Title: Chaplain

Reports to: Administrator [and Director of Chaplaincy Services]

Supervises: Self

Position Summary: Our chaplains seek to bring the blessings of a richer life to our people’s spirits and renewed spirits to our people’s lives. Their purpose is to faithfully and respectfully pastor the persons in our Country Meadows "congregations," leading them toward a more comforting, strengthening, and empowering relationship with God (according to and respectful of their beliefs), and toward enhanced relationships with others, and greater positive engagement with life itself. Other relevant duties as may be required or assigned by management.

Routine Functions of the Position:

• Lead Ecumenical (Christian, which a majority of our residents are) worship services at each care level each Sunday afternoon and/or evening, plus at key religious holidays: Holy Week and Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year.
• Conduct care-level specific programs for spiritual education and inspiration each week: Bible Studies for Assisted Living, Independent Living, and William Penn residents; Bible Study & Hymn Sing for Nursing Center residents; Bible Stories & Hymn Sings for Meadows residents (twice during week), and Stories of Faith and Courage for William Penn and Nursing Center residents
• Provide pastoral visitation to all residents: during the first week of residence, at the end of the first month; when hospitalized or placed in other health care setting; for urgent needs and as referred by co-workers; and prior to periodic care assessments
• Conduct "Celebration of Life" services regularly in memory of deceased residents, attend funeral services, and participate in funeral services when request by the deceased resident’s family
• Lead "Living Through Change" groups, lasting at least 6 weekly sessions, at least quarterly, to help residents effectively deal with issues of grief, bereavement, and loss; with alternate programming or targeted visitation during interim periods; for Assisted Living, William Penn, and Independent Living residents
• Support and facilitate spiritual care of Roman Catholic and Jewish residents:
• Cooperate with Catholic sisters to see that Rosary services are offered weekly, and that Communion and Mass are offered periodically
• Arrange for Jewish observances of Passover and Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashana, and Hanukah as part of campus chaplaincy team
• Work with Activity Service Coordinators to provide additional opportunities according to the Jewish residents’ interests, e.g. Sabbath Candle-Lighting service, occasional transportation to local synagogue or temple, and inviting local Jewish Community Center/Jewish Family Services groups to campus
• Offer prayers of grace and blessing at mealtimes for residents each day the chaplain is on campus, by rotating to a different resident dining room and pronouncing a blessing for the meal: either for each table, or as part of dining with a table of residents on a rotating basis, or by offering grace for the whole dining room at the start of the meal
• Perform administrative duties as a chaplain, department head, and member of the Country Meadows team, including these training and reporting duties:
• Participate in quarterly chaplains’ meetings
• Attend weekly in-service training
• Maintain records of attendance
• Properly administer chaplaincy annual budget
• Provide occasional ministry update reports to administrator and Director of Chaplaincy Services
• Contribute to department head meetings (and to campus chaplains meetings, if applicable)
• Provide spiritual, emotional, vocational, and other insights for resident care assessments
• Prepare and provide monthly calendar of activities to key team members on campus and to the chaplaincy director
• Occasionally attend local ecumenical ministers’ gatherings
• Provide a professional pastoral presence and support for co-workers and for residents’ families, through such means as occasional attendance at Meadows support group meetings, participation at special building and campus open events, offering confidential counsel and support to co-workers, and dressing and behaving as a clergy professional
• Creatively employ one’s own talents and interests in additional events and activities as time allows, such as Men’s Groups or Women’s Groups, Morning Devotions, Facility Newsletter, extra Holiday/Holy Day Services, and Musical Services

• Ability to bring the Good News of God’s love and care to life with residents, through effective and applicable presentations and personal interactions
• Possess warm, compassionate, accepting, non-judgmental approach to all persons
• Thrive in a diverse work setting of residents and co-workers, with a wide range of ages, backgrounds, religious beliefs, and personal lifestyles
• Embody a vibrant personal inner faith, alongside a great love for people and their physical, mental, and spiritual well being that is outwardly expressed
• Must have clear and audible voice that is understandable by older adults

Work environment

• Workplace includes entire building(s) as assigned (excluding attic)
• Most time is spent in common areas such as chapel, living rooms, dining room, activities rooms, and hallways, as well as in residents’ rooms
• Time and appropriate space is allocated for program preparation, record keeping, and correspondence
• Considerable standing and walking are required in presenting programs and visiting residents at various locations. Normal range of hearing and vision, hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity, twisting, bending, pushing, kneeling, stooping, stretching and minimal lifting.
• Possess valid driver’s license and vehicle for performing duties off-campus

• EDUCATION: Seminary/Bible school degree, Courses in pastoral counseling, teaching, preaching, administration, Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), or similar formal coursework and practicum experience, Coursework and/or continuing education in ministry with elderly, gerontology, dementia, etc.
• EXPERIENCE: Proven ecumenical approach to ministry with other clergy, churches, groups; Pastoral ministry in parish setting, in long term pastorates which included older congregants; Chaplaincy in Assisted Living, or Skilled Nursing and/or Dementia units
• RELIGIOUS AFFILIATIONS: Practices private and corporate devotional life of prayer, worship, study, fellowship, and service; foundational part of applicant’s life; Licensed and/or ordained by their faith group/denomination in order to administer communion and perform full pastoral duties; Accepting of other denominations, ecumenical in polity; Mainline Protestant denomination, or a denomination common in that CM facility/area, or Roman Catholic where warranted by chaplaincy needs
• APPROACH & DEMEANOR: Must possess character traits needed in ministry with older adults and diverse co-workers: gentle, caring, compassionate, honest, patient, trustworthy, empathetic; Must display key ministry qualifications and attitudes: dependability, consistency, aware of own skills and limitations, confidence, self-motivation with minimal supervision needed, team spirit, creativity, positive attitude, adaptability, maintains confidentiality
• SKILLS – Observable & Proven: Relates spontaneously, comfortably and warmly with residents and co-workers as a friend, colleague, pastor; Presents a professional but approachable appearance and demeanor; Engaging, positive, inspiring, life-applying preacher and Bible study leader; Ability to relate to residents’ and co-workers’ various places in life, accepting yet encouraging and inspiring; Pastoral counseling training, ability and experience; Proficiency at handling minimal administrative tasks – records, reports, calendars