 7800 6265 or
police officers some of the everyday faith preaching. This is true regardless email him on
problems they have to face on the beat. In of the faith of the chaplain. butcher_55029@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk
both the patrol car, and in the canteen later
on in their break, I was able in some small
way to understand some of the stresses been asked to see if I would consider being area and also regularly represented the
involved in modern day policing. the police chaplain for the Hackney Police. Met at national chaplains’ meetings
“After that initial visit, I wrote a letter to It wasn’t until later when I had been where he met the late Bill Hopley who
the Hackney station saying how much I appointed that I was told it was the police was the Force chaplain for West Midlands
appreciated the time they had given me and officers I had spent that initial visit with Police for a number of years.
the welcome that I had received. The next who had recommended me to the Bill encouraged him to continue with
contact came when I got a phone call from superintendent.” the chaplaincy in Birmingham and linked
one of the superintendents asking if he Up until the time the family moved to him with D2 Sutton Coldfield OCU, near
could come to see me. Birmingham in 2002, John continued to be to where John lives, as its voluntary
“When he came, he said that he had the chaplain for the police in the Hackney chaplain.

www.polfed.org/westmids federation June/July 2019 19