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I have known Alan Baker for decades and can think of no one more qualified to write about the foundations of chaplaincy. This book should be required reading for anyone who is attempting to understand how a positive and powerful ministry can be sustained in an inclusive environment of religious diversity. Alan imparts a wisdom he has forged in the crucible of experience. His wisdom has blessed me during my nearly eighteen years as Chaplain of the United States Senate. -- Rear Admiral Barry C. Black 62nd Chaplain of the United States Senate A clear, lively, and theologically grounded exposition of the distinctive calling of chaplaincy, richly illustrated with stories and biblical resources. The book offers an account of the dimensions of the chaplain's role as a facilitator or provider of religious services to those of diverse traditions but also a skilled and caring presence for people facing any of the challenges of human life and an adviser to organizational leaders. This is a much-needed resource for a form of ministry of growing importance in our religiously plural world. -- Sondra Wheeler Wesley Theological Seminary Chaplaincy is one of the most difficult ministries. Alan Baker knows from experience both the difficult challenges and the wonderful opportunities of being a pastor 'of' the church while not 'in' the church. Thank God he has written this much-needed book on the subject. It is full of wisdom. -- Richard J. Mouw Fuller Theological Seminary Alan Baker offers an accessible and helpful vision for chaplaincy that prioritizes presence and yet offers helpful insights and tools for navigating and thriving in one's life as a chaplain. I see this book being widely used as a resource, not least for my seminary students discerning their call to chaplaincy. -- Chuck DeGroat Western Theological Seminary The calling and role of chaplains has often been relegated by the church to a second-class status. But chaplains serve on the front lines of ministry, bringing a compassionate presence to those confronting pain, anguish, or despair, and suddenly asking their deepest questions about God. Alan Baker is one of the finest chaplains I've ever known. As chaplaincy increases even as church attendance decreases, this book will become an indispensable guide. It distills Baker's rich experience into the most thorough and helpful resource available for anyone considering this high and holy calling. -- Wesley Granberg-Michaelson author of Without Oars: Casting Off into a Life of Pilgrimage Chaplaincy is both an art and a science, and Foundations of Chaplaincy provides a thorough exploration of both aspects. Illustrating the journey from calling to credentialing to career competence, this primer offers a helpful picture of the science, or 'how to do chaplaincy, ' revealing a comprehensive array of pastoral care scenarios and institutional environments. But the real insight is in the unveiling of the art of chaplaincy, that is, how to strike the precarious balance of serving the diverse spiritual needs of both the religious and unaffiliated, while remaining a fully functioning member of, and therefore completely within the boundaries of, a secular institution; all the while remaining faithful to the mandates of the chaplain's own belief and faith tradition. Foundations of Chaplaincy explores this dynamic and challenging undertaking with a deep appreciation for this essential vocation. -- Rear Admiral Margaret Grun Kibben 26th Chief of Navy Chaplains Chaplaincy is a special calling for a unique kind of ministry that only a select few men and women clergy can embrace. It involves working outside and beyond a single faith group to provide spiritual guidance and pastoral care to persons in diverse settings. Chaplains are called to be fluid and open in their approach to ministry to people from various backgrounds. Chaplain Baker captures this well in his writings. -- Chaplain Michael L. McCoy former National Director of Chaplaincy in the US Department of Veterans Affairs Baker brings his beginnings as a USN Academy plebe through his retirement as the sixteenth Chaplain of the US Marine Corps to this insightful primer on chaplaincy. Foundations of Chaplaincy is both a discourse on the chaplaincy field and a 'how-to' course on the professional world of chaplains, who live in the tension between allegiance to their own faith tradition and assuring the free exercise of all persons in a secular, pluralistic environment. The four functional capabilities of chaplains to 'provide, facilitate, advise, and care' inform chaplains and management alike how this tension is lived out with integrity. Information and insight are peppered with practical stories and biblical examples. Prospective through experienced chaplains can all benefit from absorbing the wisdom of this text. -- Jan McCormack Denver Seminary Chaplaincy is one of the most interesting and innovative forms of ministry. It finds its roots within the established church, but takes the ministry of care, compassion, and presence into the world in a diversity of healing ways. But what exactly is chaplaincy? What do chaplains do? Why should anyone care? In this interesting and timely book Alan Baker lays out the essence of the tasks of chaplaincy in a way that is clear, accessible, and open to a broad range of people inside and outside of faith communities. Anyone who wants to know about and understand the importance of chaplaincy should read this book. -- John Swinton University of Aberdeen

I have known Alan Baker for decades and can think of no one more qualified to write about the foundations of chaplaincy. This book should be required reading for anyone who is attempting to understand how a positive and powerful ministry can be sustained in an inclusive environment of religious diversity. Alan imparts a wisdom he has forged in the crucible of experience. His wisdom has blessed me during my nearly eighteen years as Chaplain of the United States Senate. -- Rear Admiral Barry C. Black 62nd Chaplain of the United States Senate A clear, lively, and theologically grounded exposition of the distinctive calling of chaplaincy, richly illustrated with stories and biblical resources. The book offers an account of the dimensions of the chaplain's role as a facilitator or provider of religious services to those of diverse traditions but also a skilled and caring presence for people facing any of the challenges of human life and an adviser to organizational leaders. This is a much-needed resource for a form of ministry of growing importance in our religiously plural world. -- Sondra Wheeler Wesley Theological Seminary Chaplaincy is one of the most difficult ministries. Alan Baker knows from experience both the difficult challenges and the wonderful opportunities of being a pastor 'of' the church while not 'in' the church. Thank God he has written this much-needed book on the subject. It is full of wisdom. -- Richard J. Mouw Fuller Theological Seminary Alan Baker offers an accessible and helpful vision for chaplaincy that prioritizes presence and yet offers helpful insights and tools for navigating and thriving in one's life as a chaplain. I see this book being widely used as a resource, not least for my seminary students discerning their call to chaplaincy. -- Chuck DeGroat Western Theological Seminary The calling and role of chaplains has often been relegated by the church to a second-class status. But chaplains serve on the front lines of ministry, bringing a compassionate presence to those confronting pain, anguish, or despair, and suddenly asking their deepest questions about God. Alan Baker is one of the finest chaplains I've ever known. As chaplaincy increases even as church attendance decreases, this book will become an indispensable guide. It distills Baker's rich experience into the most thorough and helpful resource available for anyone considering this high and holy calling. -- Wesley Granberg-Michaelson author of Without Oars: Casting Off into a Life of Pilgrimage Chaplaincy is both an art and a science, and Foundations of Chaplaincy provides a thorough exploration of both aspects. Illustrating the journey from calling to credentialing to career competence, this primer offers a helpful picture of the science, or 'how to do chaplaincy, ' revealing a comprehensive array of pastoral care scenarios and institutional environments. But the real insight is in the unveiling of the art of chaplaincy, that is, how to strike the precarious balance of serving the diverse spiritual needs of both the religious and unaffiliated, while remaining a fully functioning member of, and therefore completely within the boundaries of, a secular institution; all the while remaining faithful to the mandates of the chaplain's own belief and faith tradition. Foundations of Chaplaincy explores this dynamic and challenging undertaking with a deep appreciation for this essential vocation. -- Rear Admiral Margaret Grun Kibben 61st Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives Chaplaincy is a special calling for a unique kind of ministry that only a select few men and women clergy can embrace. It involves working outside and beyond a single faith group to provide spiritual guidance and pastoral care to persons in diverse settings. Chaplains are called to be fluid and open in their approach to ministry to people from various backgrounds. Chaplain Baker captures this well in his writings. -- Chaplain Michael L. McCoy former National Director of Chaplaincy in the US Department of Veterans Affairs Baker brings his beginnings as a USN Academy plebe through his retirement as the sixteenth Chaplain of the US Marine Corps to this insightful primer on chaplaincy. Foundations of Chaplaincy is both a discourse on the chaplaincy field and a 'how-to' course on the professional world of chaplains, who live in the tension between allegiance to their own faith tradition and assuring the free exercise of all persons in a secular, pluralistic environment. The four functional capabilities of chaplains to 'provide, facilitate, advise, and care' inform chaplains and management alike how this tension is lived out with integrity. Information and insight are peppered with practical stories and biblical examples. Prospective through experienced chaplains can all benefit from absorbing the wisdom of this text. -- Jan McCormack Denver Seminary Chaplaincy is one of the most interesting and innovative forms of ministry. It finds its roots within the established church, but takes the ministry of care, compassion, and presence into the world in a diversity of healing ways. But what exactly is chaplaincy? What do chaplains do? Why should anyone care? In this interesting and timely book Alan Baker lays out the essence of the tasks of chaplaincy in a way that is clear, accessible, and open to a broad range of people inside and outside of faith communities. Anyone who wants to know about and understand the importance of chaplaincy should read this book. -- John Swinton University of Aberdeen

Author Information

Alan T. Baker is a deeply experienced chaplain who now trains, supervises, and endorses prospective and current chaplains in a variety of settings. Baker's experience includes service in college, corporate, and military chaplaincy. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Baker rose to the rank of rear admiral. He currently teaches at Fuller, Gordon-Conwell, and Wesley seminaries.

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