Affiliate Chaplaincies
Trinity College seeks to promote the presence of a robust and diverse religious community on campus, to foster interfaith dialogue, understanding, and cooperation within that community, and to encourage its active participation in the public discourse of the College.
Recognized campus chaplains (affiliate chaplains) work closely with the Office of Spiritual and Religious Life to serve the pastoral needs of students, faculty, and staff on campus, to strengthen the faith communities they represent, and to model mutual respect, love of learning, and care for the common good. In return, the College offers affiliate chaplains an acknowledged place within the College community while honoring their relative autonomy as agents of the religious organizations they represent.
This arrangement presupposes the College’s ability to ensure that the qualifications and actions of its chaplain affiliates reflect the highest professional standards for religious leaders in their communities, that the religious organizations to which they report are in a position to provide adequate accreditations and supervision, and that the College’s standards are met.
Any applications for recognition originate from a religious council, church, or other religious body. The College does not consider applications from individuals. The sending agency submits its application in writing to the Dean of Spiritual and Religious Life. A completed application includes the following:
- a nominating letter from the sponsoring religious council, church, or other religious body,
- a resume of the individual it is nominating,
- a written summary of funding to compensate the nominee and to fund the program,
- a certification that the agency has conducted a background check, including character references, and uncovered no information of concern,
- a certificate of insurance from the sending agency evidencing proof of general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000.00 per occurrence, and
- evidence of health insurance.
Completed applications should be emailed to the Dean of Spiritual and Religious Life. The Dean confers recognition yearly in consultation with the Spiritual and Religious Life Team.
To be recognized as an affiliate chaplain, one should normally be:
- Nominated and endorsed by a national or regional religious organization prepared to supervise and assume ultimate responsibility for their activity,
- Ordained and in good standing with an ordaining body and/or professionally trained for religious work
- Experienced in campus ministry or related areas (e.g., youth work, congregational ministry, teaching, etc.)
- Committed to ecumenical and interfaith cooperation.
- Equipped and eager to participate in the intellectual life of an academic community
- Prepared to spend a significant portion of their work week on Trinity’s campus in direct service to Trinity students, staff, and faculty.
