International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc.
International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc.
By: Garry Francis
A Chaplain is: “someone who represents the Divine” on the CISM Team!
The Chaplain on the team normally is not from EMS, Fire, Police or Communications departments. Chaplains typically come from religious/military/community/government or social organizations that are often familiar with tragic and traumatic situations. Chaplains may have extensive experience (depending on their position/posting in their organization) managing people who are either providing support for people in traumatic circumstances and also for those needing support in traumatic circumstances. When a chaplain arrives with a CISM team to help manage a tragic circumstance that person is there to “represent the Divine” for all involved. Chaplaincy in essence is the “ministry of presence” for the team members providing support and as well as those needing support for traumatic situations.
An effective chaplain is one who is first of all very mindful of their own humanity, limitations, fragility and personal blind spots. Every situation, every circumstance, every event and every call presents a level of complexity that no one person is capable of responding to perfectly every time. However, the chaplain should be fully confident that when they enter the room “divine presence” enters with them! The “unseen help” that enters the room with the chaplain is perfectly capable of responding correctly every time to the complexities surrounding human tragedies. This is why I emphasize once again that the chaplain is the person in the room who is the “representative of the Divine” for horrible and often unbelievably tragic and traumatic situations.
The word Chaplain is a term used by both sacred and secular organizations alike. Chaplaincy is alive and well in every aspect of life today. In some sectors chaplains are essential permanent human resource positions on organizational charts with a line item on budgets and financial statements. In other sectors of life chaplaincy is fast becoming an integral part of the organization in the form of partnerships or through volunteers. Regardless of the sector (business, airport, fire & emergency services, police, EMS, military, hospitals, CISM, border security, truck stops, crisis centres, shelters, crisis intervention, athletic/team sports, etc.) chaplaincy along with the work, care, comfort and guidance provided by chaplains is here to stay.
The beauty of a chaplain or a mental health professional walking into a room as part of a team is somewhat difficult to describe; however, allow me share from experience to bring clarity regarding the essential importance of chaplaincy or mental health professionals for teams providing CISM.
No one is immune from being touched by traumatic events! Tragedy has no respect of persons! Horrible things happen to good people! Bad things happen to people who have faith in the divine. Unexplained things happen to people who have no faith at all in the divine. No religious faith preference/structure/opinion gets a free pass from experiencing the human condition of darkness or evil. Persons of no faith are also not excused from experiencing soul wrenching circumstances. What I’ve just described is what my/your CISM team walks into every time there is a call for a defuse or a debrief. It’s so very important to have a chaplain/mental health professional on each call and for each team.
The chaplain (speaking for myself) will most likely have a personal faith in the divine! When a chaplain is called into a circumstance or a situation for assistance that is beyond human capabilities requiring divine intervention; the chaplain is immediately given a level of trust to represent the divine even though in most cases the people in the room may not have or share the same personal faith as the chaplain. This is why when a chaplain walks into a room to offer care the recipients rarely ever ask about the chaplain’s personal faith background, story or preference because the chaplain brings the presence of the divine into the room. What I’ve just described is the beauty of being a chaplain on the CISM team. If someone who has experienced a traumatic situation happens to be a person of faith the chaplain who walks into the room “embodies their faith tradition” because that very human person in the room represents the divine in their faith tradition. It must also be said that if someone who has experienced a traumatic situation happens to be a person of no faith tradition the chaplain also “embodies their world view” because that very human person in the room may be able to answer their questions about the unseen and the unknown that is now a priority in their hearts, minds and souls due to the trauma experienced.
The term chaplain is not exclusive to any faith group or faith tradition. It is a generic title used by sacred and secular organizations alike. Persons from faith groups often feel at ease to approach a chaplain to discuss matters of faith relating to a traumatic circumstance. It matters not if the chaplain shares the same faith as the one seeking care. All that matters is the person seeking assistance sees the chaplain as one who represents the divine. E.g. A Christian Chaplain and a Muslim seeker or a Muslim Chaplain and a Christian seeker.
The same can be said for persons who do not identify with any particular faith group or tradition. People with no faith background feel at ease to approach a chaplain to discuss their world view relating to a traumatic circumstance. Once again, it matters not if the chaplain does not share the same world view as the one seeking care. All that matters is the person seeking assistance has confidence that the chaplain will hear them and help them to navigate the questions bubbling in their minds and hearts. E.g. Chaplain and ordinary everyday person.
As stated earlier being present is by far the greatest asset a chaplain brings into a room overshadowed with trauma and tragedy. Presence is also hard to describe however the chaplain knows when they bring/carry “presence” to their situations and the recipients also sense “presence!” Presence is not just being “physically present” with those being cared for. Presence is the air that surrounds you; the tone of your voice; your spirituality; the depth of your commitment to the divine; your integrity; your grasp, knowledge and respect for the sacred writings; your humanity and life experience. To sum it up the chaplain’s greatest asset is their walk with divine…that is Presence! The presence of the divine that is brought into the room by a chaplain is seen and felt because the chaplain not only represents the divine they are walking (teaming) with the divine.
To sum up the role of the chaplain on the CISM team…
Rev. Garry Francis
Chaplain/Mental Health Professional
Durham Region Critical Incident Stress Support Team
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