Anna Chaplains become members of the Anna Chaplaincy network, nationally and within the Diocese of Salisbury. Anna Chaplains are commissioned for five years, which may be renewed by mutual agreement. Anna Chaplains and their churches will, at all times, serve within the principles, guidelines and ethos of Anna Chaplaincy and comply with the BRF rules on the use of the brand.
Alongside the development of Anna Chaplains, another role has emerged organically: that of an Anna Friend. Such volunteers are proving invaluable as they work alongside the Anna Chaplain, often giving a few hours a week to suit their own circumstances and playing to their strengths and gifts. In this way, Anna Chaplaincy is empowering more lay people to be part of supporting older people and meeting their spiritual needs. Anna Friends are discerned, recruited and authorised by the local church, and operate under the supervision of an Anna Chaplain and their incumbent.
Online course for new Anna Chaplains: a Zoom training course is offered by the BRF for new Anna Chaplains. It happens over six two-hour sessions, with the Anna Chaplaincy Handbook as essential reading. Trainers are subject specialists, and groups of no more than 14 allow for interaction; guest Anna Chaplains also contribute. Courses run several times a year and the current cost is £90, plus £25 (and £3 P&P) for the Handbook.
If you are interested in establishing Anna Chaplaincy in your local church and community, we suggest that your next steps might be:
- Pray.
- Discuss with your PCC and ministry team what the opportunities and needs of your area might be, and how these could be addressed through the appointment of one or more Anna Chaplains.
- Will the PCC fund the cost of a BRF course and/or handbook, or expect the individuals to make a contribution? Discern who might be the Anna Chaplains or Anna Friends. You can start with one person, although a small team is ideal. You could talk with other denominations and parishes in your local area.
- Approach those you have discerned and encourage them to reflect on and complete a Discernment Document. This might require one or more further conversations with you or others in your team.
- If the people identified as potential Anna Chaplains are not already LPAs or LLMs, but have significant pastoral skills and experience through their work, contact the Diocesan Lay Ministry Development Officer to discuss how their pastoral skills training might be completed.
- When a person is ready to proceed, they will need to complete a Registration and Declaration form, which will also require endorsement by their incumbent.
- The Lay Ministry Development Officer will arrange a conversation with each candidate and their incumbent and make a recommendation to the Bishop.
- If the proposed Anna Chaplain is recommended, then you will need to complete a Ministry Specification form with them and arrange a commissioning with the relevant area office.
- The Lay Ministry Office will arrange for a sub-licence to be prepared and signed so that your parish can use the Anna Chaplaincy logo on materials produced to support the ministry of the Anna Chaplain.
- Discuss with your incumbent or other appropriate ministry team member what the opportunities and needs of your local area might be, and how this ministry would complement the current work of the local church.
- With the support of your ministry team, work on completing a Discernment Document to help you identify whether this ministry is right for you.
- If you are not already an LPA or LLM, but have significant pastoral skills and experience through your work, talk to your incumbent and contact the Diocesan Lay Ministry Development Officer to discuss how your pastoral skills training might be completed.
- Check that your DBS checks and safeguarding training are up to date (less than three years since last completed). Training can be completed here. You would need to complete the Basic and Foundation Courses as well as Raising Awareness of Domestic Abuse.
- Arrange for any appropriate Anna Chaplaincy training. BRF run regular courses specifically for Anna Chaplains, so email annachaplaincy@brf.org.uk for details.
- When ready to proceed, complete a Registration and Declaration Form and return it to the Lay Ministry Office for the Diocese.
- A recommendation will then be made to the Area Bishop, and a commissioning service arranged. This will not only include a commission from the Bishop, but you would also need to sign a sub-licence with the BRF, so that you can use the brand and logo in promoting your work as an Anna Chaplain.