Not just here for the religious things in life

In the 1980s the Yellow Pages ran an ad campaign. The strapline was “we’re not just there for the nasty things in life.” I rather want to adopt this slogan as Anglican chaplain: “Chaplaincy – not just here for the religious things in life.”

One priority during my first year here at Essex has been to make sure that being a chaplain is not as irrelevant a concept as a phone book. A priest isn’t a port of call for most people in any kind of challenging circumstances, but I am here to be an inclusive, confidential and non-judgemental listener. This is different from counselling, I’d call it ‘gentle accompaniment for the longer term.’

For example, it can be hard after a bereavement to talk about the person you’ve lost, the strangeness of life without them. Chaplaincy is a place you can have those conversations. Not just about loss or the big questions of life and death, but anything that’s bothering you. Not problem solving, just problem sharing. I promise that I have no ulterior motive to use this as an opportunity to try to convince you that my faith is the only or the best.

Since I joined the university community I’ve principally and literally walked with students, mostly with the dog, chatting about things. Some things critical, some inconsequential. As we begin to ease out of lockdown, with the way ahead still uncertain, I’m beginning to talk more about how care for our staff is also part of the chaplain’s portfolio.

There is hope, and we can find that hope together; seeing what that looks like individually and for a community.

The Yellow Pages books are defunct. They held a snapshot of a way of being; the businesses and ideas that were important in a specific place at time. Chaplaincy, rooted in faith, can look back at our scriptures and texts (not defunct, I’d argue) to find rich reflections of humanity pointing to shared experiences of loss, life, and hope - across time and culture. We have liturgies and prayers that can help, and creativity in rituals to mark a change. These, and prayer, are resources chaplaincy draws upon, but doesn’t compel others to use. In a broadly similar way, the church networks help support wider issues like the social justice that Colchester Citizens campaigns for – and I’m also a Colchester Citizens leader.

There is room for the practice of faith - I’m a Church of England priest, paid not by the University but the Diocese, after all. One thing I’d like to do over the next few months is refresh the contact list I have for staff who are Christian. I’d love to know what would work for Christian staff in terms of inclusive meetings online and eventually in-person for prayer and worship. How can I best support you living out your faith?

So, if you ticked the ‘Christian’ box on your census, do please get in touch.

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