School Chaplaincy

Sarah Watson MA Research University of Sheffield June 2017

MA Research Outline Mission in Church of England Schools

Chaplaincy in Church of England Schools

Case Study Bluecoat Academy Historical Background Current Context Bluecoat Pastors Model of Chaplaincy Evaluation of the Model (interviews)

National Society Formed 1881

General Synod Resolution 1998 Central to mission to nation

The Way Ahead (Dearing Report) 2001

Church Schools of the Future Review 2012

Deeply Christian, Serving the Common Good 2016

Historical Background

Mission in Church SchoolsChristian presence in every community

"Educate approximately 1 million of the nation’s children … which enables more direct engagement with children and their families than any other contact, including regular Sunday worship.”

Chadwick, Church Schools of the Future Review

“One of the most visible and powerful manifestations of the practice of the Christian faith within a community during the working week."

Sedgwick, The Sectarian Future of the Church and Ecumenical Church Schools

5 Marks of Mission1. To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom

2. To teach, baptise and nurture new believers

3. To respond to human need by loving service

4. To transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and pursue peace and reconciliation

5. To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth

Anglican Communion, ‘Marks of Mission’

(www.anglicancommunion.org/identity/marks-of-mission.aspx) 1984  

Question?If Church schools stand at the center of the Church of England's mission to the nation, how is that worked out?

• Anglican framework for mission of 5 marks • Missio Dei

• Work of church schools "must derive from the mission of the whole church” (Dearing Report)

• Holistic mission • Word & deed

• Distinctive & inclusive

• What role does chaplaincy have to play within this?

“I take the view that God’s mission is concerned with the entirety of the school’s life … ensuring that pupils progress academically is as important as them having an opportunity to ‘encounter Jesus Christ.’ … If either possibility is denied the mission of the church will in some sense be compromised, because the church believes both are important to human flourishing.”

Kevin Ellis, Mission in Schools (Grove Books, 2014)

Ethical Mission• Important to note = primary aim = education not mission,

opportunity to experience faith father than proselytise

• Historical roots of the National Society

• Mission wider than evangelism

• Ethical evangelism – not exploit , serve community , live faith & offer opportunity to explore without expectation of commitment

• Aware power dynamics in school , whole child well being & safeguarding

• Invitational not imposed

Chaplaincy Research • The Bloxham Report (2011), Caperon

• The Public Face of God (2014), Camp

• Fresh Experiences of School Chaplaincy (2011), Tregale

Chaplaincy Research

Research findings• More teach in independent sector • Variety - employed/volunteers, ordained/lay, training, local clergy, time given • Variety of models depending on context, history, churchmanship etc • Significant roles = leading worship & pastoral care • Incarnational “ministry of presence” “the Human face of God”, embody

schools ethos • Missional & inclusive • Prophetic voice • More training, national policy & support needed • Flexibility for the context not one size fits all • 3 Models:

• Service provider • Prophetic Voice • Fresh Expression

• History & current context • School of choice • Previous model – ‘service provider’ (build upon) • Translation model of contextual theology • Hybrid traditional model & School Pastors • Bluecoat Pastors & visibility (name contextual) • Team approach & varied make up, age, gender, denomination • Strong links with parish & other denominations in the school • Time & availability of volunteers • Training, safeguarding etc. • Accountability & prayer • Review , evaluation & evolve e.g. ‘out’ & ‘in’ • School ministry in ministerial formation ?

Case Study – Bluecoat Pastors

Bluecoat Pastors & Five Marks

Mark 1 - Worship, Eucharist, Alpha and special events & services

Mark 2 - Teaching in worship, RS curriculum (e.g. class teaching or a priest explaining the Eucharist), Christian Union

Mark 3 - ,Thursday lunchtime (school pastors), supporting a pupil e.g. bereavement/bullying, charity

Mark 4 - Charities, overseas mission to South Africa, prophetic voice issues

Mark 5 – worship themes & RE. Pastors model e.g. litter, enrichment e.g. allotment.

Evaluation of the model?• Appropriateness of mission & ethical mission ? (mainly

evangelical)

• Role of parental understanding of ethos etc.

• Ethics especially power dynamic, seen as staff?

• School ethos & differences to secular chaplaincy

• Sensitivities to other faith, inclusive , listening, encounter Christian & understand Christian faith, role in social cohesion

• How the message is heard – Word & Deed

• Marks of mission most evident mainly 1-3 (questions around 2)

• Difficult to measure impact

• Visibility, availability & relationships key (volunteer challenge)

• Variety & involvement in school life builds relationships e.g. enrichment, worship, transition

• Go to them & come to us model combined, sacred space?

• Teamwork, ecumenical and diverse age important

• Parish role

• Role of leader, vision & time given to the role

• Support of senior management vital

• Links with pastoral team

• Prayer

• Evolving

Evaluation

Some Questions• Historic remit of Anglican church schools & place for discipleship

• Fresh Expressions? Role Parish?

• Whose role is it? Local church / school / parents

• Ecclesiological questions, it is church for some?

The Public Face of God, p.21

• School as the, “primary ecclesiological community”,

• “For many students the school is the only place where they worship; the only place where they learn the faith; the only place where they receive spiritual and pastoral care.”

• Baptism, confirmation

• Mark 4 & 5 more of a challenge, issues of prophetic voice

• Difference between independent boarding schools & day or state schools

Conclusions• Increasing secular & pluralist society, church schools main place of

connection with community

• Chaplaincy has key role in Church of England's action & mission

• Holistic approach to mission (5 marks, although default position 1-3)

• Thinking about ethics vital

• Research so far focus on what is happening, need to think more about the theological narrative that defines mission & chaplaincy in church schools

• Context vital – model appropriate to context not one size fits all

• Parish links important, can be incumbent dependent

“Vital ministry of potentiality transformational contact with the young” Camp