What is a Chaplain?

chap·lain term origin:

Latin “cappa” (cap or cape)
Latin “cappellanus”, or “custodian of the cloak of St Martin”, from cappella, originally ‘little cloak’ (see also chapel).
Old French “chapelain”

When was the last time you opened the newspaper to read about the latest school shooting or turned on the news only to hear about the latest wildfire burning out of control and threatening the homes and lives of so many families? What you don’t normally read or hear about are the many chaplains who are volunteering their time and effort to help others during their time of need.

By definition, a chaplain is simply a "minister in the workplace" and can therefore have an extremely wide range of environments, from full time chaplaincy, to part time disaster workers. Chaplains can serve in schools, congregations, law enforcement, emergency services, hospitals, corporations and more.

As such, the services that Chaplains provide are far reaching and varied providing counseling, education, advocacy, life improvement skills, juvenile, court and family mediation, emergency, disaster & crisis services, recovery training, and providing a bridge between the secular and spiritual environments of community life throughout the world.

International Fellowship of Chaplains Link

ARCCC is a Corps of the International Fellowship of Chaplains

Serving Our Community Since 2009

Read our History

The Albuquerque Regional Community Chaplain Corps (ARCCC) is made up of chaplains who are specially trained men and women prepared to help meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of victims during natural and man-made disasters and in times of other crisis (i.e. death, suffering, loneliness, etc.). The purpose of the ARCCC is to supply Chaplains who bring a ministry of presence and appropriately share comfort, hope and resources with those affected by crisis. The ARCCC is composed of ordained Chaplains who are credentialed by the International Fellowship of Chaplains (IFOC) a 501c3 organization. ARCCC has been an operating corps of the IFOC since December 2009.

MISSION: We believe that God has called Chaplains and has inspired ministry in the workplace. As Chaplains who minister in the areas of Critical Incident, Grief and Loss, and Trauma, as well as the Spiritual needs of those whom we serve, we believe that professionalism is essential in both the religious and secular areas of our ministry. We will endeavor to prepare ourselves Morally, Spiritually, and Educationally in order to present ourselves in the role of professional and compassionate ministers of God .We must, and will, maintain the highest standards and accountability. ARCCC assists with the following:

Training Chaplains to be professional and responsible (IFOC licensing agency).
Recruiting, equipping, and mentoring chaplains who have a heart to serve.
Developing resources that assist our chaplains for the work at hand.
Building bridges throughout the community and coming alongside others serving Albuquerque.
Mobilizing and encouraging Chaplains to develop practical community based projects.
Assisting in the Stewardship of Chaplaincy, seeking His direction and desire for what He has called us to do.