In his final column during his year of office, the Moderator pays tribute to the work of chaplains.

THINKING about my final Life and Work contribution as Moderator, my mind went back to my interview with the Committee to Nominate the Moderator, when I said that during my year of office, I would like to recognise the role of chaplains.

Back in September 2020, with so much of our thought influenced by the experience of living in a pandemic, I was conscious that many of the places where chaplains serve were on the front-line of vulnerability: hospitals, prisons, universities, schools, among homeless people. I later discovered other examples such as Pauline Robertson’s chaplaincy to seafarers who were confined to their vessels at anchor in the Forth.

Meeting chaplains on visits has not only confirmed my view of the valuable service which they give but has also given me an opportunity to gain greater insight into the varied work of chaplains. Much of their work is done quietly and unobtrusively, getting alongside people in difficult times or unfamiliar places, and often in circumstances where there may well be stress or anxiety. And if there has been one key hallmark, it is ‘getting alongside’.

It may be because their work is done away from the gaze of congregations that chaplains have not been given the recognition, which their work deserves.

Aware of the wide range of valuable pastoral activities undertaken by chaplains, it is somewhat invidious to alight upon any, in particular. However, spending two days with the Royal Navy, as part of the Moderator’s annual visit to the armed forces, I was privileged to see at close hand, some of the work of armed forces chaplains.

Faced with the same physical challenges as those whom they serve and requiring the same emotional courage in situations of isolation or distance from loved ones, the pastoral role of these chaplains can take on a different dimension. I witnessed commitment not only to those who are serving in the Royal Navy, but also to their families, who, in turn, can feel left behind.

I was also able to join in conversation between a commanding officer and the base chaplain about an evolving ethics and moral purpose strategy and the importance of inner spiritual resilience.

The importance of the chaplaincy input was very evident.

I have also valued the opportunity to learn more about Work Place Chaplaincy Scotland from WPCS’ inspiring Director, Andy Gregg.

Here is an outstanding example of practical outreach to people employed in many different work environments, from retail to transport, from offices to emergency services, local government and more. Those involved are committed to listening, to supporting and to caring for those who seek them out or whom they encounter in workplace visits. Crucially, they are – and are seen to be – wholly independent of the employers, and so can provide a place, an oasis, where people can safely offload.

Though chaplains are supported in various ways by the Church, I nevertheless do wonder whether our Kirk gives sufficient appreciation to those whose mission is to try and help those they serve to have life in its fullness.

“Meeting chaplains on visits has not only confirmed my view of the valuable service which they give but has also given me an opportunity to gain greater insight into the varied work of chaplains.

There has been one question from a chaplain, which I found particularly pointed: “What chaplaincy support did you receive when you were an MP, MSP or government minister?”

Whilst I could always seek support from my parish minister, in terms of someone who knew the workplace the simple answer was that there wasn’t anyone who could ‘come alongside’.

And that got me thinking how many people in other walks of life or vocations are similarly bereft. It has subsequently prompted me to ask several ministers whether they feel they have adequate pastoral support, especially at this time of change and uncertainty. The response has usually been a deafening silence.

It’s a pastoral variation on the age-old question: “Who guards the guards?”

It surely requires a compelling answer. 

Lord Jim Wallace of Tankerness is Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 2021-22.