Community Chaplain Canada
Who We AreBusy lifestyles and distance frequently mean visits from family members are few and far between, leaving these dear people feeling unwanted. Often, even churches, being busy with programs to reach young people and families, neglect these precious men and women who have contributed greatly to making our world a better place.
About Us
Our History
David Kimball founded Community Chaplain Service in 1972 in Massachusetts, USA. He felt that the Christian church needed to reach out to the secular part of society – because the need was great and so little ministry was meeting that need. Our Canadian organization was birthed in 1991 by Rev. Earl Hodgkins. We were incorporated the following year as a non profit charitable organization under the New Brunswick law. The organization headquarters was moved to Alberta in 2021 and rebranded under the name Community Chaplain Service (Canada) Society.
About Us
Who We Serve
We provide chaplaincy services to seniors in Care Facilities. Our interdenominational chaplains strive to bring friendship and comfort to the residents through the historic “Jesus Way” gospel tradition of God’s self giving love..
The people we serve may or may not have any religious beliefs. We visit all residents, regardless of affiliation. Our chaplains often become friends – someone who listens and cares. And to some residents, the chaplain can become almost like family. We are committed to honoring the dignity of each resident’s spiritual journey in a non-coercive, non-indoctrinating welcoming spirit.
When asked to visit a Care Facility, we visit every available resident, working with the activity director or resource person. The director suggests those residents who might benefit from his/her visit, as well as informing the Chaplain as to changes, new residents, deaths, and helping the Chaplain in the visitation.
Values We Affirm
We affirm the following as the groundwork of our faith and mission:
A belief in God as the source of all life, wholeness, and love
That God is revealed most succinctly in the person and work of the historic Jesus of Nazareth as written in the Scriptures
That in His life, Jesus reveals God in grace, mercy, forgiveness and justice
That in His death, Jesus reveals God’s determined presence in the world even in the face of hatred, violence and pain
That in His resurrection, Jesus reveals God calling us to abundant life both now and forever, life beyond our fearful and fragile imaginations
That God lives among us, within us, and through us, by the power of the Holy Spirit
That God encourages us to be together in communities of faith, hope, and love
It is our desire and mission to love the seniors we serve with authenticity, as Jesus did, treating all as creations made in God’s very image, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental ability, nationality, or economic class.
It is our desire and mission to express our faith in such a way that promotes unity through diversity, inclusivity, and the pursuit of the common good rooted and grounded in Christian love.