About the Department

The Volunteer Chaplain provides emotional, spiritual, and crisis support to city employees, their families, and members of the community during emergency and non-emergency situations. The Chaplain serves as a trusted resource who offers compassionate care, guidance, and support while respecting all faith traditions, beliefs, and backgrounds. The Chaplain responds to emergency incidents, assists with critical incidents affecting employees or victims, and participates in department activities to build relationships. This position operates in coordination with department leadership and may assist with behavioral health, peer support, and community outreach efforts.
This is a volunteer, non-compensated position serving at the request of the city.

Position Duties

• Responds to emergency scenes, hospitals, or other locations when requested or when the Chaplain determines their presence would be beneficial.
• Provides emotional support, comfort, and spiritual care to employees, victims, and families during emergency situations.
• Assists with family notifications, victim support, and connecting individuals with clergy or community resources when appropriate.
• Supports emergency personnel by monitoring for signs of emotional or physical stress and providing support when needed.
• Reports to the Incident Commander upon arrival and operates within the established chain of command.
• Provides confidential counseling, spiritual guidance, and emotional support to employees and their family members.
• Assists employees experiencing stress, grief, crisis, or personal challenges.
• Participates as a member or advisor to peer support or critical incident stress management teams when appropriate.
• Provides follow-up support after critical incidents.
• Conducts regular station visits and ride-alongs to build relationships with department personnel.
• Attends city events, ceremonies, memorials, and community activities.
• Participates in funerals, memorial services, or other ceremonies when requested.
• Assists with recruit training or wellness programs when appropriate.
• Assists with crisis response involving employees or their families, including incidents involving injury, grief, trauma, or mental health challenges.
• Provides referrals to appropriate behavioral health or community resources when necessary.
• Supports training and education efforts related to employee wellness and emotional resilience.
• Maintains documentation of chaplain activities including responses, visits, and community outreach while protecting confidential information.
• Participates in meetings, training, and continuing education related to chaplaincy and employee wellness.
• Assists in reviewing and updating resources and support materials for the department.

 

Minimum Qualifications

• Ordained clergy member or recognized spiritual leader in good standing with a faith organization or equivalent ministry experience; Must be able to provide credentialing and certification documents of licensing, training, and ordination. 
• Demonstrated ability to provide compassionate emotional and spiritual support to individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Willingness to respond to emergency situations and crisis events.
• Commitment to serving all personnel regardless of faith, belief system, or background.
• Experience in chaplaincy, counseling, pastoral care, crisis intervention, or behavioral health support, preferred.
• Experience working with first responders, law enforcement, fire rescue, or emergency services personnel, preferred.
• Training in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), peer support, or crisis counseling, preferred.

 

Other Qualifications

Work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions typical of such places as office or meeting and training rooms, e.g., use of safe workplace practices with office equipment, avoidance of trips and falls, and observance of fire and building safety regulations, and traffic signals when driving.

The Volunteer Chaplain may encounter emotionally intense situations including emergency scenes, accidents, fatalities, and crisis events. The role may involve responding to incidents at various locations, including emergency scenes, hospitals, fire stations, or community settings.