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FA ADVENTIST CHAPLAINCY
MINISTRIES
DEPARTMENTAL POLICIES

FA 05 Philosophy
The work of Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries (ACM) is in harmony with the
mission of the Churchto restore broken humanity to wholeness for time and
eternity. God created humankind whole and complete, with a mosaic of
characteristics in the spiritual, mental, emotional, and social realms that reflected
the Creator. The impact of sin greatly ravaged that original state, plunging the
human race into crisis and brokenness and creating the need for restoration. Jesus
came to address this need through a ministry of restoration to wholeness, as
stated in the Gospel of John: I am come that they might have life, and that they
might have it more abundantly.John 10:10.
The nature of that restorative ministry is further expanded in The Ministry of
Healing: Christs ministry alone will give true success in reaching the people.
The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His
sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He
bad them, Follow Me.MH 143
Christ entrusted the continuation of His incarnational ministry of restoration
to His Church, providing for a multi-faceted approach responding to people
experiencing crises in ways that are relevant to their felt needs and individual
settings. One dynamic element of this ministry of the Church is the work of
Seventh-day Adventist chaplains. As commissioned/licenced/credentialed
ministers of the Church they labour for people at significant crisis points in their
lives, caring and restoring as did Christ. Working in settings as diverse as
correctional institutions, health-care facilities, military installations, schools,
business, industry, and other places, they are the presence of the Church, often in
places where the Church would otherwise have little or no ministry.

FA 10 Objectives
1. VisionTo develop and communicate to the world Church a vision of
ministry that integrates the work of chaplains and related ministries into the
mission of the Church in taking the gospel to the world.
2. Global Network of Church ACM LeadersTo work with other division
administrators to develop and nurture a global network of ACM leaders who are
entrusted with the development and expansion of this specialised ministry within
their respective territories.
3. ConsultationTo function as a consultative liaison with the Division
administration and ACM leaders within the various unions, providing guidance,
expertise, and support as needed.
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4. Advisories and TaskforcesTo convene and participate in periodic
division and union chaplaincy advisories and taskforces to co-ordinate and
accomplish the work of the department internationally.
5. CommunicationTo provide a means of communication and sharing
among the chaplaincy and church leaders from the Division and unions/attached
fields of the Church, thereby creating a synergy of growth and action in the
development of chaplaincy ministries.
6. ResourcesTo find or develop materials and resources, in consultation
with union personnel, which can be used by both chaplains and ACM leaders.
7. EducationTo work with union leaders in the development and
implementation of educational programmes designed to qualify persons to serve
in chaplaincy and related ministries and for continuing education.
8. Creation of ModelsTo create and disseminate model guidelines,
policies, job descriptions, procedures, and programmes that can be used as
resources in the development of union chaplaincy programmes.
9. Ecclesiastical EndorsementTo work with union ACM leaders in
developing and implementing contextualised ecclesiastical endorsement policies
and procedures as a means of validating and promoting excellence in chaplaincy
and preparing individuals for entry into fields of ministry where endorsement is
required.
10. Related MinistriesTo work with union ACM leaders in the
development and co-ordination of ministries related to chaplaincy, including
pastoral counseling and spiritual formation.

FA 15 Public Campus Ministry
FA 15 05 ObjectivesAdventist Chaplaincy Ministries collaborates with
the Education Department and the Youth Department in providing support to
Seventh-day Adventists who, for a variety of reasons, attend public colleges and
universities around the world. Working under the supervision of a General
Conference appointed committee on Adventist Ministry to College and
University Students (AMiCUS) and in co-ordination with the unions, these three
departments promote and support initiatives designed to meet the spiritual,
intellectual, and social needs of Adventist students on public campuses world-
wide. In co-operation with leaders at various church levels, the committee aims
to achieve these objectives by strengthening the faith commitment of these
students to Seventh-day Adventist beliefs and mission, providing opportunities
for Christian fellowship, preparing students to deal with the intellectual
challenges that arise in a secular environment, developing their leadership
abilities, and training them for outreach, service, and witnessing on the campus,
in the community, and in the world at large.
The AMiCUS Committee co-operates with the Adventist Volunteer Centre
and Adventist Mission by encouraging the involvement of these Adventist
students as student missionaries or volunteers. It also engages the support of the
Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Department in order to obtain, at the
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regional level, Sabbath exemptions for class assignments and examinations for
Seventh-day Adventist students.
FA 15 10 ResponsibilitiesThe AMiCUS Committee provides overall
supervision and co-ordination of this global ministry and, in consultation with
leaders in the unions, promotes initiatives designed to:
1. Organise associations of Adventist students in public campuses and hold
special meetings for them,
2. Distribute College and University Dialogue, a Handbook, and other
materials that support this ministry, and
3. Advise in the training of campus chaplains, lay leaders, and pastors in
university centres.
The committee also develops an annual budget to carry out its international
ministry.
Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries focuses on providing training for campus
chaplains, lay leaders, and pastors in university centres and on developing
materials to support their ministry. Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries also
maintains an international list of Seventh-day Adventist campus chaplains.
FA 15 15 Role of the UnionEach union shall assign to one or two
qualified department directors the responsibility of leading in the ministry to
Adventist students on public college and university campuses, with support from
the Division AMiCUS Committee and in co-ordination with union leaders in
their territory. This ministry seeks to:
1. Foster the organisation and activities of Adventist student associations in
public campuses and to maintain a current list of them,
2. Hold regional meetings for these students,
3. Budget funds for the free distribution of Dialogue and other needed
material,
4. Offer specialised training for campus chaplains, lay leaders, and pastors
in university centres,
5. Train students for outreach, service, and evangelism on their campuses,
their communities, and beyond,
6. Promote the involvement of Seventh-day Adventist university professors
and other professionals as mentors in this ministry,
7. Connect these students with Seventh-day Adventist colleges and
universities as potential transfer students where possible and eventually as
faculty members,
8. Assist local leaders in establishing and maintaining good relations with
administrators of public colleges and universities in which Adventists are
students,
9. Engage the services of the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty
Department in preventing or solving Sabbath observance issues related to
Seventh-day Adventist students in public campuses, and
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10. Provide co-ordination and guidance for this ministry to their counterparts
in the unions and local fields, as well as periodic assessment.

FA 20 Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries Committee
FA 20 05 ResponsibilitiesAll aspects of the work of the Adventist
Chaplaincy Ministries Department, come under the jurisdiction of the
Division/union Ministerial Training and Advisory Committee (MinTAC). As it
also oversees the work of Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries, special attention shall
be given to promoting the establishment of Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries
within each union of the Church.