Workplace chaplains are a good idea

There is a rather unique start up business forming in the central Pennsylvania called Chaplain Care which is a workplace chaplaincy program.  Chaplain Care, based in central Pennsylvania (Lewisburg), was created to offer a unique care and assistance program for employers and employees to help with their personal and professional life issues. They provide this care by building a caring relationship between the chaplain and the employee by providing a level of care that is not usually experienced. All relationships are strictly confidential and are done with the employee's permission.  That way the employee is always in charge of how far they would like that relationship to grow.

Chaplain Care will care for employees in the workplace through a variety of programs. These programs may include some or all of the following depending on the company’s needs: advising company management, confidential employee encouragement, crisis intervention and critical incident assistance, programs for worship or prayer, referrals to other professionals and agencies as needed, death and serious accident and injury notifications, hospital and emergency room visits, and assisting by planning and speaking at "in-house" or outside special events. Whatever the scope of each family's problems or concerns, Chaplain Care can help.

Chaplain Care is sometimes called a "ministry of presence" and they are trained to work in a secular environment and be on call or on-site 24/7/365 to counsel any employee on any matter, either personal or professional.  The chaplain will wear "civilian" clothes and regularly visit with employees at their work stations or offices, establishing a relationship with the employee and making them aware that additional counseling is available at anytime, especially during emergencies.  The chaplain will also visit sick and bereaved employees and their families at their homes, hospitals, funeral homes, etc.  

This is a great idea whose time has truly come – caring for workers at their place of business.  So many people are un-churched today and reaching out to them in some way makes sense.  This is an unobtrusive way that professionals can provide the “ministry of caring” to those who need it most and are most unlikely to get it.  Chaplain Care can be reached at http://www.chaplaincare.us/.

Biblical free speech?

Westboro Baptist Church has made the news again.  This time it’s because they have won their case to protest at military funerals because it is considered free speech.  The Supreme Court voted 8-1 that it is against their 1^st amendment rights to not allow the church (I use that term loosely) to protest at military funerals and the like.  The decision upheld an appeals court ruling that threw out a $5 million judgment to the York County father of a fallen Marine who sued church members after they picketed his son's funeral.

Chief Justice John Roberts said "What Westboro said, in the whole context of how and where it chose to say it, is entitled to 'special protection' under the First Amendment, and that protection cannot be overcome by a jury finding that the picketing was outrageous."  As much as this decision makes me upset, I believe it is the right one.  In other words, just because we don’t like something that others say does not mean that we can stop them from doing it. 

Chief Justice John Roberts explain that the court must protect hurtful speech on public issues to ensure that we do not stifle public debate.  Timothy Nieman, the Harrisburg lawyer who filed the brief supporting Albert Snyder on behalf of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said he understood the justices’ logic, but disagreed with their decision. I think that most Christian people will agree with Nieman.  Just because we don’t like it doesn’t make it wrong.  Bust as my wife always says, “Just because you can do it (Westboro Baptist) doesn’t mean you should.  Protesting a funeral for the purpose of getting your message across is hardly ethical, right, decent, moral, loving, merciful, or doing what Jesus would do – but that doesn’t make it wrong under the constitution.

But I find it interesting that other free speech like street preaching in Harrisburg at a bus stop is not considered free speech but ramblings of a deranged man who must be stopped now.  What the heck is going on?  How come when it comes to free speech issues those who speak against the Word always have their way and those that speak the Word must be stopped?