Congratulations, you now have the best job in the world! I know it might be hard to believe as you just start out, but being an Anglican school chaplain is even more exciting than being an Archbishop.
You are working in a community that really needs you (even if at times it may not give you that impression). This community is incredibly dynamic and full of energy. It will provide you with plenty of opportunities to use your gifts and abilities. You get to work with students who are amazing young people, filled with energy, passion and enthusiasm, and you are meeting them at a critical time in their lives.
You will work with a staff team who will share your passion for wanting the young people in their care to grow into all they can be. Chances are, as chaplain you will get to work closely with the school leadership. They are incredible people who devote a huge proportion of their time and energy into making their school the best that it can be.
You will engage with lots of parents who, not surprisingly, care deeply about their children, and meet past students who generally love their school because it had such a positive impact upon their life.
As a chaplain in an Anglican school, you will have the most amazing opportunities. Your job will become such a part of your life that you will interpret every event that happens to you from now on as a possible illustration for your next Chapel talk.
You will get to work with more young people in a week than most Anglican parishes will see in a year. And you won’t have to expend any energy trying to find young people as they will come to you. You have a ‘captive’ audience with which you can share your accumulated wisdom and knowledge. You will be regularly challenged and will have the opportunity to grow like never before.
As a chaplain you will find yourself at the meeting ground of the Anglican tradition and the secular world. You face the challenge of being the religious person in your community engaging with the least religious generation in Australia’s history.
Your job will be both immensely challenging and incredibly rewarding. As capable as you are, you won’t be able to do it all on your own strength, your will need God’s help and some supportive people around you. It’s great that you feel called to this important ministry. Welcome aboard!
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