📝 Worksheet 5.4: What Recovery Chaplaincy Is and Is Not
📝 Worksheet 5.4: What Recovery Chaplaincy Is and Is Not
Purpose of This Worksheet
This worksheet helps you clarify the Addiction Recovery Chaplain role. Recovery ministry requires compassion, but compassion must be guided by wisdom. A chaplain must know what to offer, what not to promise, when to refer, and how to support recovery without replacing sponsors, counselors, pastors, treatment providers, or recovery groups.
Use this worksheet to examine your own readiness, practice clear language, and prepare for real ministry situations.
Part 1: Key Concept Review
Complete the following statements.
An Addiction Recovery Chaplain offers Christ-centered spiritual care, prayer by permission, encouragement, and referral awareness. A chaplain is not a __________________________.
A sponsor often helps a person with recovery accountability and step work. A chaplain should not __________________________ the sponsor.
Prayer should be offered by __________________________, not pressure.
Scripture should be shared with __________________________, not used as a weapon.
A chaplain should never promise absolute secrecy when there is danger involving self-harm, overdose risk, abuse, violence, or __________________________.
Healthy recovery usually requires a __________________________ of care, not one heroic helper.
Boundaries are not a lack of love. Boundaries make love __________________________.
Part 2: Personal Discernment
Place a check beside any temptation you may need to watch in yourself.
☐ I want people to see me as the one who really understands them.
☐ I feel guilty when I cannot help with every practical need.
☐ I struggle to say no when someone is in pain.
☐ I am tempted to give advice too quickly.
☐ I want to rescue people from consequences.
☐ I feel uncomfortable referring someone to another helper.
☐ I may confuse compassion with constant availability.
☐ I may use spiritual answers too quickly before listening well.
☐ I may become frustrated when people relapse or repeat patterns.
☐ I may avoid hard conversations because I do not want someone to feel judged.
Write one sentence about what you noticed.
What boundary do you most need to strengthen before serving in addiction recovery ministry?
Part 3: Practice Phrases
Write your own version of each phrase. Keep it warm, clear, and ministry-ready.
1. Explaining Your Role
Example:
“I am here as a chaplain. I can offer spiritual care, encouragement, prayer if you want it, and help connecting with appropriate support. I am not your therapist, sponsor, or treatment provider.”
Your version:
2. Encouraging Sponsor Contact
Example:
“I care about you, and I do not want to become a secret place that keeps you from recovery accountability. Have you talked with your sponsor about this?”
Your version:
3. Offering Prayer by Permission
Example:
“Would it be helpful if I prayed with you right now?”
Your version:
4. Referring to Professional Help
Example:
“What you are describing sounds serious enough that you should not carry it with only informal support. Would you consider talking with a qualified counselor or treatment provider?”
Your version:
5. Explaining Confidentiality with Limits
Example:
“I will treat what you share with dignity and care. But if there is danger involving harm to you, harm to someone else, abuse, overdose risk, or serious safety concerns, I may need to involve appropriate help.”
Your version:
Part 4: Boundary Check Scenarios
Read each scenario. Circle the best response and explain why.
Scenario 1: “Can you be my sponsor instead?”
A person says, “My sponsor is too hard on me. I want you to be my main recovery person instead.”
Best response:
A. “Yes, I can replace your sponsor because spiritual care matters more than recovery structure.”
B. “I care about you, but I should not replace your sponsor. Let’s talk about how you can handle that relationship honestly.”
C. “You are wrong for feeling that way. You need to stop being dramatic.”
D. “Just avoid the sponsor until you feel better.”
Why?
Scenario 2: “Please don’t tell anyone I relapsed.”
A person says, “I relapsed last night, but please don’t tell anyone. I do not want my sponsor or group to know.”
Best response:
A. “I promise absolute secrecy.”
B. “I will treat this with dignity, but I do not want to become part of secrecy that weakens your recovery. Is there any immediate danger?”
C. “You failed again, so I cannot help you.”
D. “Let’s pretend this did not happen and just pray.”
Why?
Scenario 3: “Should I stop taking my medication?”
A person says, “I think my medication is hurting my recovery. Should I stop taking it?”
Best response:
A. “Yes, stop taking it if you feel uneasy.”
B. “That is a medical question. Please talk with your doctor or treatment provider before making any medication decision.”
C. “Medication is always a lack of faith.”
D. “Ask your sponsor, because sponsors should make medical decisions.”
Why?
Scenario 4: “Can I call you every night?”
A person says, “You are the only one I trust. Can I call you every night when I feel tempted?”
Best response:
A. “Yes, call me anytime, every night. I will be your lifeline.”
B. “I care about you, but I cannot become your only support. Let’s identify a wider support circle and healthy communication boundaries.”
C. “No. You are too needy.”
D. “Only call me if you promise you will never relapse.”
Why?
Scenario 5: “Can you lend me money?”
A person says, “I just need money this once. Please do not tell anyone.”
Best response:
A. “Sure, but only if you promise to pay me back.”
B. “I care about your need, but I do not handle money help privately. Let’s talk about appropriate church or community resources.”
C. “Money problems prove you are not serious about recovery.”
D. “I will give you cash so you know the church loves you.”
Why?
Part 5: Role Difference Reflection
In one or two sentences, describe each role.
Sponsor
Recovery Coach
Addiction Recovery Chaplain
Pastor
Counselor or Therapist
Treatment Provider
Now answer this question:
Which role are you most likely to confuse with chaplaincy, and why?
Part 6: Local Ministry Application
Think about a local church, Soul Center, recovery ministry, or community setting where Addiction Recovery Chaplaincy could happen.
Answer the following:
Who would supervise or provide accountability for the chaplain?
Where would recovery-related conversations happen safely?
What boundaries should exist around texting, calls, transportation, and money?
How would relapse disclosures be handled with dignity and accountability?
Who would the chaplain refer to for counseling, treatment, detox, emergency care, or crisis support?
How would sponsors, recovery coaches, pastors, and recovery group leaders be respected?
How would prayer and Scripture be offered with consent?
Part 7: Calling and Readiness Reflection
Respond honestly.
What attracts you to Addiction Recovery Chaplaincy?
What concerns or fears do you have about serving in this ministry field?
What kind of training, accountability, or mentoring do you need before serving?
How will you guard against becoming a rescuer, secret lifeline, or replacement sponsor?
What does faithful chaplaincy look like when the person’s recovery is slow or uneven?
Part 8: Prayer and Commitment
Complete the following prayer in your own words.
Lord Jesus,
Help me serve people in recovery with compassion and wisdom. Teach me to be present without taking over, truthful without harshness, and hopeful without making false promises. Help me honor each person as an embodied soul made in your image. Guard me from pride, rescue behavior, fear, and boundary confusion. Give me the humility to refer when needs exceed my role and the courage to offer prayer and Scripture with permission and love.
Today, I especially ask you to help me grow in:
I commit to serving with:
☐ dignity
☐ role clarity
☐ consent-based care
☐ prayerful humility
☐ wise boundaries
☐ referral awareness
☐ respect for sponsors and recovery leaders
☐ accountability to church or ministry leadership
☐ truth without shame
☐ hope in Christ
Closing Formation Prayer
Lord, make me a steady presence in places of recovery. Keep my heart humble, my words gentle, my boundaries clear, and my hope rooted in you. Help me support recovery without controlling it, encourage honesty without humiliation, and serve each person with dignity. May my chaplaincy point people not to me, but to your grace, truth, and restoring love. Amen.