Worksheet 6.4: Map Your Chaplaincy Setting and Requirements

Worksheet Purpose

This worksheet will help you identify a specific chaplaincy setting and determine what preparation, permission, safeguarding, accountability, and referral relationships are required before you begin serving.

The course framework calls participants to identify the people, organisation, permissions, training, safeguarding practices, and referral relationships connected to their desired chaplaincy setting.

Completing this worksheet does not by itself:

• Grant a Christian Leaders Alliance chaplain credential

• Create institutional appointment

• Authorise access to a hospital, prison, school, care facility, workplace, or other organisation

• Replace required safeguarding or background checks

• Establish civil authority

• Authorise regulated professional services

• Create a registered Soul Centre

Part One: Your Chaplaincy Calling

1. Describe Your Sense of Calling

Why are you interested in chaplaincy?

Which experiences have influenced this calling?

Who or what repeatedly draws your attention?

☐ People experiencing grief
☐ Older adults
☐ Caregivers
☐ People facing illness
☐ Hospital patients and families
☐ People in prison
☐ Returning citizens
☐ People recovering from addiction
☐ Migrants or refugees
☐ Workers and employers
☐ Students
☐ Emergency-service personnel
☐ Military personnel or veterans
☐ People with disabilities
☐ Sports participants
☐ Motorcycle communities
☐ Online communities
☐ People without a local church
☐ Church members needing spiritual care
☐ People facing major life transitions
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

2. Write a Preliminary Chaplaincy Calling Statement

Complete the sentence:

I believe God may be calling me to serve ______________________________
in the setting of __________________________________________________
by offering Christian presence, ______________________________________
and ______________________________________________________________.

My complete calling statement:

Part Two: Identify the People You Hope to Serve

3. Describe the Primary Community

Who are the people you hope to serve?

Country: ___________________________________________________________

City, region, or online location: ______________________________________

Primary language: __________________________________________________

Additional languages: _______________________________________________

Typical age range: __________________________________________________

Religious or spiritual background:

4. Identify Their Common Experiences

Which concerns are likely to arise?

☐ Grief and bereavement
☐ Illness or injury
☐ Fear and uncertainty
☐ Loneliness
☐ Family conflict
☐ Caregiver exhaustion
☐ Addiction recovery
☐ Reentry after incarceration
☐ Migration and relocation
☐ Workplace stress
☐ Trauma exposure
☐ Spiritual questions
☐ Guilt or shame
☐ Relationship breakdown
☐ End-of-life concerns
☐ Financial hardship
☐ Housing instability
☐ Legal difficulties
☐ Mental-health concerns
☐ Crisis or immediate danger
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

Which three concerns are likely to be most common?

5. Identify Sources of Strength

What strengths may already exist within this community?

☐ Family relationships
☐ Local churches
☐ Christian faith
☐ Community organisations
☐ Cultural traditions
☐ Mutual-aid networks
☐ Professional services
☐ Volunteer leaders
☐ Existing chaplains
☐ Healthcare support
☐ Recovery groups
☐ Educational resources
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

How could your chaplaincy strengthen what is already present?

Part Three: Identify the Chaplaincy Setting

6. Choose Your Primary Setting

Where do you hope to serve?

☐ Christian Soul Centre
☐ Local church or parish
☐ Community or neighbourhood ministry
☐ Hospital or healthcare setting
☐ Care home or senior community
☐ Hospice setting
☐ Prison or correctional setting
☐ Reentry programme
☐ Recovery ministry
☐ Workplace
☐ School
☐ University
☐ Sports organisation
☐ Emergency-services organisation
☐ Military or veterans’ ministry
☐ Migrant-support organisation
☐ Funeral or bereavement ministry
☐ Community event
☐ Online community
☐ Christian charity
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

Name of the setting or organisation:

Address or website:

Describe the setting:

7. Identify the Type of Chaplaincy Relationship

Which relationship are you seeking?

☐ Informal community ministry
☐ Soul Centre chaplaincy
☐ Church-supported chaplaincy
☐ Personal religious visitor
☐ Approved volunteer
☐ Recognised community faith contact
☐ Part-time staff role
☐ Full-time employed role
☐ Contracted chaplaincy
☐ Online chaplaincy role
☐ Event-based chaplaincy
☐ Still exploring

Explain:

Part Four: Identify the Host Authority

8. Who Controls the Setting?

Who owns, governs, or leads the setting?

Organisation: ______________________________________________________

Responsible leader or department: ____________________________________

Contact details: ____________________________________________________

Who has authority to approve chaplains?

Who has authority to supervise chaplains?

Who has authority to suspend or remove a chaplain?

9. What Permission Is Required?

Which form of permission may be needed?

☐ Invitation from an individual
☐ Permission from a family
☐ Approval from a pastor or church leader
☐ Volunteer application
☐ Employment application
☐ Formal interview
☐ Written appointment
☐ Security clearance
☐ Background check
☐ Safeguarding approval
☐ Institutional orientation
☐ Professional registration
☐ Proof of ordination or endorsement
☐ Insurance
☐ Local-government approval
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

What permission do you currently possess?

What permission do you still need?

Who will grant it?

10. Distinguish Religious Standing from Institutional Permission

Complete the statements:

My Christian or religious standing is recognised by:

My present credential is:

My local Christian accountability comes through:

The institution or organisation must separately approve:

An honest description of my present status is:

I am recognised as _________________________________________________
through __________________________________________________________.
My service within _________________________________________________
remains subject to _________________________________________________.

Part Five: Select the Appropriate Chaplaincy Pathway

11. Consider Your Present Pathway

Which pathway most closely fits your calling?

☐ Licensed Chaplain
☐ Community Chaplain
☐ Church Community Chaplain
☐ Ministry Chaplain
☐ Digital Community Chaplain
☐ Context-specific chaplain specialisation
☐ Kingdom Chaplain or advanced pathway
☐ Professional institutional chaplaincy preparation
☐ I need further discernment

Why does this pathway fit your intended ministry?

12. Identify Your Current Preparation

Which areas of preparation have you completed?

☐ Multiplying Christian Leaders
☐ Chaplain Foundations
☐ Wedding Officiant Skills
☐ Funeral Officiant Skills
☐ Licensed Chaplain training
☐ Community Chaplain specialisation
☐ Church Community Chaplain specialisation
☐ Ministry Chaplain specialisation
☐ Digital Community Chaplain specialisation
☐ Christian Leaders Theology
☐ Christian Basics
☐ Safeguarding training
☐ Mental-health awareness
☐ Grief-support training
☐ Suicide-awareness training
☐ Addiction-recovery training
☐ Trauma-informed ministry training
☐ Clinical pastoral education
☐ Supervised chaplaincy experience
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

What preparation remains incomplete?

13. Identify Setting-Specific Requirements

Does the host organisation require:

☐ A degree
☐ Postgraduate education
☐ Clinical pastoral education
☐ Supervised placement
☐ Professional registration
☐ Denominational endorsement
☐ References
☐ Language qualification
☐ Cultural-competence training
☐ Health and safety training
☐ Infection-control training
☐ Security training
☐ Data-protection training
☐ Equality or religious-diversity training
☐ Emergency-response training
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

How will you confirm these requirements?

Part Six: Define Your Ministry Activities

14. What Will You Offer?

Which ministry practices will be part of your role?

☐ Compassionate listening
☐ Prayer
☐ Scripture reading
☐ Christian encouragement
☐ Grief support
☐ Visitation
☐ Spiritual assessment within training
☐ Christian rites or ceremonies
☐ Wedding ministry
☐ Funeral or memorial ministry
☐ Support during illness
☐ Caregiver support
☐ Crisis presence
☐ Christian Growth Courses
☐ Referral
☐ Practical community connection
☐ Volunteer coordination
☐ Leadership development
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

List your five primary ministry activities.

15. What Will You Not Offer?

Which activities are outside your role or preparation?

☐ Medical diagnosis
☐ Medical treatment
☐ Medication advice
☐ Psychotherapy
☐ Mental-health diagnosis
☐ Trauma therapy
☐ Addiction treatment
☐ Legal advice
☐ Immigration advice
☐ Financial or investment advice
☐ Formal social work
☐ Security or law-enforcement duties
☐ Independent safeguarding investigations
☐ Emergency medical response
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

Write a clear limitation statement:

My chaplaincy offers _______________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________.
It does not provide _________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________.

Part Seven: Consent and Spiritual Care

16. Establish a Permission-Based Approach

How will you introduce yourself?

Write a permission-based spiritual-care question:

Would it be helpful if ______________________________________________?

Write a permission-based prayer question:

Would you like me to ______________________________________________?

How will you respond when someone declines prayer or Scripture?

17. Respect Religious Diversity

How will you represent your Christian identity honestly?

How will you avoid pressuring people?

How will you respond when someone follows another religion or no religion?

When should another religious representative be contacted?

Part Eight: Safeguarding

18. Identify Vulnerable People in the Setting

Which vulnerable populations may be present?

☐ Children
☐ Older adults
☐ Adults with disabilities
☐ Hospital patients
☐ People in mental-health crisis
☐ Prisoners
☐ People experiencing addiction
☐ Migrants or refugees
☐ People facing domestic abuse
☐ Grieving families
☐ People with cognitive impairment
☐ People dependent upon caregivers
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

What specific safeguarding risks exist?

19. Identify Safeguarding Requirements

Does the setting require:

☐ Background checks
☐ Criminal-record checks
☐ Child-safeguarding training
☐ Vulnerable-adult safeguarding training
☐ Two-adult practices
☐ Mandatory-reporting training
☐ Digital-safeguarding procedures
☐ Incident documentation
☐ Safeguarding supervision
☐ Identification badges
☐ Visitor registration
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

Safeguarding lead:

Backup safeguarding contact:

Relevant reporting authority:

Local reporting requirements:

20. Responding to a Safeguarding Concern

What will you do if someone reports abuse or neglect?

What will you avoid doing?

☐ Conducting an independent investigation
☐ Confronting an alleged offender without authorisation
☐ Promising absolute secrecy
☐ Sharing the disclosure publicly
☐ Delaying a required report
☐ Asking unnecessary investigative questions
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

Part Nine: Confidentiality and Privacy

21. Explain Confidentiality

Write a statement you could give to a participant:

I will treat our conversation respectfully and privately. However, I may need to involve appropriate people when _________________________________

---

__________________________________________________________________.

Possible limits may include:

☐ Immediate danger
☐ Risk of serious self-harm
☐ Risk of serious harm to others
☐ Child abuse or neglect
☐ Abuse of a vulnerable adult
☐ Institutional reporting duties
☐ Legal requirements
☐ Consultation with an authorised supervisor
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

22. Identify Data Practices

Will you keep records?

☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ Only when required by the organisation
☐ Not yet determined

What information will be recorded?

Why is it necessary?

Where will it be stored?

Who may access it?

How long will it be retained?

How will it be securely destroyed?

What organisation’s data-protection policy applies?

Part Ten: Crisis Response

23. Identify Possible Crisis Situations

Which emergencies may arise?

☐ Suicide or self-harm risk
☐ Threats towards another person
☐ Medical emergency
☐ Severe mental-health crisis
☐ Domestic violence
☐ Child-safeguarding concern
☐ Substance overdose
☐ Violence or security incident
☐ Missing person
☐ Fire or evacuation
☐ Sudden death
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

24. Record Emergency Contacts

Local emergency number: ____________________________________________

Institutional emergency contact: ______________________________________

Crisis mental-health service: _________________________________________

Safeguarding contact: _______________________________________________

Security contact: ___________________________________________________

Medical contact: ___________________________________________________

Ministry supervisor: _________________________________________________

25. Create a Crisis Response Sequence

In an immediate crisis, I will:

1. Protect immediate safety by ________________________________________

2. Contact _________________________________________________________

3. Follow the policy of ______________________________________________

4. Document _______________________________________________________

5. Inform __________________________________________________________

6. Arrange appropriate follow-up through _______________________________

Part Eleven: Build a Referral Network

26. Healthcare and Mental-Health Referrals

General medical service:

Mental-health service:

Qualified counsellor or psychotherapist:

Addiction-treatment service:

Suicide-prevention or crisis service:

27. Safeguarding and Social Support

Child-protection service:

Vulnerable-adult protection service:

Domestic-abuse service:

Housing or homelessness service:

Food-support service:

Caregiver-support service:

28. Legal and Financial Support

Legal referral:

Immigration-support service:

Debt or financial-advice service:

Employment-support service:

29. Christian and Pastoral Support

Local pastor or priest:

Local church or parish:

Christian Soul Centre:

Grief-support ministry:

Recovery ministry:

Other chaplain:

30. Write a Referral Statement

Thank you for trusting me with this. Your concern deserves support from someone who _______________________________________________.
My chaplaincy role is ______________________________________________.
I would like to help you connect with _________________________________
while continuing to offer ___________________________________________.

Part Twelve: Institutional Policies

31. Policies You Must Read

Which policies apply?

☐ Chaplaincy policy
☐ Volunteer policy
☐ Safeguarding policy
☐ Confidentiality policy
☐ Data-protection policy
☐ Equality and diversity policy
☐ Religious-care policy
☐ Health and safety policy
☐ Infection-control policy
☐ Complaints policy
☐ Social-media policy
☐ Security policy
☐ Recordkeeping policy
☐ Emergency-response policy
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

Which policies have you reviewed?

Which policies remain to be obtained?

32. Clarify the Scope of Access

Where may you serve?

Which areas are restricted?

May you approach people directly?

☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ Only when referred
☐ Only after a request
☐ Not yet determined

Who may refer people to you?

When may you serve?

Who supervises you?

Part Thirteen: Accountability

33. Identify Your Christian Accountability

Christian Leaders Alliance relationship:

Local church, parish, or fellowship:

Soul Centre:

Trusted recommender:

Commissioning community:

34. Identify Your Institutional Accountability

Supervisor:

Volunteer coordinator or manager:

Safeguarding lead:

Complaints contact:

Review schedule:

35. Establish a Supervision Rhythm

How often will you receive supervision?

☐ Weekly
☐ Fortnightly
☐ Monthly
☐ Quarterly
☐ After significant incidents
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

What may be discussed?

☐ Ministry challenges
☐ Boundaries
☐ Safeguarding
☐ Referrals
☐ Emotional impact
☐ Ethical concerns
☐ Cultural questions
☐ Religious diversity
☐ Complaints
☐ Continuing education
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

How will participant privacy be protected during supervision?

Part Fourteen: Personal Readiness and Sustainability

36. Assess Your Emotional Readiness

How do you usually respond when someone is:

Angry? _____________________________________________________________

Grieving? __________________________________________________________

Silent? ____________________________________________________________

Confused? __________________________________________________________

In crisis? __________________________________________________________

Critical of Christianity? _____________________________________________

What situations may be especially difficult for you?

37. Identify Personal Boundaries

Ordinary ministry hours:

Days of rest:

Communication methods you will use:

Communication methods you will avoid:

How will you avoid becoming constantly available?

How will you protect your family relationships?

How will you respond to emotional exhaustion?

38. Establish Spiritual Support

Who will pray for you?

Where will you worship and receive Christian fellowship?

Who may challenge or correct you?

What practices will sustain your spiritual life?

Part Fifteen: Honest Public Representation

39. Write Your Current Public Description

Complete the following:

I am a __________________________________________ recognised through
_________________________________________________________________.
I offer Christian chaplaincy focused upon _____________________________
__________________________________________________________________.
My ministry is connected to _________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________.
My service within institutions is subject to ____________________________
__________________________________________________________________.

40. Review Public Claims

Mark each commitment.

☐ I will describe my credential accurately.
☐ I will not claim employment I have not received.
☐ I will not claim institutional appointment without written approval.
☐ I will not imply unrestricted access to vulnerable people.
☐ I will not present ordination as professional clinical licensure.
☐ I will not use another denomination’s title without its recognition.
☐ I will distinguish community chaplaincy from institutional appointment.
☐ I will respect protected titles in my country.
☐ I will describe fees, donations, or volunteer status clearly.
☐ I will not guarantee spiritual, medical, legal, or personal outcomes.

Part Sixteen: Community and Soul Centre Support

41. Identify Your Ministry Base

Will your chaplaincy operate through:

☐ A Christian Soul Centre
☐ A church or parish
☐ A Christian charity
☐ An institutional chaplaincy department
☐ A community organisation
☐ An online Soul Centre
☐ An independent ministry with CLA accountability
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

Name of ministry base:

42. Identify the Support Team

Who will serve as:

Chaplaincy leader: __________________________________________________

Prayer coordinator: __________________________________________________

Safeguarding lead: __________________________________________________

Privacy or data lead: ________________________________________________

Referral coordinator: ________________________________________________

Volunteer coordinator: _______________________________________________

Financial overseer: __________________________________________________

Institutional contact: ________________________________________________

43. Identify Possible Ministry Partners

Potential partner churches:

Potential community organisations:

Potential healthcare partners:

Potential professional referrals:

Potential Christian Growth Course facilitators:

Part Seventeen: First Ninety-Day Plan

44. First Thirty Days

During the first thirty days, I will:

☐ Clarify my chaplaincy calling
☐ Identify the people I hope to serve
☐ Select an appropriate pathway
☐ Speak with my church or Soul Centre leader
☐ Contact the host organisation
☐ Request written requirements
☐ Begin required study
☐ Identify safeguarding expectations
☐ Begin building a referral list
☐ Review local legal requirements
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

My priorities:

45. Days Thirty-One Through Sixty

During this period, I will:

☐ Complete an application
☐ Gather references
☐ Complete a background check
☐ Complete safeguarding training
☐ Review institutional policies
☐ Establish supervision
☐ Develop confidentiality language
☐ Confirm emergency procedures
☐ Establish recordkeeping practices
☐ Confirm insurance needs
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

My priorities:

46. Days Sixty-One Through Ninety

During this period, I will:

☐ Complete orientation
☐ Begin supervised service
☐ Launch one community ministry practice
☐ Review boundaries
☐ Test referral procedures
☐ Meet with my supervisor
☐ Request feedback
☐ Revise the chaplaincy plan
☐ Identify an emerging volunteer leader
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

My priorities:

Part Eighteen: Chaplaincy Readiness Review

47. Rate Your Readiness

Use the following scale:

1 — Not begun
2 — Early development
3 — Partly prepared
4 — Mostly prepared
5 — Ready to begin responsibly

Which three areas require the most attention?

What must be completed before you begin serving?

Part Nineteen: Chaplaincy Setting Summary Map

48. Complete Your Summary

Chaplaincy Calling

People Being Served

Primary Setting

Host Organisation

Host Authority

Christian Credential

Chaplaincy Pathway

Current Religious Standing

Institutional Permission Required

Institutional Permission Received

Primary Ministry Activities

Activities Outside Your Role

Required Training

Safeguarding Requirements

Confidentiality Limits

Crisis Contact

Primary Referral Partners

Christian Accountability

Institutional Supervisor

Honest Public Description

First Faithful Ministry Practice

Target Beginning Date or Season

Part Twenty: Chaplaincy Ministry Covenant

By signing this worksheet, I affirm my intention to:

• Serve Jesus Christ through compassionate and truthful chaplaincy

• Respect every person as created in the image of God

• Listen before assuming that I understand

• Offer prayer and Scripture with appropriate permission

• Respect people who hold different beliefs

• Represent my Christian credential honestly

• Distinguish religious standing from institutional permission

• Follow the lawful policies of the settings in which I serve

• Complete required safeguarding and background procedures

• Protect private information

• Explain the limits of confidentiality

• Report safeguarding concerns appropriately

• Refer needs beyond my preparation

• Respect medical, mental-health, legal, financial, and emergency professionals

• Serve under appropriate Christian and institutional accountability

• Avoid creating unhealthy dependence

• Maintain appropriate relational boundaries

• Receive supervision and correction

• Pursue continuing education

• Respect the authority of host organisations

• Serve only within the access and role actually granted

• Help souls grow, leaders emerge, and ministry multiply

Name: _____________________________________________________________

Signature: __________________________________________________________

Date: ______________________________________________________________

Christian recommender or supervisor: _________________________________

Institutional supervisor, if applicable: _________________________________

Review date: ________________________________________________________

Final Reflection

Complete the following statement:

I believe God is calling me to serve _________________________________
within ___________________________________________________________.
My present Christian standing is ____________________________________
__________________________________________________________________.
The permission I still need is _______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________.
The preparation I must complete is __________________________________
__________________________________________________________________.
My first faithful and properly authorised chaplaincy step will be _________
__________________________________________________________________.