Of all the roles in the British armed forces, what is the role of the military chaplain?
It's a very important role. Chaplains work with people who have work in demanding situations - sometimes even taking life. We want them to behave in ways that reflect the values of our society, in ways that are morally responsible, even under the pressures of armed conflict. As well as their responsibilities in communicating and maintaining those values, chaplains also perform other vital roles, working with others to maintain morale and resilience among serving personnel and their families.
In this podcast I continue my May 2025 conversation with Dr Chris Mackel who, as part of his work with the British army, was coaching people in the chaplaincy role. The role is multi-faceted and nuanced, and in it we explore the relationships between chaplains, senior officers, and others who provide spiritual support to service personnel. We explore the different pressures a chaplain works under - to what extent is their role a career or a vocation? How does coaching support the people performing these roles? Chris also shares his own approach to working with other people of the Christian faith.
If you also work in a sector where you have to wrestle with the tensions between vocation and career, or are just interested in getting deeper insights into our armed forces, listen to this follow-up to my previous conversation with Chris about coaching in the forces.
Resources
180 degree feedback in the UK military