QuakerInfo.com Forum

QChaplain · Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Posts: 14

Maybe someone here can help me.

I was a Presbyberian pastor, but i am now working as a hospital chaplain. After I left the church where i pastored, i started attending a Quaker meeting in Fairbanks, and I am much closer to being a Quaker than a Presbyterian. I would become a Quaker but.....

in order to be a chaplain, i have to be ordained, so that I am able to do baptisms and communion. I know that Quakers do not celebrate sacraments or ordain folks.

Is anyone aware of any other Quaker Chaplains, and the possibilities of serving sacraments as a Quaker?

thanks.
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Former Presbyterian pastor, now worshiping with the Friends, and currently a hospital chaplain.

Shay · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 885

This may help:
http://www.quakerinfo.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5971

Good luck!

LloydLee · Joined: 08 Oct 2004 Posts: 98 Location: Woodland, NC

Over here in the East, the usual requirement is an endorsement by the denomination, not ordination per se. Friends/Quakers who are recorded ministers (but not ordained) usually have no problem being recognized/employed as hospital chaplains in this region. To the best of my knowledge, they are not expected to perform rituals/sacraments/ordinances contrary to their faith tradition/denomination.

Rather than look for ways for Quakers to administer sacraments, it might be better to explore the exact expectations hospitals in thy area have of their chaplains.

--llw

QChaplain · Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Posts: 14

Thanks for your comments.

There is only one hospital in my area (an area of around 600 square miles) and they expect me to be able to do perform sacraments for the people who request them. (Although so far I get far more requests from the mental health ward than anywhere else.)

This gives a lot to chew on however. Thanks again.
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Former Presbyterian pastor, now worshiping with the Friends, and currently a hospital chaplain.

wsamuel · Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 8:30 pm Post subject:

In Baltimore Yearly Meeting, generally the person's specific ministry has been endorsed by their meeting without them being recorded as a minister (recording is up to the MM level in BYM, and most MMs do not record ministers), and that has usually been accepted by bodies dealing with credentials for chaplaincy or other positions requiring credentials from one's religious body. In one case, the YM had representatives meet with officials of the body accepting credentials in order to get acceptance that the endorsement comes, in the YM's practice, from the Monthly Meeting rather than the Yearly Meeting level. They seem to generally expect credentials to be issued at the judicatory, rather than the local congregation, level, but practices vary so widely among various faith groups that these bodies usually offer flexibility to conform with the individual's faith group procedures.

Practices will probably vary among yearly meetings. In YMs where recording of ministers continues to be a normal practice, the recording will generally be treated as equivalent to ordination by bodies recognizing chaplaincy credentials. There will be differences among YMs regarding the level (monthly, quarterly or yearly meeting) where recording or recognition of ministry normally takes place.
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Bill Samuel, Webservant, QuakerInfo.com

Jessica · Joined: 17 Nov 2003 Posts: 6

Quakers in Pastoral Care and Counseling (www.qpcc.us) would likely be a good resource for you. A number of QPCC members are chaplains. They host an annual gathering and I believe a listserv as well. My spouse is a Board Certified Chaplain whose "credentials" include a minute from her monthly meeting and an MDiv from Earlham School of Religion. She's served on the pastoral care team at five hospitals: Two Catholic, two secular, one historically Episcopalian but now secular.

Laurence17 · Joined: 25 Feb 2006 Posts: 385 Location: U.K.

In UK we have Quaker chaplains to prisons etc., authorised by monthly meeting & ? or BYM, and I imagine non-stipendiary.

But also some priests or ministers of Churches join the Society here, and are granted dual membership of the Society, if they wish it and it seems rightt the MM., and of their own original Church. Some continue as ministers of their original Church too, sometimes stipendiary.

I myself have been ordained a priest. But while I see no conflict between the past and the present, and regard my Q. membership and 'ordinary' Q. ministry as a continuation of my original call, I don't particlarly see myself as functioning as a priest in public, so to say---it'll always be part of me, of course. I do not see myself as in membership of any body other than the Society now. However, I always feel like I've been to mass, after MfW. And value the real Presence.

Hope of some small help / interest. Your spouse and you sound well-placed to minister.

best wishes

laurence
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Abwoon : divine progenitor, breathing mindfulness through poor in spirit and the resonating realm of ruach

orPowers · Joined: 25 Aug 2006 Posts: 637 Location: Medford, OR

So far as I know, and I confess ignorance, the Quaker position is that "sacraments" are not necessary, not that they may not be performed if anyone so desires. I attend a Meeting where "The Lord's Supper" has been used in special services on occasion, and I have heard of water baptisms, though not used since I have been at this meeting. From my standpoint, you get out of ceremonies what you take into them, and if it is of value, fine by me. My question, however, would be as to the position of the recipients of the "sacraments;" what would THEIR faith tradition require in the administrator?
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Romans 8:38-39

my blog: http://mild-side.blogspot.com/

Laurence17 · Joined: 25 Feb 2006 Posts: 385 Location: U.K.

That's very interesting. Would you mind if ask which Yearly Meeting, if any, your meeting is linked to ? I love the diversity of religious and spiritual impulse, practice, need and dynamic life. I feel glad Friends can adapt to human need or inspirations.
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Abwoon : divine progenitor, breathing mindfulness through poor in spirit and the resonating realm of ruach

wsamuel · Posted: Tue Sep 5, 2006 10:08 am Post subject:

See the Baptism and The Supper of Our Lord sections of the Richmond Declaration of Faith for the normative Quaker view on these. Evangelical Friends Church-Eastern Region and Evangelical Friends Church Southwest have both minuted that local churches may choose to practice water baptism and communion with the outward elements, subject to certain guidelines. I'm not aware that any other North American yearly meeting has approved their use, although some local churches elsewhere may have used one or both without a minute from the yearly meeting authorizing the practice. Water baptism is commonly practiced on some newer Evangelical Friends Mission mission fields.

That relates to practice within Friends meetings and churches. It would not mean, I think, that chaplains are prohibited from administering these rites where they are expected to serve persons with various faith loyalties.
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Bill Samuel, Webservant, QuakerInfo.com

Laurence17 · Joined: 25 Feb 2006 Posts: 385 Location: U.K.

Thanks Bill. I'll have a look at the Richmond Fellowhip sections you recommend.
We never have outer dacraments at all in UK, to my knowlegde. Though some of Friends, here would take the eleements if at a communion of another church.

Some times we retreat at an anglican place and some of us go to their communion there . I do at times for fellowship sake, though I feel no need for the outer one nowadays-- yet did for decades.

At christmas we sing carols round the piano, after our MfW. Recently some one started sing ing the Lords My Sheperd to Crimond, and as she couldnt go on as choked with tears, some of us dang and then all joined, and then the original 'singer' felt able.
When the spirit is moving, it all seems to become sacramental and full of joy...
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Abwoon : divine progenitor, breathing mindfulness through poor in spirit and the resonating realm of ruach

QChaplain · Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Posts: 14

Thanks for the link Wsamuel. That was very helpful.
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Former Presbyterian pastor, now worshiping with the Friends, and currently a hospital chaplain.

orPowers · Joined: 25 Aug 2006 Posts: 637 Location: Medford, OR

Laurence17 · Joined: 25 Feb 2006 Posts: 385 Location: U.K.

Many thanks for that, Friend. Much obliged to you.
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Abwoon : divine progenitor, breathing mindfulness through poor in spirit and the resonating realm of ruach

acfriend · Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 4:34 pm Post subject: Ordained

My understanding of Quakerism Everything is sacramental. Every meal, every bath, every thing. As a minister we should encourage them in faith not tote the denominational line. If you have a problem serving communion then just pray a blessing over the food and the conversation and reflection, so that you can have true communion with Christ and eachother. (that's what I do when we have dinners within the meeting.) I'm from the stream of thought that we should encourage faith not necissarily hold ourselves to denominational roots. I love quakerism but I see the beauty and inspiration that comes from other forms of worship. But I tie quaker understanding to them all, which works fine for me and the ministers that I associate with in other denominations love the friends church because I was willing to accept them and they understand us aswell. I'm rambling but just do what you think the spirit is calling you to do, some people just need the symbol so give it to them.