IMAgenda Winter 15-1 - Workplace Chaplaincy … · Redditch B97 6SZ 07946 655450 (M) ... did not share her faith at all, yet all ... How many members of the House of

gendaProduced by the Industrial Mission Association Registered Charity No: 1092245 Winter 2015

Multi Faith Chaplaincy

GreenwichPeninsula

NEC Group

BirminghamAirport

Black CountryUrban &IndustrialMission

BournvilleCollege

InsideTraining - A New Course for Chaplains

A Theology of missionMembership Changes

IMAgenda, Autumn 2015 Page 2

Moderator & Hon. SecretaryRandell MollPenn CottageGreen EndGRANBOROUGHBucks MK18 3NT

Email: [email protected] [email protected]

Hon. TreasurerJohn FreemanTel: 0114 236 6819Email: [email protected]

Membership SecretaryDick Johnson120 Carthorse LaneRedditch B97 6SZ

07946 655450 (M) 01527 61936 (O)Email: [email protected]

Communications DevelopmentAndy Nunn

Contact [email protected]

0121 426 0425

Starting out together:The Greenwich PeninsulaChaplaincy 10

Malcolm TorryInterfaith Chaplaincy:NEC Group 14

David ButterworthAirport Chaplaincy andPilgrimage - Birmingham 16

Duncan BallardA Chaplain’s Reflections (BCUIM) 18

John WelsbyBournville College 20

Thelma Mitchell

From the Moderator 4Faith, Politics and New Hope

Randell MollTraining Matters 22A New Course

Dick Johnson

A Theology of Mission 7Angela Overton Benge

Membership Changes 24 Randell Moll & Dick Johnson

Why Work? 26Randell Moll

EditorHeather Pencavel, 39 Sibland Way, Thornbury BS35 2EJ(H) 01454 632064 (M) 07946 400036 Email: [email protected]


The Focus for this issue of IMAgenda was chosen wellbefore the atrocities in Paris which have driven people andgovernments to various extremes of reaction: "Close theborders!" "Expel all Muslims!" and of course "More airstrikes in Syria!" These are the reactions that make headlines. Inevitably, lessair time is given to other responses - the many vigils for peace organised byFaith Leaders across the world and across Faiths. Locally it has been FaithForums and Inter Faith groups in many parts of the UK (and in the USA too),who have enabled people from many faiths to watch and pray together inthe darkness of the world's sorrow and pain. This movement of people hasnot suddenly sprung up out of shock and horror (which are paralysingthings) but out of relationships already in the making, where people havebeen meeting and working together over time - sometimes years - formutual understanding, to build community and respect for all.

The Dalai Lama reminds us that prayer in itself is not enough: "We cannotsolve this problem only through prayers. I am a Buddhist and I believe inpraying. But humans have created this problem, and now we are asking Godto solve it. It is illogical," he said.

Chaplains have long understood the call to join in God's everyday work ofjustice, peace and reconciliation. In this Quarter's IMAgenda we hear fromDavid Butterworth who leads the Interfaith Chaplaincy in the NEC group,providing ministry to all - including "pop up" Interfaith Prayer Rooms (page15); from Duncan Ballard at Birmingham Airport, reflecting on Chaplaincyand Pilgrimage, as well as a new Prayer Space (page 16); from John Welsbyof BCUIM who offers Chaplaincy in a workplace where one third of theworkforce are from World Religions other than Christianity (page 18); andfrom Thelma Mitchell, Volunteer Chaplain at Bournville College, whoreassures students that the chocolate she is offering at Easter is, indeed,halal ... (page 20). We are grateful to all these people for their insights - anda very special thanks to Malcolm Torry, who tells the story of the GreenwichPeninsula Chaplaincy, a Multi Faith venture set up in 2003 and is unique in itsmodel of Multi Faith activity (page 10). These all are important steps towardsthe Kingdom of Peace which is God's will "on earth as it is in heaven"

Heather

Page 4 IMAgenda, Autumn 2015

A chaplain in a department store died,from cancer, at a sadly young age. Asshe had always disliked the limelight,we will just call her ‘Janet’. She hadbeen a special person in many waysand at her funeral, Janet’s largechurch (free evangelical) was packedto the seams. The surprising presenceof a group of Hindu and Muslimwomen bore testimony to heropenness to all. The worship stylemust have seemed very strange tothem: it was, well … free evangelical.Yet the overwhelmingly feeling wasof shared grief being consoled byfaith, as well as heartfelt gratitude forthe comfort and support which Janethad brought to so many.

There were staff in Janet’s store whodid not share her faith at all, yet allknew where she came from. Such washer empathy with everybody - of allfaiths and none – that people wouldturn to her regardless of theirreligious convictions. Never once didshe manipulate her opportunities bythrusting her faith on anybody.

Janet’s calling was to be there forthem and it was to their concerns thatshe addressed her energies and lovingcare. But, when directly questioned,she did not hide her faith, she simplyexplained her Christian convictions,without histrionics or any attempt topersuade. She respected their faithcommitment and they grew to respecthers. It wasn’t a matter of trying toconvert: nor was it a case of lookingfor some spurious common ground ofnon-belief, in the name of politicalcorrectness. Quite the contrary: “Weare all,” Janet would say, “enriched byeach other”.

Archbishop Justin suggested recentlythat religious freedom “is given increation and in the life and ministry ofJesus Christ”. [“The Times”: July 16]. As wehave the freedom to choose, he urgedus to be prepared to accept challengeand offence without respondingdestructively. For workplace chaplains,especially, respect for the religiousfreedom of others is paramount. Yetthis absolutely does not require us topretend we have no faith – let alone toabandon our own! Quite the contrary,courteous inter-action with people ofdifferent, sincerely-held, beliefs, canlead – perhaps surprisingly – tolearning more about our own.“The welcome penalty of freedom[challenge, disagreement, offence]...sometimes… makes us see what Godwants us to see…” – Archbishop Justin.

Moderator's Letter …


In workplace chaplaincy, some of usare increasingly living in a world ofdifferent faiths. As individualchaplains, we are always, of course,like Janet, open to all faiths and none.Sometimes workplaces may demand‘multi-faith’ chaplaincy. This may bebecause they, too, wish to respect allfaiths and none: or it may be simplythat they feel compelled to tick theirboxes of political correctness. Eitherway, we shouldhonour thisrequirement, butthis does notrequire denial byany faith group ofits own religiousbeliefs. Handledsensitively, and maybe with a degreeof patient waiting, chaplaincy can becontinued or established anew withthe willing co-operation both of theworkplace and the different faithgroups. There are different ways ofachieving this, but its most fruitfuloutcome is a depth of mutual respectand trust in which all faith is betterunderstood and can be sincerelyhonoured.

How many members of the House ofLords – or even of the Commons –have needed to claim Working TaxCredit or have any direct personalexperience of poverty? A cynicalquestion! They could not possiblyexperience all the circumstances

… of faith, politics and new hopeabout which they have to makejudgments, but they still haveshoulder responsibility for governingin the interests of all.So it is all the more encouraging to seeso many of them caring about thosewho do have to claim. Even moreheartening is the way church leaders, aswell as local churches of all traditions,have taken the lead in speaking up forthe poorest and in staking a claim for

justice andgenerosity ashallmarks of acaring nation.

The plight ofrefugees suddenly,at least for a while,has touched the

hearts of many ordinary people. Thegrinding struggle of eking out a lowincome in our own country isunderstood by some of our decision-makers.

Should the church keep out ofpolitics? How can it? God becamehumankind at Christmas, with allthat follows from that, for the sakeof all creation, at all times and in allplaces. The calling to speak and actprophetically as well as pastorallydemands engagement with thewhole of life. Only so can God’sKingdom come, God’s Will be done“on earth…”. Which is why we, asworkplace chaplains, stand solidly inthat prophetic line. /Over

[Multi Faith Chaplaincy’s] mostfruitful outcome is a depth of

mutual respect and trust in whichall faith is better understood

and can be sincerely honoured


Moderator's LetterIt is not difficult to see how all of ourworkplaces are inextricably bound upwith the whole economy. The practiceof wealth creation and distribution,on which all depend for survival,which is regulated (or not) bygovernments (elected or not),determines who are the haves and thehave-nots throughout the world, aswell as in our country.

Winter brings more fear to those withno home, little cash, few rights, who aremanipulated by the callous andexploited by the greedy.

Yet the child born to parents in theMiddle East who could find “no room inthe inn”, who soon had to flee asrefugees to another land, brought hopeto all of humanity.

The New Year is a time for hope. With your help, the Association willcontinue to move forward in 2016. Here are some plans and pointers:-Our website

visited recently? You will see: “Workplace Chaplaincy MissionUK” – this new title both responds to Internet searches morereadily and declares what we are about more clearly.

IMAgendaour popular journal will help to keep our finances stable by usingelectronic distribution, whilst those who prefer hard copy cancontinue to receive it as before.

Social Mediause and awareness is increasing ease of networking betweenmembers.

Gatherings of chaplainstimes, venues, duration and topics will be more member-friendly.

Trainingconcerns can soon be met more effectively through an accessiblescheme.

Subscription overhaulthis will hugely help Teams which, previously, could not affordto include all their chaplains in membership, while those whomight be isolated from the support of IMA colleagues will findmembership more accessible.

Wishing you a Happy Christmas and Hope for the New YearRandell


A Theology of MissionAngela Overton Benge outlines atheological understanding of Mission whichshe uses in training Chaplains in Swindon.As we all reflect on changing trends inWorkplace Chaplaincy, Angela’s insightsremind us of the call to mission which is anexpression of love,and which leaves us nochoice …

Lesslie Newbigin, that greatmissiologist, spoke in his book Thegospel in a pluralist society of his beliefthat one of the limiting factors ofChristianity in our western society isthat we have withdrawn into aprivatised eschatological faith. Faithhas become more personalised toourselves, our own souls' search forsalvation. We are too caught up withsalvation and life after death. Hebelieves, like other theologians I haveencountered, that this privatised faithnaturally diminishes the sense ofresponsibility Christians and theChurch have for public affairs.

I agree with Newbigin. This is ananthropocentric way of looking atfaith, and our faith is far more than lifeafter death. To have faith in JesusChrist should be far more profoundlyabout how we live today and therelevance of faith to the kingdom ofGod in the present. Some churches

separate themselves altogether fromthe world and the public arena, givinga sense that the world and all itsdoings are evil and we, somehow, asfar as possible should separateourselves from it. In contrast to this,Newbigin says that at the birth ofChristianity there was an explosion ofjoy, the resurrection was the good newsthat could not be suppressed. He likensit to an explosion much like the atombomb but in contrast the fallout was notlethal but life-giving and open to all.After Pentecost the apostles werechanged men. (We note that nothingwas said of women, yet we know theywere there.) However, we receive apicture of a church that is encouraged tobe outward looking in preaching,teaching, listening and learning.

Newbigin and David Bosch, anothergiant of missiology, proclaim that themission of God, (Missio Dei) should beseen in Trinitarian terms: God the /over


Father, God of Love and Creator,holding all things in His hands,actively present with all people; Godthe Son, who is the epiphany of God,making God present in all the world– Christ’s mission was to call andbring all to the knowledge and love ofGod, declaring the nature of God bygiving His own life; God the Spiritwho is the very presence of the reignof God. Bosch says, Mission is theexpression of the life of the Holy Spiritwho has been set no limits. Missionconcerns the world beyond theboundaries of the Church. It is theworld God loves and for its sake theChristian community is called to besalt and light. As the Father sent me,so I am sending you.If we truly take this concept of theprimacy of mission, then mission is aGospel imperative. We have no choicebut to be actively engaged in mission.It is not just a part of kingdom activitybut it is wholly so. Newbiginunderlines this when he believes thatas we have been reconciled to God soit is our obligation to share the gospelwith others. Where I am so myservants will be also.(John 12 v 26)

Mission is to be anexpression of love: lovefrom God to all people,and an expression of lovefrom the Church, both asa love for God and a love

to all people whom we are called toserve. It has to be a God-given love, a Godcentred love that brings hope joy andhealing.

If then we see urgency of this Missionthen this should permeate every partof human activity. With this thought inmind, mission in the workplace mustbe a natural consequence andprogression in responding to thecalling of God. Many engaged in thisparticular field of mission would say,“How can the workplace be separatedfrom any other field of mission? Surelyit is where life takes place.” DennisClaringbull says theology is about life,about values, about creativity; it isabout humankind in relationship.

It seems quite natural to understandwork, a human activity, as an integralpart of God’s creativity. God is aworker and God throughout historyaffirms work. He is there in the midstof us when work is labour and alsowhen that labour is unjust and cruel.We see this in Exodus when God sawthe oppression and suffering of Hispeople. Equally God stands with Ruth

and the other womenas they glean in thefields. God callsJeremiah, the humblepot maker, withNehemiah, building thewalls of Jerusalem. Inthe New Testament

church we find

A Trinitarian approach to mission …

To have faith in JesusChrist should be far

more profoundly about… the relevance of faithto the Kingdom of God

in the present


– pushing the Church into society and workplacenurse, mechanic, cleaner or banker.Many are facing stress, uncertainty,bullying, and we must acknowledgethat. It is in the workplace that manyin the congregation find their identity;and a place where they meet andreach others. It should be an urgentwork of the church that it bothrepents of the neglect of the world ofwork and of its neglect in equippingand supporting those who areengaged in this front line mission.

Missiologists often write of theimperative of the Church to learn anew language that both appeals to,and is understood by, those who arenow unchurched. But one of thequestions that could be asked, is“Where do we learn the newlanguage?” Surely, in the market placeand the work place! We can only learnby listening: listening to God andlistening to the voices around us; bybeing there to hear them. The earlychurch, Newbigin says, had to listen andlearn. I believe we must do the same.

When I train the lay chaplains on theteam, the one story that gets told timeand time again is the women at thewell. It is about sharing, caring,listening, waiting, being alongside. “Where I am there my servants will bealso.”

Angela

fishermen, tax collectors, soldiers,tent makers, cloth dyers andcountless others all serving society intheir various ways. Jesus himself is acarpenter and labours with us.I cannot help but enjoy the incidentthat occurred after the resurrectionwhen Jesus produces a picnic on thebeach. It is here that Jesus, who wastaught by His earthly father to be acarpenter, speaks to a fisherman andasks him to be a shepherd to His flockby saying, “Feed my sheep”.

Yet the plethora of biblical examplesof productivity seems to have gotburied under the weight of religiouspiety. Malcolm Grundy in his bookUnholy Conspiracy maps out howCommerce and the Church havebecome divided. He argues stronglyagainst this and says we must notplay into the hands of the money menand allow only them to be the moversand shakers of this world. Heexpresses the view that we musthave confidence in the Christian voiceand values: A spirituality redirectedwould look for the presence of God bydeliberate prayerful discipline in allparts of the working life. (P101)

I believe a Trinitarian incarnationaltheology should push the Churchforward into all parts of society andplaces of work. The people of ourcongregations should be equallyvalued whether they be teacher,

Revd Canon Angela Overton Benge is Team Leaderand Director of Swindon Commercial Chaplaincy.


Starting out together:The Greenwich Peninsula

ChaplaincyMalcolm Torry tells the story of the uniquevision and venture in Multi Faith Chaplaincywhich grew out of the redevelopment that turnedthe Millennium Dome into The O2

It is now eighteen months since Imoved away from Greenwich andceased to be Co-ordinating Chaplainof the Greenwich PeninsulaChaplaincy, but the Chair of theChaplaincy’s trustees has asked if Iwould respond to Heather Pencavel’swelcome request for an article on thisunique workplace chaplaincy.

During the past twenty years theGreenwich Peninsula has gone frombeing poisoned and derelict land tobeing the country’s largest singleregeneration project. Thedevelopment is unique in terms of itssize (when it’s finished there will bemore than 30,000 people living there,it will contain a double ring of officeblocks around the northern end, andit already contains The O2: the world’smost successful venue.)

The publication of the masterplan forthis unique development in 2002demanded a unique response from

the faith communities of Greenwich,and in March 2003 a meeting betweenrepresentatives of the borough’s faithcommunities, the developer, and theborough council, agreed that the faithcommunities would work together toprovide a team of workplacechaplains, and that the developer andthe borough council would provide abuilding that the faith communitieswould use together and that thechaplaincy would manage. Themeeting appointed a steering group,which became the GreenwichPeninsula Chaplaincy’s board oftrustees; and it also appointed a co-ordinating chaplain (myself). The firstactivity on the site was theconstruction site that turned theMillennium Dome into The O2, so werecruited a team of eight volunteerchaplains (a Muslim, a Sikh, and sixChristians of various denominations).Chaplaincies to other constructionsites followed, and then a team ofchaplains for The O2 when it opened

Focus on Multi Faith Chaplaincy


The Greenwich Peninsula Chaplaincyin 2007. Chaplains were then provided forthe new Ravensbourne College, and alsofor an ASDA store. In October 2010 theChaplaincy opened The Prayer Space in abuilding close to North GreenwichStation and The O2. The Prayer Space isused by individual faith communities fortheir own religious activities, and isstaffed by volunteers for as much of theweek as possible to enable individuals touse it for prayer.

The Greenwich Peninsula Chaplaincyis in many ways like other workplacechaplaincies. For instance, there arenever enough people to do the workdemanding to be done. The GreenwichPeninsula Chaplaincy has always beenstaffed entirely by volunteers. This isboth a disadvantage and anadvantage. On the one hand, it meansthat the number of volunteers goes upand down, so the number of Peninsula

institutions that can be visited bychaplains goes up and down as well;on the other hand, there are no postsfor which funding can be cut.

But in one way the GreenwichPeninsula Chaplaincy is unique (as faras we know) because it is based on a‘level playing field’ model, rather thanthe more usual ‘host and hosted’model. In the ‘host and hosted’model, one faith community takesthe lead, and other faith communitiesparticipate. With a ‘level playing field’model, no faith community hasprivileged position. The board oftrustees is multi faith, the team ofchaplains is multi faith, and the teamof Prayer Space welcomers is multifaith. When I ceased to be Co-ordinating Chaplain, my Muslimcolleague was asked to co-ordinatethe team of chaplains.

The Prayer SpacePhotograph by Mike Leader


We understand by the terms‘multi faith’ and ‘inter faith’the meanings suggested inthe first chapter of /overTogether and Different(edsMalcolm Torry and Sarah Thorley,Canterbury Press):

‘We take ‘inter faith’ to meanrelationship building betweenthe faiths (for instance,through inter faith dialogue)and we take ‘multi faith’ tomean working together on jointprojects (such as chaplaincy).’

The Greenwich Peninsula Chaplaincyis multi faith workplace chaplaincy,which means that chaplains worktogether as members of a single team.Chaplains of different faiths havenever prayed or worshipped together.The reason for this is that thetheologies of the different faiths areincompatible, particularly in relationto their most important aspects.

When the Prayer Space was on thehorizon, the trustees formalised the wayin which the faith communities wereworking together on the Peninsula:

A resolution by the GreenwichPeninsula Chaplaincy Steering Group(the chaplaincy’s trustees) on people ofdifferent faiths working together:

That the Greenwich PeninsulaChaplaincy should do together

everything which everyone can ingood conscience do together and thatany other activities, such as worshipand prayer events, should be theresponsibility of individual faithcommunities committed to thecommunity on the GreenwichPeninsula.

We have therefore undertakenchaplaincy, educational and decision-making activity together, but havenever worshipped or prayed together.In the Prayer Space worship andprayer events are the responsibility ofindividual faith communitiescommitted to the new community onthe Greenwich Peninsula (on thebasis of a contract signed by eachfaith community with the chaplaincy’strustees). Dialogue, planning, socialevents and community events are theresponsibility of the chaplaincy.



The Greenwich Peninsula ChaplaincyChaplains and Prayer Spacewelcomers have always beenexpected to conform to guidelines.In each of the places which chaplainsvisit the guidelines are negotiatedwith the management, and so theyare different in each place, but thereare always some common elements,particularly in relation to howchaplains relate to their beliefs whilethey are on duty as chaplains:

An excerpt from the guidelines forchaplains

A multifaith chaplaincy: TheGreenwich Peninsula Chaplaincy isa multifaith project, and all of thechaplains working for theChaplaincy will converse withanyone regardless of their religiousaffiliation or lack of affiliation, andwill attempt to meet any needs,spiritual or otherwise, expressedduring conversations. If someoneasks for the ministry of arepresentative of a particular Faiththen, if that Faith is not their own,the chaplain will do their best to putthe person in touch with anappropriate minister.

Proselytising: No chaplain on theirown initiative will attempt topersuade anyone of the virtue ortruth of the chaplain’s own Faith.

They might employ the resources oftheir Faith to respond to expressedspiritual needs, and if asked forreasons for their own beliefs thenthese might be offered.

Chaplains and welcomers havebecome expert at negotiating thecomplex boundaries implied by theseguidelines, and in particular theyunderstand that they must not set outto evangelise while functioning as achaplain, but that if asked a questionabout their faith then they are at libertyto answer it, and that they are positivelyencouraged to use the resources of theirown particular faith in order to respondto spiritual need.

We live in a multi faith society so multifaith workplace chaplains’ teams willbe increasingly appropriate. (Put lesspositively: it will become increasinglydifficult for chaplains’ teams that arenot multi faith to establish newchaplaincies.) The GreenwichPeninsula Chaplaincy has shown thatit is perfectly possible for differentfaiths to work together in a ‘levelplaying field’ model and at the sametime maintain the integrity of each ofthe faith communities involved.

The lessons that the GreenwichPeninsula Chaplaincy has learnt mightbe useful in other contexts.

Malcolm Torry

For more information, visit www.greenwich-peninsula-chaplaincy.org.uk



The NEC will have been in businessfor 40 years this business year. Sincebeing opened by Her Majesty theQueen it has diversified and developedfrom a reasonable size regenerationproject on the outer edge ofBirmingham to a very significant eventbusiness of worldwide importance. Itsprimary locations in Birmingham offerthe well-known NEC, The InternationalConference Centre (ICC), and theBarclaycard Arena. The NEC Group wasrecently sold for £307 million and offersthrough its events and clients theequivalent of 29,000 full times jobs inthe wider West Midlands. It is anexemplar of good practice at all levels.

Chaplaincy ministry has been anintrinsic part of the business. It wasinitiated by theconstructioncompany whowere the initialbuilders and asthe NEC launchedits business ofmotor shows,concerts andevents the good

work of Chaplaincy was observed andretained. But like the NEC corebusiness, Chaplaincy has also maturedby being in a fast moving contextwhere it too has had to thinkdifferently. In the last couple of yearsChaplaincy has developed into anInterfaith Chaplaincy with its owncorporate identity and offeringInterfaith Chaplaincy to all staff andvisitors - no matter where they arefrom and or what faith, if any, theyhold. The staff of the business runsinto several thousands and revolvesaround a HR team of 25 and whicheverway one looks in or at the business itsdiversity is loud and clear. Therefore ina world market place where Clientscan range from the Conservative PartyConference, to NASUWT, Crufts,

Grand Designs andconcerts with Princeor Dolly Parton,Disney on Ice orWorld Championshipsporting events orcorporate launchesChaplaincy has hadto diversify too. Sonot only do we now

InterfaithChaplaincy…NEC GROUP

The ICC


have permanent Interfaith PrayerRooms we have also developed ‘popup’ Interfaith Prayer Rooms so that aClient can have a dedicated Interfaith

Prayer Room within their own eventor use one quickly set up for the dayconference or 10 day duration event.This has proven to be of great help tothe business and the comments offeedback are excellent… ‘what youpeople have done at the NEC isincredible, allowing us all who comehere to fulfil our spiritual obligations.Thank you all ever so much and mayGod bless you all!’

I take the opportunity of residencyseriously. This enables a clearerunderstanding of the business by‘being there’ so we are able to respondwithout being asked to respond –thinking differently. It works well.

Most encounters start with a warmhandshake and users of the InterfaithChaplaincy are glad that someone istaking care of their spiritual andpastoral needs and the NEC Groupexecutive board fully endorse

Interfaith Chaplaincy. What issuedoes it raise for my workplace? Theissue would be if we remained as asingle faith Chaplaincy. HR Directorsand Equalities and Diversity Managersare looking for understanding andsupport across all groups so thatpastoral support is for everyone andwith good experience.

David Butterworth

Revd. David Butterworth MA - Lead Interfaith ChaplaincyNEC Group: 0121 767 2911

What issue does Interfaith Chaplaincy raise for the workplace?The issue would be if we remained a single faith Chaplaincy


Duncan Ballard reflects on an ancient tradition which brings100,000 people through Birmingham Airport


Travel is a part of modern life – the need to move from place to place, andthe relative ease of that movement, is part and parcel of twenty-firstcentury life. Many people travel for work matters, or for recreation andholidays, but a sizeable number also travel on Pilgrimage.

Religion was arguably the cause of tourism at its earliest stage: pilgrims ofmany religions travelled throughout the ages driven by faith and devotion.Pilgrimage is integral not only to Christianity but to Islam, Hinduism,Buddhism and Sikhism.

Religious or faith tourism is an international phenomenon. The WorldReligious Travel Association describes faith tourism as an $8 billion globalindustry with 600 million faith based trips made by 300 million peopleworldwide. We estimate that up to 100,000 of these pilgrims originate atBirmingham Airport.

It's not just spending by tourists generating economic activity. Host countriesalso benefit from tourist-related infrastructure projects. Saudi Arabia has justapproved a development plan costing $16.5 billion to improve transportfacilities (including a new rail line dubbed "Mecca Metro") for the annual 2.5million pilgrims that visit Mecca on Hajj, the once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage dutyfor all able-bodied Muslims.


Airport Chaplaincy and Pilgrimage

This month saw the opening of asecond prayer room atBirmingham Airport.

Up until now, passengers who wishedto pray had to do so in the land-sideprayer room, before passing throughsecurity – once they were airside therewas no designated space for prayer.This was particularly a problem duringHajj and when pilgrimages to Lourdesand other sites were underway, asprayer is a required part of the act ofpilgrimage, and many passengerswere distressed to learn that they hadto pray in corridors and other publicspaces.

However, after five years of lobbyingthe Airport Company, a new air-sideprayer space has been opened. Giventhat commercial space in the airport ismeasured in multiple £000’s per squarefoot, reserving a 5mx5m room forprayer is a big vote of confidence by theairport company in the value ofchaplaincy.

The prayer room has been keptdeliberately minimalist, outfittedsimply with a carpet, four walls and afew chairs: as we monitor the use ofthe room the Airport Company iscommitted to develop the space.

Duncan Ballard

Some facts and figures

This year, Birmingham Airportpassengers exceeded 10,000,000

The chaplaincy is staffed byAnglican, Salvation Army and

Baptist chaplains, supplementedby Roman Catholic, Muslim and

Jewish chaplains whenrequested.

The land-side prayer room isused, on average, by over 60

people per day.

The chaplaincy offers, onaverage, 10 days of chaplaincy to

the airport every week

The chaplaincy is on 24-hour callout in the case of an emergency

or pastoral need

As well as caring for passengersand staff, the chaplaincy alsoassists with anti-trafficking

measures, repatriation of UKnationals, and working with

social workers in cases ofhardship or danger

New Prayer Room at Birmingham Airport

Duncan Ballard is Lead Chaplainat Birmingham Airport



I have been a chaplain for just undera year in a setting where probably athird of the staff are adherents ofother religions, especially Sikhism. Ithas been a privilege to listen to and totalk with people of other faiths in theshared space of a workplace. I havecome to see the whole experience ofworkplace chaplaincy as one of those‘edges’ of church and world and theinteraction with people of other faithsas just one aspect of that. I will try toidentify a few early reflections on thisexperience so far.

Perhaps the largest single faith groupis no practised faith at all – so withthat in mind, it is relatively easy to find

common ground with people of otherfaiths in an increasingly secular society.

As faith groups largely reflectethnic/language groups though, Ihave had to make particular effortsto relate in the first place to peopleoutside of my white, English-speaking background – this isespecially the case in settings such asthe work’s canteen where peoplenaturally often sit with friends fromtheir own community, where they canspeak to each other in their preferredlanguage. I constantly need to beaware of simple things like where I sit,to ensure I am available to all equally.

People from different faith groupshave appreciated my availability totalk over their particular work orfamily related concerns – everyindividual has things at times it can beuseful to think through and I have notfound being a chaplain from aChristian base to be an obstacle topeople of other faiths telling meabout issues they are facing. Otherfaiths also encompass the importanceof prayer so indicating I will pray forpeople mentioned can seem morenatural than it would when talking tosomebody of no faith.

John Welsby reflects on his experience over the last year ofChaplaincy in a setting where one third of the workforce areadherents of other World Religions

John Welsby


I have learned a lot from adherentsto other religions about their beliefsand many staff have been keen toexplain their beliefs. This has often ledto a discussion about where we differand where we are alike in what webelieve. One chat with a follower of ameditation based religion exploredthe psalmist’s call for us to ‘be still andknow that I am God’ – a verse which hequoted - which led to an explorationover a few discussions of how such ashort sentence can lead in differentdirections depending on where theemphasis falls. I feel that as a chaplainI must be interested in what staff areinterested in – to talk about whatmakes them tick – and for people ofother faiths, this requires a sincereinterest I think in finding out more aboutwhat they believe. If this leads to aninterest in my faith, then I will welcomethat, but I think that what makesinterest in their faith of value, is notsimply whether it leads to anopportunity to talk about Christ, butwhether it demonstrates a sincere beliefon my part in the value of their lives.

It has been a moving experience tolisten to followers of other faithsdescribe the importance of theirfaith to them and how they seek to livethis out, and how the different stages ofour lives can lead us to find greatermeaning in what we believe – one youngSikh for example described this renewaland reaffirmation of faith arising in himfollowing the birth of his first child.

I have also been used as a myth-buster as people who live as part ofclose faith and ethnic communities askme about their perceptions of theChristian world from why do churcheshave spires to why don’t churches domore in the community, or even tocheck out my view of key world events.Who provides chaplains and why do I doit as a volunteer arises as a fairly openinvitation to present the church, and myfaith, a little more positively!

John Welsby

John Welsby - Workplace Chaplain (BlackCountry Urban and Industrial Mission)

… a Chaplain’s reflections

What makes interest in their faith of value, is not simply whether itleads to an opportunity to talk about Christ, but whether it

demonstrates a sincere belief on my part in the value of their lives.

I have also been used as amyth-buster …


Focus on Multi Faith ChaplaincyThelma Mitchell shares her experience and insights intoChaplaincy in a multi-cultural setting

‘Is this chocolate halal?’ asked the young man. ‘No,’ I replied, ‘it’sCadbury’s!** So if it’s haram (forbidden) you’re going straight to hellwithout touching the sides!’The Muslim lads and I laughed so much at this as they dived into the basketof chocolates. We were handing out these and Easter bookmarks as part ofan engagement activity with staff and students across the college beforethe holiday. They received both with pleasure and discussion, admittingthey still loved receiving chocolate Easter eggs and had no problems withsharing the festival with Christians.

It is a tough time for all at Bournville College, Longbridge. 60 staff havebeen made redundant recently, despite the brand-new, state of the artbuilding. Most are of senior status with years of experience and expertisebetween them. The uncertainty hangs heavy and students are beginning tofeel the effect. Our gestures of friendship and support – and chocolate! –become more appreciated as we are welcomed as assets and listening ears.

‘So - are you holy?’ asks a young woman. A leading question though not theoddest to date! I explain that I am neither ordained nor a nun! We arevolunteer Christian chaplains, there as friends and willing, confidential ears.She tells me about her problem with childcare, her studies to qualify as amedical secretary and her fears that she will not be able to find a job whichwill fit around her family and yet provide an income to live on.

Many students face dilemmas of one sort or another but their commitmentto their studies is inspiring. Some have endured physical and mentaljourneys which we can hardly begin to imagine – one 16 year old reunitedwith her father after 9 years, a young man from Helmand province,struggling to help on the family farm from day break, a 2 hour walk to schoolwhere there may or may not be a teacher, 2 hours back and more farmwork. Now he is on a mechanics course, looking forward to returning oneday to find work restoring the many Russian aircraft which litter the Afghanlandscape. Some students with learning difficulties dread the day theircourses finish. They get out of the house and learn life skills with friends in


Faith Matters at Bournville Collegea safe space here.There are manylives in turmoil, allin need of ourfriendship andprayers.

We’ve extendedour relationalbridging activitieswhich have provedpopular. Wemarked HolocaustMemorial Day inJanuary with a display about places of suffering in the world, inviting all toadd the one on their hearts. In February we enjoyed Valentine’s Day, asking‘What is love?’ and for Mothering Sunday ‘Who cares for you?’ (Yes, as longas the answer is on a post-it, our tree of remembrance on the window ofUrban Chill – the student relaxing space - covers all events!) We’ve markedEid and Chinese New Year, St. Andrew’s Day and St. David’s and, of course,offered services for Christmas and Easter.

Our presence in college is becoming part of the fabric. Staff and students areaccepting us, warming to us. We share in their confidences and concerns,especially recently with sudden changes in senior management and moreredundancies on the cards which is leaving many vulnerable and fearful forthe future. We try, with God’s help, to bring the Light and Hope of Christ intothis space, aware of what a huge privilege and blessing it is.

Oh, and the oddest question to date? ‘Who’s your favourite Womble!’

Thelma Mitchell

** I have since learned that, not missing a trick, Cadbury’s chocolate IS acceptable as halal!

Thelma Mitchell is a Volunteer Chaplainwith Churches in Greater Birmingham

Thelma at Bournville College


A constant refrain over the pastcouple of years has been, ‘does theIMA have its own training course forvolunteer chaplains?’ To which theanswer has been, ‘unfortunately not’.But that is about to change!

Several years ago the answer wouldhave been different. A network ofthose involved with trainingvolunteers locally, led by DavidWelbourn, had put together anintroductory course. This was widelyused by many teams as the basis fortheir own training. Inevitably this haslong been in need of revision andupdating.

So work has been going on to do thisand the first draft will shortly beavailable under the title, ‘Key Skills forWorkplace Chaplaincy’. We havereached the stage of needing to tryout the new material and I would bevery interested to hear from anyoneprepared to help with this testing.The material is designed to be used ina group, drawing on the members’own experience of working life. Wehave tried to design it so that it can be

used by a group where no-one has anyparticular experience of workplacechaplaincy, though a leader is neededto guide the group through thevarious exercises.

There are 6 sessions, each designed totake 2 hours. [See facing page] So thecourse could be delivered over 6evenings spread over 6 weeks or moreintensively over two full days.

Once tested and revised we aim toadvertise the course through the IMAwebsite, though the plan is not tomake it an online resource but one wecan offer to those who contact us. Thisway we can help groups apply thematerial to their context and helpthem link with others in their areaactive in workplace chaplaincy.

Training Matters ...In his regular column on all things related totraining Dick Johnson trails some new trainingmaterials which will shortly be available throughthe IMA.

mailto:[email protected]



TOPICS COVERED BY THE COURSE

Session OneWhy be a workplace chaplain?

exploring what a chaplain does and how this is partof God’s Mission.

Session TwoThe Chaplain as Pastor and Carer

Why caring for others is fundamental to thisMission and developing the key skill of listening.

Session ThreeUnderstanding the workplace

both as part of the economy and of God’s purpose;developing the essential skill of theologicalreflection.

Session FourQuestioning the workplace – The Chaplain as a criticalfriend

how this too is part of God’s Mission.

Session FiveOrganizing for Chaplaincy

This session, looking at the practicalities involvedwith chaplaincy, takes place as part of a visit to anexisting piece of chaplaincy work.

Session SixChaplaincy and the Church

Linking the ministry of chaplains with the widerMission of the Church.

If you would be willing to help with testing this new material please get in touch with Dick at [email protected]

or by phone on 01527 61936.

… testing a new course




IMA Membership Subs: Revised for 2016

You may be surprised – and pleased – to hear that subscriptions are goingdown: we have been listening to you.Following careful deliberation by the National Executive Committee, afterresearch by Dick Johnson, our Membership Secretary, we realised changeswere needed. The membership structure needed to be simpler, moreaffordable by teams and individuals, and able to attract a wider range ofpeople interested and concerned for ‘mission in the economy’, whetherchaplains, church members or friends.

At the same time membership fees are vital to running the Association.Thanks to our volunteer officers we are able to keep costs to a minimum.But there are costs. One that has been rising in recent years has been thecost of printing and mailing the quarterly magazine IMAgenda. Taking all thisinto consideration the NEC has agreed to trial a different approach tomembership and the details can be found in the box opposite. The NEC willbe keeping this under review, so we will be very interested to hear your views.

Over the next few weeks Dick will be contacting team leaders andadministrators to further explain this revised structure. If you are anindividual member he will be in touch at the beginning of January with aninvitation to renew your membership at the new rate of £15.

Randell Moll IMA Moderator

Advice for Chaplains?Do you respect that of God in everyone, though it may be expressed in

unfamiliar ways? Each of us has a particular experience of Godand each must find the way to be true to it.

When words are strange or disturbing to you, try to sense where theycome from and what has nourished the lives of others. Listen patientlyand seek the truth which other people’s opinions may contain for you.

Avoid hurtful criticism and provocative language.Do not allow the strength of your convictions to betray you into making

statements or allegations that are unfair or untrue.Think it possible that you may be mistaken.

Words of George Fox (1624 - 1691) from Advices and Queries 1:17


Membership changes explainedIMA Membership – effective from January 2016.1. There will be one single category of membership instead of the current

four, with a standard, cheaper annual membership subscription of £15.

2. Teams will be able to sign up anyone associated with their team en blocusing a simplified procedure. The cost per team member will reduce themore team members are included. The definition of a team, and whoqualifies as a team member, is deliberately as broad as possible; in orderto encourage as wide a range of interested people as possible to join. Thesliding scale of team membership will be:

This means teams of more than 60 members will find the team’s annualcost of membership to be capped at £314 – with this rising slightly for thevery largest teams with over 100 members.

3. IMAgenda will still be produced quarterly, but distributed electronicallyvia email. Printed copies will be available for anyone who wants one, butat an extra charge for printing and postage of £12 for four editions overthe year.

4. One continuing benefit for all members will be the provision of third partypublic liability insurance at no extra cost.

Dick JohnsonIMA Membership Secretary

Cost/member (£)For the first 3 members 15

For the next 7 members (4 – 10) 7



For the next 40 members (61 – 100) Free

For each member above 100 3


It was an unexpected question.As a small group of regular churchmembers, we knew each other quitewell, although we were from threedifferent congregations. We talkeda lot about congregational decline,mission, café church, the Bible, sickvisiting, families, moral attitudes,maintaining buildings… We nevertalked about work.

The visitor asked us to introduce eachother by our occupations. Wecouldn’t, not properly. No-one knewenough about how any of us made aliving. In church circles, talking aboutlife at work had always seemedirrelevant, even vaguely improper.Apart from Harvest Festival and anoccasional prayer for theunemployed, it was never mentioned.Funny that, when you consider thatwork fills much of peoples’ wakinghours and provides the very means bywhich humanity lives.

“Why work?” we were asked. Theanswer was obvious, but now it didn’tseem enough. Faith and work?? Well,of course we always try to live out our

faith wherever we are, butworkplaces are not heavenly places!People and processes are not perfect:good and bad things happen there.“Such as?” Gradually, cautiously,people started to talk about real-lifescenarios. We all had mixedexperiences, but it became obviousthat our lives, at home and in theworkplace, are hugely influenced –even controlled – by the demands,rewards, pressures and opportunitiesof work.

Then we were startled to discoverthat the Bible has far more to sayabout money, occupations and fairdealing than about prayer, hymns andcongregations. It dawned on us thatwork is not just about doing a job ormaking money. It is essentially aboutproviding people with the goods andservices they need to live.That is where God is also to be found– in the workplace, doing what Goddoes - sharing, providing, suffering,redeeming. Our work, paid or unpaid,is part of God’s Creative andRedeeming activity. The workplace isholy ground where God’s Love and

“So what do you do from Monday to Friday?”

We were startled to discover that the Bible has far more to sayabout money, occupations and fair dealing than about

prayer, hymns and congregations

http://www.industrialmission.org.uk


Justice must prevail - even if it oftendoesn’t feel much like it!

The visitor to our group is aworkplace chaplain. A Christian ofmany years’ standing, she retiredrecently after a career in commerceand industry. Her congregationunderstands, supports and issupported by, her regular ministry ina working environment. She wascommissioned for her chaplaincy bylocal church leaders, hercongregation, the workplace and theregional chaplaincy team, provide

training and nationwide networkingthrough Workplace ChaplaincyMission UK.Most excitingly, through the Kingdomat Work Project, and in partnershipwith workplace chaplains, localchurches are discovering their missionin ‘the economy’ – the very means bywhich we live.

That, assuredly, is God’s work!Randell

Randell Moll, Moderator,Workplace Chaplaincy Mission UK

www.industrialmission.org.uk

ADVERTISEMENT

‘The Kingdom at Work Project - a communal approach to mission in the workplace’ David Clark

Peterborough: Upfront Publishing (£14.99 paperback; £8.99 e-book)

This book ‘may represent the beginning ofanother stage in the historic and contemporary

Christian engagement with work’ Crucible)

Unique in literature on faith and work in that its focus isthe transformation of the workplace - founded on aninnovative theology of the kingdom - ‘profoundly lay-centred’ - a wealth of resources for practice - a radicallynew role for chaplains and ministers in secularemployment - a clear and comprehensive missionagenda for the local church

‘A brilliant work-book for the servant leader’ (Peter Challen - Sloan Fellow of London Business School)

http://www.industrialmission.org.uk

A Christmas prayer for working people

God who came to earth in Jesus when shepherds were on night duty, when the sky was glorious and the heavens rang with good news; when the hard-pressed innkeeper found a place for travelling people in need of shelter; We pray for people who are working today: caring for livestock working in hospitality and catering policing roads and borders staffing fire stations driving ambulances or rescue vehicles caring for sick and dying people serving in the Armed Forces, keeping machines turning, maintaining the power supply. Make their work satisfying, ever-present God, and their conditions just, So that they do not miss your coming among us.

Help us all to see the glory and hear the news that Christ is born in every place and God is with us every day of our lives.

God with us, wherever you lead us, show us how to be your people

Blessed is the one who comes in the Name of the Lord. Amen.

© Heather Pencavel

IMAgenda is printed by Afford A Print Tel; 0800 00 29 925 Email: [email protected] us at www.industrialmission.org.uk

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IMAgenda Winter 15-1 - Workplace Chaplaincy … · Redditch B97 6SZ 07946 655450 (M) ... did not share her faith at all, yet all ... How many members of the House of