Chaplain Defined

A chaplain is a member of the clergy, a religious ministry professional in a legal sense. A Chaplain is ordained and licensed to work outside the church in a secular setting. There are similarities in the work a Chaplain and Pastor does, but Chaplains do not hold an office of authority within the church, as does a Pastor. Chaplains bring the sacred to the secular environment. Chaplains have authority to represent the church for such things as ritual, worship, ordinances, pastoral care, and weddings. Our chaplains are motivated first and foremost by the love of Christ and filled with a desire to serve those outside the church as the hands and feet of Jesus. Because we believe that Jesus is God the Son who came into the world to save sinners from death and permanent separation from God, we make Him the heart of our mission. We are "Ambassadors of Christ" and work to proclaim the love, forgiveness, reconciliation, and changed life that can only come to those who are won by Christ's love which we carry into the world in which we serve. We desire to share that truth with the people to whom we are sent. 

How We Work

How do we do this? By loving people as they are, accepting them without judgment or condemnation. We do not force our faith upon them. We wait patiently for them to be drawn to Him through their friendship with us. We listen and love, we help and serve. We are interested in their stories and we ask seriously curious questions while listening to understand rather than to respond. We are keepers of "The Sacred Presence" to people who are hurting and in need.  

Chaplain is an Ancient Word

For fifteen hundred years, Chaplaincy has been a distinctly Christian ministry. It comes from the fourth century. An office of "Capelli," the French word for cloak or cape. It is from the legend of the cloak of Pastor Martin of Tours - AKA St. Martin. He was a Roman soldier turned born again Christian and became a famous pastor. The Chaplain is the "Keeper of the Sacred Presence." The Chapel was a place of calming peace where a person could find rest and talk with God. Modern Chaplains are still "Keepers of the Sacred Presence." We must be at peace to bring peace and be calm to bring calm to a hurting world who needs to feel comfortable talking to God. This is why we learn to listen: So that God can do the talking! 

MANY BRANCHES OF CHAPLAIN MINISTRY

Our Logo features the Southern Live Oak Tree. Like the Live Oak, Chaplaincy has deep roots and many branches of opportunity to serve people with the love of Christ. At the core of our ministry, the root that gives us life is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our work is rooted in trusting Him to do what we cannot. Our Chaplains learn to serve together with a community of believers, like a family, on mission for Jesus to a particular people group.

Our Chaplains are dedicated, mature and growing believers who follow the call of God on their lives to reach out to people in need. The many branches of ministry performed by our Chaplains include, for example:

  • Community Chaplaincy
  • Recovery from addictions
  • Jail, prison, and those recently released or on parole
  • Disabled and special needs
  • Troubled teens
  • Sex trafficking victims
  • Hospital
  • Nursing home/assisted living
  • English as a second language
  • PTSD
  • Emergency, crisis, and critical incidents
  • Marriage and family care
  • Military and veterans
  • Police and fire
  • Urban ministry
  • Office and workplace environment
  • Motorcycle ministry
  • Hospice Care
  • Other

Join Us!

Jesus told about the most unlikely of individuals, just a regular Joe like you and me, one who the professionals least expected to do any good. The Samaritan stopped and helped the man. He bandaged his wounds, gave him cool water, carried him to an Inn where he could receive extended care. He even promised to come back and check on his progress and pay any unpaid bills. That, my friends, is a picture of what it looks like to be one of our Chaplains. (Luke 10:25-37) 

Let us show you, empower you, and send you out to do the same. Life on mission with Jesus in community with other believers, share the same sense of missional purpose is wonderful indeed. it will not be easy. But it will be joy filled.

Come with us and learn how to make a friend, be a friend, and draw the friend to Christ!.

Requirements and Expectations


Please be sure to watch the video above. All of our ordained chaplains and have legal recognition outside the church as Clergy. Chaplains provide pastoral services in secular settings but are not Pastors/Elders in the church sense. Requirements for ordination are described below. Credentialing beyond "Basic Ordained Chaplain" has additional requirements, education, and expectations as described. 

Membership and annual dues must be updated and paid annually to maintain your Ordained status. Ordination is not perpetual. Continued ordination is at the discretion of our Ordaining Council as approved annually by our Board of Directors.  

Ordained Chaplain of Christian Chaplains & Coaching

A Biblical, Evangelical, Protestant Christian

Our Chaplains are ordained clergy, a religious ministry professional. To qualify you must meet each of the following requirements. For vocational endorsement you must meet additional education and credential requirements depending on the position:

  • Must have a minimum of a High School Diploma or GED with reading and comprehension at a twelfth grade or higher, with a deep commitment to continue your learning through continuing education, certifications, and even higher education.
  • Must be a member in good standing of an Evangelical Biblical Protestant Christian Church. Your church must be doctrinally conservative, committed to scripture, and in full agreement with our Statement of Faith.
  • As an Association of Churches, your church must agree to associate with us as your sending church who agrees that we will provide your training, ordination, and endorsement as a Chaplain. This forms a sort of partnership between your church and our ministry.
  • If your church is part of a denomination, the stated beliefs of the denomination must be in agreement with our Statement of Faith. Candidates who are members of a church or denomination that has beliefs contrary to ours should not apply for ordination.
  • Must be recommended by your pastor.
  • Must be recommended by a personal reference who has known you at least 3 years.
  • Must submit to a background check.
  • Must agree completely with our Statement of Faith
  • Must agree with our Vision and Mission statements.
  • Must complete “The Basics of Chaplaincy” and "Christian Counseling for Grief" courses at The Chaplains Academy.
  • Must complete our ten step process which will include an initial interview with a member of our Ordination Council for approval to move forward. After all course work and assignments are completed, you will then have a final ordination interview. There is no guarantee you will be ordained.
  • If approved for ordination, must sign a chaplain agreement and adhere to our Code of Conduct and Ethics.
  • Must obtain 25 hours of continuing education from courses approved on our website. You must be serious about maintaining church membership, continuous learning, certifications, and ongoing education. We hope you will obtain 100 or more hours per year, with at least 25 coming from our approved sources.
  • Every year you will complete a renewal form to verify your church membership, continuing education, personal information, share your ministry accomplishments, and adherence to Code of Conduct. 

NOTE: If you are one of our Ordained Chaplains and wish to serve as Clergy with Kairos, an additional requirement is to complete the course "Christian Ministry to the Incarcerated." This is a certification course requested by Kairos for our chaplains if they wish to serve as Clergy. 


Application for Membership