Formal chaplaincy started for me in 1989 as a PE Teacher at Hale School in Perth. The brainchild of the new Headmaster, John Inverarity, it led to a creative ‘on the job’ formation journey that saw me ordained a Deacon in 1992 and Priest in 1994. I have since enjoyed chaplaincies in four other schools, a university residential college, and a large sporting organisation. As my first ordination fell on the Annunciation of Mary and my last chaplaincy was at St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School, I am using four Greek words associated with Mary as the inspiration for these thoughts.
The Parthenos stage. Mary is presented as a frightened and confused parthenos or adolescent girl. In some ways I felt the same. I was a 28 year old PE teacher who felt woefully inadequate when called. I wasn’t really sure what the calling was but it was a bit of a struggle before God’s plan grew into focus. I made lots of mistakes, I sometimes thought God and I had this all worked out (which he did and I didn’t), and I put pressure on my family.
My invitation is to revisit your calling occasionally. Why me? Why school chaplaincy? Where are my skills being put to good use and where might I need some support or further training? What does God see that I don’t? And finally, what am I calling the people in my community, at all stages and ages, to consider? Why not ask some of these questions occasionally as God asked of a young girl so long ago?
The Theotokos stage. From the earliest years Mary began to be proclaimed as the Theotokos or God-bearer. One of the answers to a few of the questions I just posed that I have come up with over the years is that perhaps above all we are God-bearers to and for our communities.
We are called to tell the stories of our faith, pray, engage, enthuse, challenge and sometimes simply hold the space for God to be present. This can happen in chapel, RE classes, camps, sports fields, on drama stages, in quiet one-on-one encounters, in challenging some of our culture’s ‘excellence’ and ‘affluence’ norms, and walking closely with the Principal. It is not easy but it is an awesome calling. The doors it can open are breathtaking and the journey with people from cradle to grave is special.
The Martyros stage. Mary stood in some awkward places that ultimately led to the foot of the cross. We will have crosses to stand by feeling helpless. My darkest moment is when I get the call about a young person’s suicide and to families in agony. I don’t have anything to bring them except a presence – mine and hopefully through me the God who knows about and who can, in love, transform suffering and even death.
And there’s another side to witnessing. We can be the school’s number one cheerleader. After the Principal, the Chaplain is the person who is welcome at almost every event; the students notice and appreciate our presence.
The Presbuteros. We don’t know much about Mary’s old age. I like to think that all of her ‘pondering’ led to a wisdom that was a blessing to the early church. I have journeyed from being a ‘big brother’ Chaplain in my late 20’s, to an ‘uncle’ Chaplain in my 30’s, a ‘dad’ Chaplain in my 40’s and finally a ‘grandpa’ Chaplain well in my 60’s. This affects relationships and ministry and every level such as moving more into ministry to staff and alumni. I’m so grateful that I had a late life opportunity to be a Presbuteros Chaplain. I’m not as energetic, I didn’t get along to every single school event, but I did find myself listening to the school’s leaders and being asked to offer suggestions and feedback. In prayer, I often reflected upon the values of the school, church and society and how they might coalesce with Jesus’ radical kingdom of God vision.
I don’t have the answers, but I really believe that our chaplaincies are more important than ever as the noise of a social media and truth-fluid world threatens to drown out the still small voice of God.
