Chaplains in independent church schools straddling church and school.

Abstract

Certain educational institutions still claim to be Church schools and continue to employ chaplains in spite of post-Enlightenment cynicism and secularization. A number of chaplains face a struggle to balance obligations to both Church and school. Some face ambivalence about their continued appointment in their liberal educational institutions. In some cases it appears that they are merely appointed out of deference to tradition. In other schools, however, there is a strong declaration that the chaplain and all that the position entails in terms of chapel services and the teaching of the Christian religion, remains an integral part of the Church school. There is confusion regarding the role, expectations and prospects of chaplaincy. Certain chaplains are definitely marginalised from the mainstream of school life until traditional religious services require what is apparently a charade of Church faith at schools that are largely secularised. I argue that the marginalisation of the spiritual from the rest of the school programme is not in the best interests of continuing the excellence of the educational experience and the transformation of South African Independent Church schools. This would be better served by seeking an integrated worldview to sustain a way of life beyond school years. Chaplains may take on the role of encouraging education for the whole of life by facilitating critical thinking and broad conversations across the artificial barriers of school subject compartments. They may also lead a Church school community towards a fresh investigation of Christianity that will involve the chaplain’s liturgical, teaching, pastoral and social action roles, a marriage of theory and praxis to bring the balance of head, heart and hands.