The Interfaith Committee on Chaplaincy in the Correctional Service of Canada

Description

Representative of The United Church of Canada to The Interfaith Committee on Chaplaincy in the Correctional Service of Canada

The United Church is seeking one person to serve on this interfaith body that advises the Correctional Services of Canada on matters relating to effective spiritual care and religious services within federal correctional environments

Vacancies: One vacancy

Key skills: Able to function well in an ecumenical and multifaith context with grace and patience; knowledge of and interest in criminal justice and corrections (or a willingness to acquire this knowledge); able to commit the time required for this responsibility

Meeting expectations: Two online and two in-person meetings per year; one to three site visits each year, which may include travel

Mandate

The Interfaith Committee on Chaplaincy (IFC) works with the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) on the mutual goal of ensuring the delivery and ongoing improvement of effective spiritual care and religious services to offenders. The provision of effective spiritual care and religious services within a correctional environment is an integral part of the continuum of care of offenders that incorporates the principles of restorative justice. According to the Memorandum of Understanding, the IFC works alongside CSC in three areas:

1. Providing advice: IFC advises CSC on chaplaincy-related matters including policy documents, provision and use of sacred spaces, assessment tools for identifying appropriate delivery of spiritual services, development of new initiatives, orientation and education resources for new faith service providers, and offender complaints.
2. Contributing to evaluation: IFC assists in defining service provision standards, participates in the development and monitoring of a performance measurement framework, participates in reviews of activities consistent with provision of spiritual care and religious services via site visits, and takes part in selection boards for regional chaplains and chaplaincy services management positions.
3. Facilitating engagement with Canada’s faith communities: IFC maintains relationships with faith community partners, sharing information with them about opportunities for involvement in CSC, encouraging community-based reintegration support, and increasing awareness of the continuum of care model for the reintegration of offenders.

Read the full description in the Memorandum of Understanding.

Membership

The IFC is made up solely of volunteers from the religious bodies of Canada, whose representatives are delegated by their respective constituent churches and other faith groups. The committee has members representing many different faith groups from across Canada, including Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, Wiccan, and Hindu representatives, along with Roman Catholic and Protestant representatives from the Christian tradition.

The United Church of Canada names one member to the committee. While committee members are named on behalf of their faith/spiritual tradition, all committee members serve in the best interest of the IFC.

Member Skills and Experience

Experience with the work of chaplaincy in a correctional context or experience of supporting those in the correctional context would be an asset to this work. 

The United Church representative also will be:

• committed to the pastoral concerns of inmates, their families, and correctional staff
• able to understand how chaplains relate to the oversight structures of the Office of Vocation
• able to function well in an ecumenical and multifaith context with grace and patience
• knowledgeable about and interested in criminal justice and corrections (or willing to acquire this knowledge)
• able to function in one or both official languages (English and French)

United Church Relationship: Full member

Expectations and Term

• Online meetings: Twice per year (often September and February) for three hours.  
• In-person meetings: Twice per year (often November and May) for two days. Usually hosted in Ottawa and another Canadian city.  
• Expectations between meetings: A large piece of work between meetings is participating in site visits to evaluate chaplaincy services within federal correctional institutions. A site visit occurs over two days in person based on a rotating schedule, to ensure chaplaincy services at each federal correctional institution are evaluated once per triennium. Between meetings, there may be a request to offer input or feedback to the development of a chaplaincy-related CSC policy. 
• Additional appointment possibilities or expectations: Committee members could also undertake work on a sub-committee. 
• Appointment term: Three years beginning December 2026, with the possibility of reappointment for a second three-year term. 

 

 

For more information about this opportunity, please see the complete description, below.

To Express Interest

To apply for this vacancy, please express interest or nominate someone.

All submissions will be acknowledged by e-mail. If you do not receive acknowledgement, please contact Member Engagement. Incomplete or late submissions cannot be considered.

For further information or assistance in expressing interest or nominating someone, please contact:

Member Engagement
Toll-Free: 1-800-268-3781
E-mail: 

Downloads

• 45-35 Interfaith Committee on Chaplaincy.pdf (198.6 KB) (PDF)