• Industrial Chaplaincy by B. F. Goldsteen.
• Chaplaincy in Industry by C. E. Watson.
• The Industrial Chaplain by Richard Taylor.

      B. F. GOLDSTEEN, who performs a valuable service in conducting Interim Ministries--to date: Bankstown and Earlwood (N.S.W.); Prahran, North Williamstown, Glen Waverley, and presently at Sunshine (Vic.), is a Christian Layman with a wide experience in Industry. In factories, at the bench and in administration, from junior to managerial levels, he has worked with men in their physical and spiritual needs.

      C. E. WATSON entered the Ministry at Reservoir (Vic.) after employment in industry. Following service in the armed forces during World War II, he did a Rehabilitation Course in Industrial Management. Ministries followed at East Preston, Brunswick, Echuca (Vic.), and Hobart (Tas.). He is presently ministering at Albert Park (S.A.). He established an Industrial Chaplaincy at Holeproof Ltd., while at Brunswick, a church-sponsored Christian Counselling Centre while at Hobart; and is presently engaged in chaplaincy work at South Australian Brush Co. He was recently honored with the appointment of Industrial Chaplain for S.A. by the S.A. Conference Executive

      Is it not true that we--as a Church--provide Chaplains (priests, ministers, preachers--call them by what name you will) that people might have access to the joy and comfort of the message and the man of God in almost every facet of their daily living?

      If we are sick in hospital, there is the hospital Chaplain; in prison, the prison Chaplain; in school, the school Chaplain; and so time consuming and so specialised have so many of these activities become that we have been forced to the inevitable conclusion that only a specialist devoted to the particular task can be of the utmost value.

      Why then, have not we heretofore permitted and even encouraged the preacher to extend his teaching, his evangelistic, his pastoral and his counselling activities from the pulpit to the production line? For here is where more than half the population spend more than half their week-day life. Here is where human relationships are made, are tried and are proved. Here is where modern man spends more time .awake in the company of his work-mates than he is able to spend with his family! Here is where--under the twentieth century pressure of organised industry--tensions are barn and big problems are faced. After all, was it not the emissaries of Jesus Christ who were the forerunners of the trade unions--who protested that the working man had inherent decencies and rights which employers had no warrant to override in their early clamour for profits regardless of human dignity and health? Did not Christ Himself invade the workshop, the fishing fleet and other "work forces" of His earthly day?

      We can be thankful to our God that today not only in this land of ours, do many employers have a regard for the health of their employees, abut they are concerned enough about their personal happiness and serenity of mind as to go to great lengths to improve their lot in a variety of ways. Pleasant eating facilities have been provided, social and recreational facilities abound, congenial working conditions are much in evidence in "big business" today. Alas, all these things--in large measure--provide for the welfare of the body.

      I cannot help but feel that many an industrialist today is conscious of the lack of provision made for his employees on an entirely different level and I KNOW from personal experience that many an employee yearns for someone to whom he can turn in his moments of spiritual need.

      How many experienced writers of text books on the subject of "production" have stressed the need of the peaceful mind in the working man? Not one of us can give of our best physically if we are distressed in the realms of the mind. It is HERE--at this point--that I believe industry needs the Church of the living God.

      Well may it be said that this is but a selfish approach--that such a contribution on the part of the Church is but a contribution to the profits of the capitalist. In defence, I am constrained to say that, speaking purely on a commercial basis, industry not only would be prepared to recognise this truth, but would embrace the opportunity of supporting such a work. It is the considered opinion of many that it both SHOULD and WOULD be quite prepared to assist

the Church in such a way. Indeed many a large enterprise across the face of the globe has already put just such a plan into operation.

      No mention of Chaplains in industry would be complete from the practical point of view without reference to the opportunities afforded and the responsibilities to be accepted by the Christian worker himself. To him falls the challenge of precept and example; to him is given often the first opportunity to lend the sympathising ear and the word of counsel so often sought and so desperately needed by the work-mate outside of Christ. Let not these opportunities be ever lightly taken nor the advice un-thinkingly given!! He is the "front line" evangelist, he meets the MEN of today with the PROBLEMS of today and to him is often given the first--if not the only--opportunity to press the claims of Jesus Christ, his Saviour and his Lord.

      It is to the invitation of a fellow worker to attend a service where the Gospel of his Lord and Master was preached, that many a Christian man today owes his salvation in Christ. A challenging thought it is--that many of our poorly attended Lord's Day evening Gospel services would become a thing of the past if each Christian worker committed himself to praying, loving and INVITING his fellows into the Kingdom of his God.

      No great step really is the Chaplain in industry from the "worker evangelist" except in the matter of degree. Certain advantages are his, it is true; for he will be trained to the job--and whatever happens as a result of any burst of enthusiasm we as a Brotherhood may initiate, let us resolve here and now that we shall NEVER, LET AN UNTRAINED MAN LOOSE IN THIS WORK; he will be consecrated to the task; he will have the backing of management and--unless I am very ill-informed--he will have special opportunities and facilities (as to time and place) provided by management as a matter of both courtesy and right.

      There is a tremendous opportunity for the Church to carry her message of Salvation, comfort and love to thousands of people by the means of introducing Chaplains into industry. Taken at its fullest, this action presents not only the opportunity of introducing men to Jesus Christ who never would encounter Him in any other place in the normal course of their lives, but it presents also the opportunity of TELLING them of God's answers to the problems of their everyday living.

      TO DO ALL THIS, the Church has both a warrant and a call; to HEAR THIS, consciously or unconsciously, thousands outside any other influence of the Church have a God-implanted yearning in their souls.

      THIS I BELIEVE.

--B. F. Goldsteen.      

Introduction.

      Today we see the development of the industrial Giant, vast enterprises that produce ever increasing quantities of goods--products of all kinds for the teeming populations of the world.

      Scientific discoveries and increasing technical skills constantly add to this modern phenomenon.

      In all this we see an ever-growing proportion of population engaged in these enterprises in some way.

      Armies of men and women are concentrated together toward one end--marshalled and controlled as a vast human machine.

      It is here that many thousands of men and women spend by far the greatest portion of their waking hours--this is where they really live, and here, I believe, the Church must meet them.

      Here we have a great community with all its need, many who have never known any functioning faith, and a tragically large number of de-franchised Christians. They have no effective faith--no fellowship--no-where to go in their hours of deep need.

      It may well be argued, as indeed it is, that modern business has already recognised and met the needs of its employees--that provision is made through trained personnel officers--welfare schemes--medical, dental, and optical care and the like. It is equally true that the Trade Union movement has been instrumental in vastly improving hours, conditions and wage standards for many millions.

      In the light of these facts the questions are: "What can a Chaplain contribute that is not already covered?" and "Do we need Chaplaincy in Industry at all?"

      Before we can usefully proceed with the subject "The Chaplaincy in Industry" we should seek an answer to these two questions. While there might be many answers, I herewith submit two which I consider basic:--

      1. In spite of the giant strides made in improving the physical conditions of those engaged in industry, man's deepest needs, his underlying needs, can often be met only at the spiritual level--and only the Church has this unique contribution to make.

      2. The Chaplain, because of his training and background, is able best to deal with the many and varied problems that lie outside the normal scope of personnel departments, i. e., in the home--child problems--marital disharmonies and their many repercussions. It is obviously true that such problems as we have quoted, though they are "outside" the actual orbit of factory, office or shop, must and do have, tremendous bearing on the work and productivity of those involved in them.

      To many the thought of the Church being active in industry is either amusing or ridiculous--for so long we have thought this way--the Christian man goes out to work on five days a week in industry, there he seeks to maintain his Christian witness in the midst of cynicism and unbelief, where he feels the whole aim and objective is gain.

      He feels there is no relationship between the way he must needs spend the larger part of his waking hours and the faith which he holds. He's right.

      That there is so little relationship

comes, I believe, because the Church, in her separateness, has never attempted to influence industry in any positive planned way. Maybe until now industry was not ready--had not "grown to the place", but "now" is the time, the time for the Church to make impact.

      Even as she went into a world based on a "slave social system" with the message of her Lord--that God so loved the World that He gave His only begotten Son that "whosoever" believeth on Him should not perish . . . the word that gave value to every human personality, however humble, ignorant, or debased, so she must go again with the relevant word.

      She must go again as she did through the work and witness of Elizabeth Fry, into the foul-smelling dungeons of England's prisons, until the community mind was inflamed and at least some reform gained.

      This time she must enter industry with the practical, everyday application of the Christian message--the Kingdom of God in action. Lest we consider such action too revolutionary, I believe we already have signs of such changing perspective in other fields of Christian outreach. Most prominent of these changes is in the field of Overseas Missions. Where once the primary qualification could have been in Theology and other skills acceptable adjuncts we are now quite happy to send Christian ambassadors whose Christian faith is manifest throughout almost the whole field of healing science and technology!

      Are these less effective as Missioners than those of an earlier age? I am sure we shall all answer, no! for through such servants as Brethren Rex Chamberlain and Frank Beale, with their devoted wives, Christ is speaking the common language of human need, even as He is speaking through a great army of such men and women through out the world.

      Let us remember that the Apostle Paul was Tentmaker as well as Apostle!

      As surely as the Church has heard the missionary challenge abroad and among our own aborigines, just as surely should we hear the cry of the unsaved thousands in cur own community--what better market place than modern industry?--what other way than Chaplaincy?

      Assuming now, that we have established a basis for our discussion "The Chaplaincy in Industry" let us examine the question more specifically. Firstly, let us say, the Church must have a focal point, a place of entry--and this be through representative, specially appointed Chaplains (or Padres). Secondly let us consider the Chaplain under two main headings:--

      (i) The Chaplain in the organisation, (or "Where does he fit in?)

      (ii) The Chaplain at the functional level (or "What does he do?)

The Chaplain in the Organisation:--

      Here the Chaplain becomes a part of the Personnel Dept., for here is the nerve centre, through which the needs, problems and difficulties of the whole staff are registered. Here a wide-awake staff are able to feel the pulse of the whole establishment from top to base.

      One should not say "strangely enough", for I have found among personnel staffs an intense awareness of the real and deepest needs of those who come under their care. Rather than a feeling that the Chaplain is an interloper and meddler in their affairs, my experience in three industrial concerns (in three different industries) has been one of welcome and co-operation.

      Regardless of particular religious

affiliations, or even where no affiliations existed, there remained the realisation that many needs of men and women lay in a field which was, in a peculiar way, the province of the Chaplain. The Church has a unique message and a unique contribution to make. Here we can see this fact clearly demonstrated--when all other contributions have been made, physical and psychological, and no one would deny their essentiality, man, within his very self, remains unfed and unsatisfied.

      Down through the centuries the words are repeated by experience "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

      Though man in many and devious ways has sought to ignore this great tenet of living, nowhere can we see its truth more clearly demonstrated than in the Welfare State, and now

The Chaplain at the Functional Level:--

      (a) As a Counsellor . . .

      In the fullest and truest meaning of the word, the Chaplain is a Counsellor.

      Right here and now let us be reminded of the essential difference between an Advisor and a Counsellor. Often we fail to see the difference and thus offer or proffer advice under the illusion we are counselling. Sometimes the Chaplain is an advisor but far more frequently he is a Counsellor--leading, encouraging, prompting and probing, ultimately seeking to bring new light and understanding to the person seeking help.

      The development and skillful use of counselling know-how is (at least I have found it so) not as easily accomplished as one may imagine and it may be particularly so to those whose background and training has been "to tell", thinking particularly of lawyers, doctors, ministers, priests and others who tend toward the "I'll tell you" occupations and professions.

      However, whatever the difficulties may be in this regard, the Chaplain is required to be a Counsellor and his skill in this field cannot be over-estimated.

      (b) The Chaplain as Liaison.

      Because the Chaplain is available equally to all, ideally he should be without partiality, the man of "low estate" and the one of "high degree" are able to see that they are alike in God's sight. They stand equal in the mind and heart of the Chaplain as a reflection of the impartiality of God.

      Here lies one of the crucial points in the whole question of the Chaplain in industry, for here must the Chaplain represent, not a denomination, but the "mind of Christ."

      There is no future for the Church and her Chaplains in industry unless they who are to be her (the Church's) tongue, hands and feet, are able to lay aside as a garment their most precious doctrines, to shun even the very shade of ecclesiasticism, and, in both word and deed operate as the channel of the Living Christ--the Holy Spirit.

      As most of the common man's rejection and neglect of the Church has come by way of the woeful schisms within her, can we really hope to make restoration of any kind unless we are "big" enough to step across these man-made walls?

      Essentially, then, the Chaplain should help re-establish contact between the "person" and his Church, or, where necessary, initially establish such a contact.

      Often, all too often, it has been found that the problems and situations that confront the Chaplain stem from this estrangement of the individual and family from the Church and, consequently, from God.

      For those firmly established in the Christian faith there is the

danger of "despising our birthright", we accept as commonplace such grace as forgiveness--we cannot comprehend what life would be without it.

      The story of a young woman we shall call "Joyce" may help our thinking here.

      Joyce was a skilled worker in a mill. She was 32 years of age--blonde and nicely spoken. Behind this pleasant facade lay much heart-ache. Joyce had two periods of Electro-Convulsive Therapy--a deep fear and a broken marriage. A divorce case was pending when interviews commenced although Joyce was still deeply in love with her husband. Somehow, nothing seemed to go right for Joyce. For most of the early interviews ail Joyce did was to cry. Many weeks and many interviews later the "key" was discovered and, I believe, used for the healing of this sad soul. Strange as it may sound, in Christian ears, Joyce had no knowledge or sense of God's forgiveness though she said she had sought with tears in many places.

      Because of this the shadow of guilt from a very early sexual escapade had coloured and broken her life.

      The forgiveness we "take for granted" was the healing therapy of God for this life.

      Let us look quickly at another situation--the wife of a timber machinist whom we shall call Mrs. F.

      Mrs. F. has had psychiatric treatment on a number of occasions, and has now reached the stage where no further treatment has any value. She spends her days in apathy and sleep. Life is empty of purpose and meaning. After consultation with her doctor we are setting out to provide a stimulate interest which is now the only answer to this woman's need.

      Here, as so often, the Chaplain is a living signpost pointing man to God--to fuller life and better health.

      (c) The Chaplain as a Person.

      If you have managed to hold interest through the preceding sections of the pamphlet, you may well be wondering just what kind of person would fit into the pattern we have sought to draw for you.

      Let us ask you, the reader, a question. What kind of person would YOU place in such a work--what would be his background, his aptitudes, his training?

      Would you agree that, primarily, it is the "person" you would choose. That before you could consider background, training and aptitudes you would ask, What kind of "person" is he?

      Should you give priority to the "person"; I believe you would be correct. Before any skills can operate, the Chaplain must be accepted by the men and women he seeks to serve. He cannot "command" an entrance to the lives of those about him--he can enter only through hearts and minds opened to him freely and of choice.

      Next, what would be the background of the one you would choose? Should he have lived and worked in industry himself--learned somewhat of the deep and often inherited fears that lurk in the minds and hearts of so many wage-earners--felt something of the fierce tensions that build up (and often break) in the lives of those in management--know what it is like to try to meet the "quota"?

      Surely something of the deep understanding and love of Jesus came through His work in the Carpenter's shop--through the stress of poverty in the home of His widowed mother?

      Then just as surely could understanding and sympathy for man's deep need come to His disciples today!

      You would choose a man who

had himself shared the fears and burdens.

      Finally, the one you would choose must be one prepared to be a channel through which God can reach man in all his needs. All other attributes the Chaplain may possess are incidental. God alone makes men whole.

Conclusion:--

      Through this tiny window we have sought to bring you a vision of a field "white unto the harvest" in which the labourers are few. Here indeed are men "as sheep without a shepherd." I believe the Church can, through its Chaplains co-ordinating, encouraging and utilising the Christian witness of many faithful men and women within industry, lead to higher and better standards of life and ethics throughout the nation.

      Here again the words of the Master, "The harvest truly is plenteous but the labourers are few", (Matt. 9:37), are a challenge to us.

--C. E. Watson.      

      As an act of service to Industry and our community, the Church is now beginning to place Industrial Chaplains within factories.

      Their task is to bring to Industry the assistance of their specialised training in dealing with counselling and those individual and domestic problems which are outside of management's task to help solve.

      Through the Industrial Chaplains is available the very considerable work of Social Service which is being carried out by the Christian churches.

      The Industrial Chaplain is concerned with the establishment of good employer-employee relationships based upon Christian standards of good conduct, because the lack of this is so often the cause of an individual's tension or frustration. An Industrial Chaplain does NOT intervene in an industrial dispute.

      This is an inter-church work which is being operated in Victoria by the Anglican Trade and Industrial Mission in association with a committee comprising representatives of the Victorian Council of Churches, the Roman Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox Church.

      It is vital that the Industrial Chaplain should be paid by the Church and not by the management of the organisation in which he is operating. Experience has shown that only under these circumstances can the Chaplain gain the confidence of all sections of our industrial community. To this end there is established an Industrial Chaplaincy Fund.

      (This extract is supplied to furnish information as to how the Church is moving in one of our States to supply the Chaplaincy in Industry, which is described in this pamphlet. Main lines of policy are also outlined. In addition to this, individual ministers are taking the initiative to become Chaplains in factories in their own area on a part-time basis.)

      For further reading: "Christians in an Industrial Society."

--Richard Taylor (S.C.M.)