The Missouri Fire Chaplain Corps (MFCC) is a professional organization dedicated to encouraging fire chaplaincy throughout the state, and professional training, networking, and mutual support of chaplains in their departments across Missouri. It has been in existence for 15 years responding to hundreds of events and conducting numerous training events, including classes at the Winter Fire School. It’s my desire over the next several issues of this magazine to provide a follow column to help departments to consider the advantages of having a well-trained chaplain available in times of crisis.
Fire chaplains can come from a variety of sources. They may be a member of the department, local clergy, or lay volunteers. They exist to provide moral and spiritual support to firefighters, their families, and the community as needed. The specific duties of a chaplain are defined by their local department. They are officially appointed to these duties by the local fire chief and are endorsed by a faith-based organization, which is responsible for their moral and professional conduct as a chaplain. All members of the Missouri Fire Chaplain Corps are required to have such a letter of endorsement, and an appointment letter from their department. The core provides training in a variety of areas from the culture of the fire service to critical incident stress management.
Because many of the Corps chaplains are also clergy, it is difficult for them to attend weekend events, such as the Winter Fire School. At its recent annual meeting and training event, the MFCC decided to offer a second training event in conjunction with the Winter Fire School to be held on the two days before the exposition that proceeds the school. The rationale for this action was threefold. One to provide additional training opportunities in a central location. Two to chaplains more exposure to firefighters, the exposition, and courses offered through the fire school. The third was to allow firefighters and departments interested in chaplaincy to experience the training and to talk with chaplains about what they bring to their departments, and encourage them to promote chaplaincy within their department.
2022 marks the initial winter chaplain school, so to speak. Two classes will be offered. The first is the Essentials of Fire Chaplaincy, specifically to train new chaplains and acquaint those interested in chaplaincy with what it is. This class is scheduled for February 2-3 and will be offered at the Campus Lutheran Church, 304 South College Avenue, Columbia, MO 65201. The second class offered will be The Secrets of Psychological Body Armor ™ – Holistic Wellness for Emergency Services and Healthcare Professions offered on February 3 and is open to anyone in the fire service. It will also be held at the campus Lutheran Church. The cost for the essentials course is $120. The cost for The Secrets of Psychological Body Armor course is $60. If you are interested in attending either of these courses you can email Chaplain Ed Hatcher at edhat@earthlink.net or call 618-207-9487.
In future columns, I will discuss what a fire chaplain or public service chaplain is and how it differs from other ministries, different models of chaplaincy, what to look for in selecting a chaplain, and how to sustain a chaplaincy within a department. I will also illustrate different examples of fire chaplaincy from around the country to show how a chaplain or the MFCC can be utilized.
I hope you find this topic interesting and will send me your questions so I can address specific concerns. I hope you will join us at our training or visit our booth at the exposition.
FFAM
