Elim has over 100 chaplains working in areas including education, healthcare, prisons, the armed forces and emergency services. Elim brings together chaplains so that they can get to know others working in similar fields and share knowledge and best practice. We also work to equip and encourage chaplains, as we recognise the importance of their vital work.

elim.org.uk/chaplaincy

Who we are

Chaplains are men and women of all ages who are trained to offer care and support, regardless of race, gender or culture. They do not impose their own spiritual values on others; instead, they allow people to explore and examine their own beliefs and meaning of life. Some chaplains are required to be recognised pastors, but many are trained lay people.

What we do

Our aim is to care for people at their point of need, by communicating the love of Christ in a compassionate and practical way. Equipped with theological training and pastoral care, chaplains minister to people in many life situations and particularly to those facing deeply distressing situations, enabling them to better cope with periods of instability.

Latest Chaplaincy News

LATEST STORIES

Sporting chance to reach people with the gospel...

How are sports chaplains making a difference on and off the pitch? Phil Mitchell and Jon Grant explain.

Faith, rugby, and mental health: How one chaplain is changing the game

When Ammanford Rugby Club asked its chaplain Marcus Thomas to help improve mental health support for players, he leapt at the opportunity. He told Chris Rolfe about his work supporting both club and community

10 things you didn't know about school chaplaincy

In a recent Limitless podcast Ruth Motion and Mike Haslam shared the lowdown on what life is like for school chaplains. Here’s what we learned...

God doesn’t lose interest as we age

Last year, Anna Chaplaincy ministry lead Debbie Ducille spoke at ELS about how her organisation supports older people. She tells the Anna Chaplaincy story

Older people need a voice, so I became a care home chaplain

When Anne Bowers became Elim’s first Anna Chaplain last year, she joined an organisation putting spiritual care for older people centre stage

How Elim churches can be really good news in the sporting community

Don’t pray for victory when taking the kids to football club, says Warren Evans

Paul's dream job as chaplain

As a child, Paul Johnson wanted to become part of the team at St Helens rugby club. Now Paul, who is a leadership team member at an Elim church, has achieved that – as the club’s chaplain

Thinking outside the box!

When the pandemic first hit, the UK’s healthcare chaplains were forced to rethink the way they ministered to patients. Trust chaplain Keith Ponsford found an innovative solution in a two-inch cube

Chaplaincy Mission

Our aim is to care for people at their point of need, by communicating the love of Christ in a compassionate and practical way. Equipped with theological training and pastoral care, chaplains minister to people in many life-situations and particularly to those facing deeply distressing situations, enabling them to better cope with periods of instability.

Discover

We are committed to discovering future chaplains from our local churches. We are looking for people who are passionate about helping those in need and turning that passion into practice.

Develop

We are committed to develop and train prospective chaplains, providing them with the necessary confidence and competence skills they need. We offer an excellent ‘Chaplains Foundation Course’ and a ‘Chaplains Conference’ each year.

Deploy

We are committed to deploying chaplains in to the community. This may be voluntary or paid, either full or part-time. We are building links with like-minded organisations to expand deployment opportunities.

The role of a chaplain

Chaplains are present and good listeners, provide a safe environment for people to share their feelings, they help people work through life issues and assist in times of crisis.

Pastors

They need to be able to listen, care, empathise, understand, and be available to those in need.

Interpreters

They try to identify, understand and share in issues affecting the culture of a particular context and what God is doing there and to help the people there to understand God. This means winning the right to be heard.

Ambassadors

They represent the Church, and they also report back to the Church about the new insights they have gained.

Guests

In the contexts they serve, but often work by acting as hosts crossing bridges to provide hospitality, welcome and interaction with others

Pray-ers

They pray for the places where they work and when it is appropriate they pray with people.

Connectors

They connect their faith with their context by being chaplains to all and demonstrate gospel values such as compassion and concern for social justice.

Chaplaincy Training

We are committed to ensuring that all of our accredited Chaplains and Chaplaincy Team Members are trained with purpose for the task at hand.

Chaplaincy Foundation Course 2025

The Chaplaincy Foundation Course (CFC) is a valuable and comprehensive introduction to the work and role of a chaplain.

10 am Thursday 25 September to Friday 26 September 2025

Course details

The course is open to everyone who wants to explore the ministry of chaplaincy, either in a paid or voluntary post. Ministers, leaders, church members are invited to apply. Candidates may already have some experience and may wish to explore further.

The course is taught by Pentecostal ministers who are experienced Lead Chaplains in their specialist fields. This is an exploratory course and does not offer any formal qualification in chaplaincy. A certificate of attendance is awarded.

Course modules

The whys of workplace visiting
Understanding the business you’re visiting
Practical skills for workplace chaplains
Pastoring—core skills
Prophecy for workplace chaplains
The relationship between your chaplaincy and the local church
Important information about working in a multi-faith setting

To book online - follow the link below.

Chaplaincy Conference 2025

This conference serves as an opportunity for professional development. Learn from active Chaplains, hear stories of how chaplaincy opens the door to faith, and be inspired to support chaplaincy in your local area.

12 pm Friday 26 September to 2pm Saturday 27 September 2025

Conference details

We continue to be excited about the growing number of Ministers and lay church members who are serving God in such diverse places as prisons, hospitals, schools, sports, retail centres and the armed forces.

The work is pastoral, offering compassion and a listening ear, but also affirming and encouraging, bringing an informed Christian view to the places that we visit and people we meet.

Our aim is to care for people at their point of need, communicating the love of Christ in a compassionate and practical way. Experienced chaplains, ministers, church members and those just wanting to know more are welcome!

Book now

The fees include one night accommodation on Friday 26 September 2025, all meals and refreshments during the conference period.
If you require accommodation the evening before, this becomes a private arrangement between you and the Elim Conference Centre
Conference registration opens Friday 26 September 2025 at 12 noon, just before lunch that is provided before the first session.
First session commences at 2.00 pm
Conference closes 2.00 pm Saturday 27 September 2025.

To book online - follow the link below.

MA in Applied Theology with Chaplaincy Specialism

This programme will enable you to delve in more detail into a number of theological areas relevant to the application of theological knowledge, chaplaincy within Christian ministry, insights and research to especially (but not exclusively) Pentecostal ministry, and to deepen your knowledge and passion for the science and practice of theology in this context.

Learn more

Contact Us

Nigel Tween is the director of the Elim Chaplaincy Association.

If you would like to know more please get in touch. T: 07495 144542

Contact Us

Working in partnership

Elim Chaplaincy works in partnership with a variety of organisations which support the work of chaplaincy.

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Leaders

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