🏫 Introduction to Public School Chaplaincy

With Henry Reyenga & Chaplain Tom Walcott

🎙️ Meet Your Instructors

Henry Reyenga:
Hi, I'm Henry Reyenga, and with me is Chaplain Tom Walcott. We've already done a class together, and this class is about the Public School Chaplain. It’s a new and exciting time in the world of chaplaincy!

📍 In states like Florida, Texas, and Louisiana, schools have already begun implementing chaplain programs.
But the truth is — trained volunteer or part-time chaplains are urgently needed.

👤 Meet Chaplain Tom Walcott

“Tom is going to be the content driver of this entire class.”

Henry and Tom have known each other since seminary days — and yes, that was a long time ago! 😉

Tom’s Background:

🪖 “Just to confuse people,” Tom jokes, he is actually a Navy chaplain, though much of his service was with the U.S. Coast Guard.

• The Navy provides chaplains to the Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy
• His journey began while pastoring a church in Jacksonville, Florida
• Many in his congregation were Navy families who often talked about their chaplains
• He was intrigued by the idea of being present in people’s everyday lives

“When you’re a pastor, you might see people at church, the hospital, or a special occasion. But as a chaplain, you’re deeply involved in the daily rhythms of life.”

🧭 What started as a 3-year trial became a 28-year chaplain career.

🚓 Other Chaplain Experience

In addition to military service, Tom served as a police and fire department chaplain.

• Members of the police force shared their emotional and spiritual needs
• He served as a part-time volunteer chaplain for about three years
• He sensed his gifts aligned with their needs and was called to serve

“Again, I talked to my church and family. The Lord opened the door.”

🏫 Why Public School Chaplaincy Now?

This new opportunity in public schools draws inspiration from the military model.

“It’s emerging because students are facing anxiety, trauma, brokenness.”

• States like Texas, Florida, and Louisiana are recognizing the mental and spiritual crisis among students
• Ministers are called to bear one another’s burdens — and schools are a mission field

⚖️ Why Is This a Complicated Setup?

Henry raises a key concern:

“Military chaplains are highly trained. But many states launching school chaplain programs have little or no training requirements.”

This class seeks to begin bridging that gap.

🌐 Parallels Between Military and School Chaplaincy

Tom explains:

“The military is not a religious organization. But there are people from all religious backgrounds — and no background — who still need care.”

The same is true in public schools.

• Not everyone shares your beliefs
• But everyone needs support, hope, and presence

🧭 Navigating the Complexities of Public School Chaplaincy

🎓 Why Public School Chaplaincy Is a Unique Challenge

Tom Walcott:
No religious background at all — and yet, it’s been clearly identified that there's a need to support:

• Staff
• Faculty
• Especially students

They need help navigating life’s challenges — anxiety, trauma, and brokenness.

“At first glance, military and public schools seem completely different. But there are surprising similarities.”

Just like in the military, a chaplain's presence matters, regardless of someone’s religious background.

💰 Volunteer-Based Chaplaincy: Opportunity and Challenge

Henry Reyenga:
In the military, the role of chaplaincy is budgeted. In public schools, due to political climate and funding limitations, the model is based on volunteer or part-time chaplains.

“Training becomes even more important when someone is a volunteer.”

Tom responds:
Absolutely. Volunteers will be watched closely — by those who want the program to succeed… and those who don’t. To truly serve:

• Be trained,
• Be prepared,
• Be ready.

“The best way to do what God may be calling you to do is to be equipped.”

We’re writing the first chapters of this new ministry story. Each state — even each school district — may develop unique requirements. But we begin now.

🧱 Laying a Foundation for Future Impact

“This is more than a temporary initiative — it’s a foundation for volunteer chaplains to serve their communities well.”

When opportunities arise, we want you to be able to say:

• “I’m here.”
• “I’m trained.”
• “I’m ready to serve.”

👣 The Ministry of Presence in Schools

🚫 What School Chaplains Will Not Be Doing:

• Leading worship services
• Preaching or evangelizing
• Hosting Bible studies

✅ What They Will Be Doing:

• Offering a presence
• Building trust
• Being available to students, staff, and faculty

“Most of their time will be casual conversations that may deepen over time.”

🫂 What Is the “Ministry of Presence”?

Tom Walcott shares:
In the military, we called this deck plate ministry — or “the ministry of walking around.”

“You walk through the spaces where your people are. You spend time with them. You get to know them.”

Examples from Tom’s chaplaincy:

• 🚔 Police Chaplain: Ride-alongs in the patrol car
• 🔥 Fire Department Chaplain: Hanging out in stations, responding to calls
• ⚓ Military Chaplain: Hiking, training, and serving alongside the troops

💬 Why Presence Matters

“Presence builds trust. And trust leads to ministry.”

Tom shares a story:

He was once riding a small Coast Guard boat after a difficult crew incident. The commander suggested his presence might help. During the two-hour ride, four out of seven crew members quietly came to talk.

“They’d say, ‘Hey chaps, do you got a minute?’”
“That’s why I’m here.”

Often, the conversation begins with “a friend who has a problem.” Over time, the truth gently emerges — “That friend was me.”

🚪 Don’t Wait in the Office

“The worst thing a chaplain can do is sit in their office hoping someone will knock.”

A chaplain must go where the people are:

• Be accessible
• Be known
• Build rapport through everyday presence

🤝 Gaining Public Trust

“What you’re building is public trust and support.”

This happens through:

• Relationship
• Integrity
• Service
• Presence

🌍 Serving All Backgrounds with Integrity and Care

🫱🏽‍🫲🏼 Chaplaincy for Everyone

Henry Reyenga:
One of the key aspects of this role is serving all students, from all backgrounds. That seems to echo military chaplaincy, right?

Chaplain Tom Walcott:
Absolutely. In the military, you're the chaplain to every member of the command:

• Some will never come talk to you
• Some won’t be interested in what you believe
• Yet your presence matters deeply

Even those from other religions — or no religion — will still approach the chaplain because you’re there.

🌐 Diverse Beliefs, One Chaplain

“If I’m on a ship, and I have Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, atheist, and 200 versions of Christian sailors… I’m still the chaplain.”

Tom explains that while he may not be able to answer deeply specific religious questions from every faith, he can:

• Respect their tradition
• Support their freedom of practice
• Refer them (when possible) to someone from their faith background

“You’ll see the same dynamic in public schools.”

🕊️ The Chaplain as a Sacred Role

Henry:
Some might say, “Isn’t this just another human resources role?” But the word chaplain still carries a sacred meaning.

Can that still hold true in a pluralistic setting?

🙏🏼 Holding Sacred Space in a Plural World

Tom Walcott:
The sacred nature of chaplaincy doesn’t disappear just because the setting is diverse. In fact, it becomes even more important to:

• Know who you are in Christ
• Maintain a strong pastoral identity
• Serve from your Christian foundation — even when speaking with those from other backgrounds

“I don’t pretend to be Jewish when I’m talking to a Jewish service member. I remain a Christian chaplain.”

From the beginning, chaplains were considered keepers of sacred things — stewards of spiritual space in secular environments.

🌟 Embodying God's Presence

“When people see the word chaplain, they’re reminded there’s more going on than just what meets the eye.”

Even if students don’t fully understand who God is, the chaplain can become a visible reminder of God's presence.

“You may be the only spiritual leader a student ever personally interacts with.”

In many churches — especially larger ones — kids rarely have a direct conversation with their pastor.

🚸 Walking with Students

Imagine this…

• A chaplain walking the hallways
• Welcoming students in the morning
• Present at sports events
• Getting on and off buses with the kids

“They may experience a personal, caring, spiritual connection for the first time.”

This not only supports the student — it helps demystify religious leaders, making church feel more approachable and real.

🏛️ A Legacy + A New Opportunity

⛪ Military Chaplaincy Legacy + 📚 Public School Chaplaincy Future

Henry Reyenga:
As we sum up this first session, we're introducing a class that stands on two pillars:

• The legacy of military chaplaincy
• A new opportunity for public school chaplaincy

Henry:
You’ve spent nearly 30 years in this field. Do you see these roles as a good fit?

🌱 The Opportunity of Public School Chaplaincy

🤝 A Surprising Yet Natural Fit

Tom Walcott:
When you first mentioned connecting public school chaplaincy with military chaplaincy, even I thought, "What? How does that work?" But the more I’ve considered it, the more I see — it does work.

• Military chaplaincy is deeply respected
• It’s been part of U.S. tradition for over 250 years
• It’s existed globally for thousands of years

Public school chaplaincy isn’t a foreign concept — it just hasn’t been implemented this way before.

🧍‍♂️ Presence More Than Preaching

“Some chaplains say, ‘I’m a minister of the Word’ — but then get no preaching opportunities.”

That happens in the military too — and it will happen in schools.

• There won’t be sermons
• There won’t be Bible studies
• But there will be presence

Incarnational presence — embodying Christ-like love by being there, consistently.

✝️ The Theology of Incarnational Ministry

Tom Walcott:
I’ve been a missionary, pastor, and chaplain — and what I love about chaplaincy is this:

“I get to be present in the lives of those God has called me to serve.”

• Jesus is our model: He dwelt among us, walked, ate, talked, lived with us
• Now, through the Spirit, we are the temple — carriers of God’s presence

When you step into a classroom, a hallway, or an athletic field:

You are a visible sign of God’s love
You are the embodied reminder that God sees and cares

🏫 Chaplains Serve — Not Control

Henry Reyenga:
In schools, as in the military, chaplains don’t operate with institutional power. They influence through:

• Moral authority
• Relational trust
• Consistent presence

Even in military settings, Tom explains:

“I didn’t command sailors. I guided them. Even those who outranked me listened — not to Lieutenant Walcott, but to Chaplain Walcott.”

That’s the heart of influence: not control, but trust.

💬 One Conversation Can Change a Life

Tom Walcott:
Public school chaplaincy is about Christ-like care in pluralistic places.

This is not the role for someone chasing the spotlight or eager to preach. This is for:

• The empathetic soul
• The caregiver
• The listener
• The compassionate presence

“If you have one meaningful conversation in a day, that day is a success.”

Sometimes it will take five days for that moment to come — and that’s okay.

🙋🏽‍♂️ Every Child Wants to Be Seen

“We all want to be seen. We all want to be heard. We all want to be cared for.”

Picture a fifth-grade student:

• The classroom is chaotic
• The teacher is overwhelmed
• But then… the chaplain says hello
• Gives a high-five
• Asks how the tee-ball game went
• Remembers

That child walks away knowing: “I was seen.”

The presence of a chaplain may matter more than any words ever spoken.

💖 Representing the Love of Christ

Henry Reyenga:
Chaplains represent something more than a role. They carry the love of Christ into real-world spaces.

“That’s why we’re there.”

🎓 Final Word

“Welcome to this class. We are excited that you're here.”

We trust that God, through the Holy Spirit, will ignite a fire in you — to serve, to walk alongside others, to be a chaplain in His name.

Amen.