Alan T. Baker is a deeply experienced chaplain who now
trains, supervises, and endorses prospective and current chaplains
in a variety of settings. Baker's experience includes service in
college, corporate, and military chaplaincy. A graduate of the
United States Naval Academy, Baker rose to the rank of rear
admiral. He currently teaches at Fuller, Gordon-Conwell, and Wesley
seminaries.
The Expository Times
"The volume is peppered with . . . valuable and inspiring
[insights, ] . . . coming both from Baker's own extensive
experience, and from chaplains in situ." "I have known Alan Baker
for decades and can think of no one more qualified to write about
the foundations of chaplaincy. This book should be required reading
for anyone who is attempting to understand how a positive and
powerful ministry can be sustained in an inclusive environment of
religious diversity. Alan imparts a wisdom he has forged in the
crucible of experience. His wisdom has blessed me during my nearly
eighteen years as Chaplain of the United States Senate."
-- Rear Admiral Barry C. Black
62nd Chaplain of the United States Senate "A clear, lively, and
theologically grounded exposition of the distinctive calling of
chaplaincy, richly illustrated with stories and biblical resources.
The book offers an account of the dimensions of the chaplain's role
as a facilitator or provider of religious services to those of
diverse traditions but also a skilled and caring presence for
people facing any of the challenges of human life and an adviser to
organizational leaders. This is a much-needed resource for a form
of ministry of growing importance in our religiously plural
world."
-- Sondra Wheeler
Wesley Theological Seminary "Chaplaincy is one of the most
difficult ministries. Alan Baker knows from experience both the
difficult challenges and the wonderful opportunities of being a
pastor 'of' the church while not 'in' the church. Thank God he has
written this much-needed book on the subject. It is full of
wisdom."
-- Richard J. Mouw
Fuller Theological Seminary "Alan Baker offers an accessible and
helpful vision for chaplaincy that prioritizes presence and yet
offers helpful insights and tools for navigating and thriving in
one's life as a chaplain. I see this book being widely used as a
resource, not least for my seminary students discerning their call
to chaplaincy."
-- Chuck DeGroat
Western Theological Seminary "The calling and role of chaplains has
often been relegated by the church to a second-class status. But
chaplains serve on the front lines of ministry, bringing a
compassionate presence to those confronting pain, anguish, or
despair, and suddenly asking their deepest questions about God.
Alan Baker is one of the finest chaplains I've ever known. As
chaplaincy increases even as church attendance decreases, this book
will become an indispensable guide. It distills Baker's rich
experience into the most thorough and helpful resource available
for anyone considering this high and holy calling."
-- Wesley Granberg-Michaelson
author of Without Oars: Casting Off into a Life of Pilgrimage
"Chaplaincy is both an art and a science, and Foundations of
Chaplaincy provides a thorough exploration of both aspects.
Illustrating the journey from calling to credentialing to career
competence, this primer offers a helpful picture of the science, or
'how to do chaplaincy, ' revealing a comprehensive array of
pastoral care scenarios and institutional environments. But the
real insight is in the unveiling of the art of chaplaincy, that is,
how to strike the precarious balance of serving the diverse
spiritual needs of both the religious and unaffiliated, while
remaining a fully functioning member of, and therefore completely
within the boundaries of, a secular institution; all the while
remaining faithful to the mandates of the chaplain's own belief and
faith tradition. Foundations of Chaplaincy explores this dynamic
and challenging undertaking with a deep appreciation for this
essential vocation."
-- Rear Admiral Margaret Grun Kibben
61st Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives
"Chaplaincy is a special calling for a unique kind of ministry that
only a select few men and women clergy can embrace. It involves
working outside and beyond a single faith group to provide
spiritual guidance and pastoral care to persons in diverse
settings. Chaplains are called to be fluid and open in their
approach to ministry to people from various backgrounds. Chaplain
Baker captures this well in his writings."
-- Chaplain Michael L. McCoy
former National Director of Chaplaincy in the US Department of
Veterans Affairs "Baker brings his beginnings as a USN Academy
plebe through his retirement as the sixteenth Chaplain of the US
Marine Corps to this insightful primer on chaplaincy. Foundations
of Chaplaincy is both a discourse on the chaplaincy field and a
'how-to' course on the professional world of chaplains, who live in
the tension between allegiance to their own faith tradition and
assuring the free exercise of all persons in a secular, pluralistic
environment. The four functional capabilities of chaplains to
'provide, facilitate, advise, and care' inform chaplains and
management alike how this tension is lived out with integrity.
Information and insight are peppered with practical stories and
biblical examples. Prospective through experienced chaplains can
all benefit from absorbing the wisdom of this text."
-- Jan McCormack
Denver Seminary "Chaplaincy is one of the most interesting and
innovative forms of ministry. It finds its roots within the
established church, but takes the ministry of care, compassion, and
presence into the world in a diversity of healing ways. But what
exactly is chaplaincy? What do chaplains do? Why should anyone
care? In this interesting and timely book Alan Baker lays out the
essence of the tasks of chaplaincy in a way that is clear,
accessible, and open to a broad range of people inside and outside
of faith communities. Anyone who wants to know about and understand
the importance of chaplaincy should read this book."
-- John Swinton
University of Aberdeen "Through years of pastoral ministry, I have
been blessed to serve with retired military chaplains, along with
those in active duty. These persons have been amazing partners in
the life and witness of local congregations. It is obvious that
Alan Baker's book, Foundations of Chaplaincy, would have been a
very helpful resource for all of us involved in these
relationships. With great wisdom, Admiral Baker provides insight
into the chaplaincy and ministry. I am encouraging chaplains to
read Foundations of Chaplaincy, along with lay leaders of local
parishes, especially those in military communities. I thank Alan
Baker for his distinguished service in the chaplaincy, and for
sharing his knowledge of this critical and influential area of
ministry. I am sure that the men and women who have embraced this
call will greatly benefit from the counsel found in Foundations of
Chaplaincy."
-- Dr. Jay Coker
PCUSA pastor (retired) "Dr. Baker employs an introduction coupled
with follow-on chapters building the reader's knowledge, skills,
and competencies for an enhanced ministry of presence. Written
after decades of ministry experience that intertwine diverse fields
of chaplaincy, this textbook should be incorporated into every
chaplain's personal and professional development. Lastly, Dr. Baker
also incorporated discussion questions at the conclusion of each
chapter in Foundations of Chaplaincy that helps assimilate a team's
group discussion on increasing their presence of ministry."
-- Dr. D. A. Grace
chaplain "Retired Navy Chaplain Alan 'Blues' Baker writes valiantly
to recenter and reground US military chaplaincy on foundational
concepts and practices. Chaplain Baker directly addresses military
chaplaincy, but his framework and principles readily apply to
health care, corrections, university, and other chaplaincies. His
six chapters weave together four essential roles of chaplains with
relevant vignettes illustrating ministry in action. He includes
five appendices with tools of the trade for chaplains. The
footnotes and bibliography are helpful to students of chaplaincy,
and the index makes for quick reference. Intentionally or
coincidentally, Baker addresses what might be called a 'battle for
the soul of chaplaincy.' For at least two decades, US military
chaplaincy has struggled to hold on to a coherent conceptual
framework and unifying values. Baker revivifies essential
constructs of chaplain practice and elevates religious support of
(mostly young adults) in uniformed service. Serving others has been
the historic raison d'etre for chaplaincy. These principles push
against a separate strand of contemporary military chaplaincy:
overt sectarianism focused on the nation's culture wars. Chaplain
Baker makes the case: faithful military chaplains are not sectarian
religionists, but agile, compassionate, and devoted spiritual and
pastoral guides. These same principles apply to ministers who
aspire or now serve in multiple chaplaincy settings."
-- Eric Wester
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