ISR is a diverse organisation, engaged in a wide range of social, economic, environmental and other activities. Some are described here.
Bristol Airport
ISR supports two part time chaplains at Bristol International Airport
Chaplaincy in Swindon
The Revd Angela Overton-Benge, ISR’s chaplain to economic life in Swindon, is very active and successful in recruiting lay chaplains to work in retail-linked situations across the area.
The chaplains are currently working in, Asda, Asda-Walmart, The Outlet Centre and Scotts of Stowe. Angela is also a chaplain to Thamesdown Transport.
Angela has been able to develop a valuable training programme for these chaplains which begins with a leaflet explaining the purpose of chaplaincy. If people are interested in training they have an initial interview and, if there is an agreement from both sides on pursuing chaplaincy, the chaplains have six weeks' training which covers their own work experience, the work experience of others both inside and outside of chaplaincy, and a brief history of industrial mission. This is all against a backdrop of theological study and prayer. Once trained the chaplain is then commissioned by their minister and ISR during a normal Sunday service in their own church. This is so that the chaplain is publicly accredited and supported by their worshipping community, as well as ISR.
The value of the work that has taken place in all these stores is unimaginable and has gone from strength to strength bringing great blessing to all concerned. It has demonstrated very forcibly to the chaplains God's purpose in calling us to be a presence in that place.
Bristol City Council
Revd. Harold Clarke
The city council, as Bristol's biggest employer and the seat of local government, influences the lives of everyone in the city in some way and it is therefore of great significance that the director of ISR has been the Lord Mayor's chaplain for the past ten years or more. Added to this, Bristol is unique in that it is the only local authority in the country that owns its own active church, the Lord Mayor's Chapel. The Lord Mayor's Chaplain is responsible for the chapel which has a strong musical tradition and hosts the annual civic service.
The role of the chaplain is to lead and coordinate worship in the chapel, and to accompany the Lord Mayor in all civic services in the city (e.g. Rush Sunday, Legal Sunday and Remembrance Sunday). He also attends meetings of the Full Council and conducts prayers before the meeting. The chaplain is also available for informal meetings with the party political leaders in the city, and, over the past few years this role has extended to include senior staff within the council as well.
The Fire Service
Revd. Tim Harrison
The chaplaincy is to the Headquarters staff and the Central Fire Station next door. The strategy of the Avon Fire Service is summed up in its mission statement which appears on their vehicles, website, letter heads and other communication: Preventing Protecting Responding. The responding bit is the normal emergency fire fighting we expect from the fire service, the preventing and protecting is proactive fire prevention activities. This involves creating good community networking activities and delivering personal advice and training in fire prevention. This can include such activities as visiting shops, businesses and homes and such activities as installing smoke alarms. These activities represent a big change in the role of fire fighters. These changes form the backdrop I need to be aware of as I serve the Fire Service.
I have now met all personnel on all the watches of the Central Fire Station. This has meant networking with them and being available to them for support when difficult incidents happen. So far this has included being there for individuals and sometimes a whole watch together as a group.
Rolls Royce and Airbus
Revd. Tim Harrison
It is a privilege to be chaplain to these two industries even in these days where air travel is being criticised. Part of my role as a chaplain is to be a critical friend to the industry but also to stand alongside and support them as they face what I believe is a consistent and unfair exaggeration of their contribution to climate change in the media. See my article in ISR News “The Aircraft Industry and Climate Change: truth and justice or easy convictions”?
Apart from my usual chaplaincy duties involving networking and pastoral support, I am also a member of the Airbus Diversity Team by invitation of the company. I attend the diversity team meetings and support diversity issues generally and religious diversity issues in particular.
In Rolls Royce my chaplaincy has been in the context of a huge change programme in the company involving massive investment in new buildings and new ways of working.
Understanding the issues of the industry is an important factor if chaplaincy is have “street cred(ibility)” with the organisation.
Avon and Somerset Constabulary
Revd. Andy Paget, Senior Chaplain
We used to call it “loitering with intent” when, as proactive chaplains, we were found building relationships with staff in police stations and specialist units or accompanying officers on patrol. The expression is now used almost exclusively in relation to the sex industry, so perhaps it’s time to drop it! The proactive style of ministry, however, must not change – nor the ethos of chaplaincy as we offer friendship and support “without strings” to more than five-and-a-half thousand officers and staff. Being there is crucial and is key to our effectiveness.
It’s a great privilege to lead a team of twenty-five lay and ordained volunteer chaplains providing a presence ministry at the various police establishments from Dulverton in the south to Chipping Sodbury in the north. The warmth of the welcome we receive, and the willingness of staff to share their personal lives with us, make it a rewarding as well as a challenging role. It’s not only about the needs of others; our own humanity and vulnerability, and our willingness to share ourselves, give us credibility in what often is still a very macho, stiff-upper-lip culture.
I spent the first years of my chaplaincy on Bristol’s Central District at Trinity Road Police Station. I now make regular visits to the Constabulary HQ at Portishead and to a variety of specialist units. I contribute to the Constabulary’s training course for CID and Road Police Unit FLOs [Family Liaison Officers] and have responsibility for recruiting, training and supporting other chaplains. There are many open doors and two of the greatest challenges are effective time management and getting the priorities right.
Economic life in Swindon
Avonmouth and Severnside
Revd Malcolm Warren
I have been Chaplain
to Severnside and the Portbury Docks for less than two years, having worked as
an industrial chaplain in other parts of the country for a number of years.
But why do I do it?
The answer is comparatively simple: because I enjoy it! People who are employed fulltime work for at least a third of the day, and so why not visit them at their places of work, as clergy we visit people in hospital, and even in schools.
Industrial mission is part and parcel of the life of the church. People in work can lead stressful lives; they have needs, and it shows the church is still interested in them as people at all times, not just when they need the church to perform a function for them. We visit people where they are, and accept them as they are in their journey wherever it may lead them.
People need our prayers and support at all times. Work is an important part of life and the balance of life and work is important, when was the last time industry and commerce were prayed for in our churches? When did we last give thanks to God for our work and for those whose work make our lives easier?
Wiltshire Constabulary
Revd. Richard Armitage joined Wiltshire Police in November 2005 as the Force Chaplain.
Richard is contracted to work three days a week, and travels around the county, 'hot-desking' as necessary at the divisional headquarters and stations within the force area. The service he offers as Chaplain is available to all staff in the force, whether as individuals or as part of a group of any or no faith tradition. Richard is the first part of the Chaplaincy, which eventually will become a team of chaplains of different faiths and religious traditions, who, respecting the uniqueness and integrity of all religions, are committed to work together to offer pastoral and spiritual care and support.
The Chaplaincy acts as a resource to the force, participates in appropriate consultative issues and advises management on relevant policy matters. Although committed to work with management, it retains its independence within the organisational structure. From this privileged position, prospective members of the Chaplaincy team are able to offer non-directive, non-evangelistic and confidential counsel. The Chaplaincy does not 'push' religion or promote any religious bias. The main objectives are:
- to understand the work and culture of the police service and the pressures under which its officers and staff work;
- to affirm the contribution which the force, individual officers and staff members are making to the life of the community and on behalf of that community
- to gain the trust of individual police officers and staff.
The Chaplain is available to support officers and staff (and their families) as they work through any situations in which the Chaplain can help.
These situations vary tremendously. Religion and spirituality are not separate compartments of life, they permeate all that we are. Each situation is unique and Richard's work is all about responding to any situation which presents itself. Experience says that these situations will range from the most obvious, such as deathand bereavement, to stress related situations, and work/family relationships.
Richard is also keen to 'demythologise' his own role in the community to officers and staff and to be a visual reminder to the police service that there are other ways of interpreting society other than through the eyes of the police service.
A Faith Communities’ Response to Major Emergencies
Revd Andy Paget, MEP Coordinator
Since the late 1980s, faith communities in the Greater Bristol and Somerset areas have worked in partnership with the Avon & Somerset Constabulary to train and maintain a team of volunteers able to respond swiftly and effectively in the aftermath of a disaster. We hope and pray that one will never strike in this area but, if it does, members of our 170-strong team are ready for action wherever they may be needed.
We were activated following the M4 coach crash in May 1995. More than a decade later we continue to receive positive feedback underlining the value of the faith communities’ involvement. During 2004–2005 the two major incident plans (MIPs) were amalgamated to provide a single Major Emergency Plan (MEP) for the entire Avon & Somerset area. The shift from ‘Major Incident’ to ‘Major Emergency’ brought us in line with the Civil Contingencies Act of 2004.
Participation in the plan is open to leaders of faith communities and their nominated representatives. During the last twelve months we have seen a broadening of the multi-faith identity of our response team. This has enhanced our ability to give appropriate help and support to all victims of disaster—to those of any faith background or of none.
