An Introduction to First Responder Chaplaincy

No one is confronted with more situations that create emotional, mental, and spiritual burdens than today’s law enforcement officers, emergency medical, and firefighter personnel. These burdens also affect the officers’, medics’, firefighters’ families and other members of their department.

A law enforcement / fire chaplain is a clergyperson with special interest and training for providing pastoral care in the high powered and dangerous world of the first responders. This pastoral care is offered to all people, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, creed, or religion. It is offered without cost or the taint of proselytizing.

 The fire / law enforcement chaplain is led in his or her own faith to be available and ready to serve those in need. The chaplain's ministry provides a source of strength to the medical /fire/ law enforcement personnel and their families, other department members, the community.

The medic, firefighter or law enforcement officer may have a clergyperson or religious advisor in private life, although trained in ministry, is not necessarily abreast of the particular problems and dangers faced by firefighters, officers and medics in the field.

Chaplains listen and participate in the workplace of law enforcement officers and firefighters and medics with empathy and experience, advising calmly in the midst of turmoil and danger, as well as offering assistance when appropriate or requested.