Community Chaplain, Full-Time, Episcopal: Boston, MA
Summary: MANNA (Many Angels Needed Now and Always) is a ministry of, by, for, and with people experiencing homelessness on and near Boston Common. MANNA is a community of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul (Episcopal), which works closely with other service providers and city agencies. On average, we serve 45-100 people each day we gather in community.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Individual and Communal Pastoral Care (80%)
• Be present with the community Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday when the community is gathered and offer support and pastoral care as appropriate.
• Work collaboratively with the Head Pastor and pastoral care team to ensure the community as a whole is receiving care.
• Support all MANNA programs including seasonal and extra worship services (memorials, etc.) and community events (Winter Walk, Walk for Hunger, retreats of any kind, etc.). MANNA is operational on all Monday holidays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Eve. Must have availability to work in rotation with other MANNA staff members for Monday holidays and major holidays.
• Visit community members in hospital, jail, or on the street as needed.
• Accompany community members as needed to bus/train station or appointments (housing, medical, crisis intervention teams) in collaboration with the Head Pastor.
• Help reduce harm by being fully present with eyes on the community as a whole, defusing conflict, intervening when necessary to keep drugs and alcohol out of the space, managing tensions and encouraging the community to be “pillars of peace,” and, if necessary, asking community members to leave for the day.
• Assist in the day-to-day operations of MANNA.
• Officiate at MANNA Eucharist in rotation with the pastoral care team.
• Facilitate community meetings in rotation with the pastoral care team.
BACHome Council Duties and Responsibilities (20%)
Boston’s Advisory Council on Ending Homelessness (BACHome Council) is dedicated to uplifting the voices of those with lived experience with homelessness in Boston. The BACHome Council meets the first and third Tuesday of every month in City Hall. The Council discusses issues pertinent to people impacted by homelessness in the City.
• Attend BACHome Council meetings every first and third Tuesday each month.
• Co-edit BACHome agendas and meeting notes with Head Pastor.
• Provide spiritual and emotional support to BACHome Council members at regular meetings and in-between meetings by phone or by Zoom.
• Assist Head Pastor in coordinating meetings with the Mayor’s Office of Housing, the City of Boston, and any other participating group working with BACHome.
Qualifications
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• A call to a ministry of presence with people experiencing homelessness, substance use disorders, and/or mental illness.
• A desire and an ability to work well as part of a small ministry team.
• Capacity to greet the community in the spirit of love, always working towards reconciliation and redemption in the midst of challenging behavior.
• Commitment to engage with the community at every level, from casual to deep listening, offering a spirit of compassion which honors the dignity of all human beings.
• A call to work across difference of class, race, gender, faith traditions.
• Willingness and ability to work Monday holidays and major holidays. MANNA is operational on all Monday holidays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Eve. Must have availability to work in rotation with other MANNA staff members for Monday holidays and major holidays.
• Ability to be flexible with hours.
• Commitment to anti-racism work in collaboration with the Cathedral
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Office Suite (Teams, Microsoft Word, Power Point)
• Spanish language proficiency preferred but not required.
• Position offered for clergy or lay ministers.
Work Environment
The Cathedral serves people of diverse cultures and backgrounds, including unhoused persons, in a busy urban neighborhood. We are committed to celebrating belonging, equity, inclusion and diversity within and among our congregations, employees and visitors, and candidates must be able to affirm these commitments. We are an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. MANNA serves a diverse community of people who have experienced/are experiencing trauma and need strong support to be successful in community. De-escalation training and trauma-informed care training are part of orientation for MANNA employees.
To apply, please email a resume and cover letter to hr@diomass.org.
Additional Information