Chaplain, Part-Time, Chaplains on the Way: Waltham, MA
Chaplains on the Way (COTW) is a small interfaith nonprofit, based in Waltham, Massachusetts, which works with and for people experiencing housing deprivation. Our primary function is to serve as chaplains to people who are unhoused: we build trusting relationships, offer spiritual companionship and accompaniment, and support community. We also run a breakfast program and help to facilitate meetings of the Waltham Community Leadership Group (WCLG), a grassroots collective, founded by COTW in 2018, which is led by people without homes.
Chaplains on the Way is an equal opportunity employer. We value every kind of diversity, including diversity of racial, gender, and sexual identity, lived experience, faith tradition, and belief.
All Chaplains on the Way staff are currently paid $25 per hour or the equivalent in annual salary.
Position Summary:
The chaplain will join the current chaplain and Executive Director, Jill Gaulding, in carrying out COTW’s mission. We are seeking an experienced chaplain with a passion for the intersection of chaplaincy and social justice. Experience with non-profit organization work will be a plus. This position will be part time, 16 – 24 hours per week, depending on the candidate and fit.
Chaplaincy: Roughly 12 hours per week is spent in chaplaincy, generally two or three days a week, 4 – 6 hours per day. This involves four parts:
- Offering individual chaplaincy at sites around Waltham, including outdoors, inside the Community Day Center, and inside our breakfast program space; plus occasional work supporting community members in settings such as hospice.
- Helping to lead group practices, including meetings of the WCLG, weekly interfaith services, and memorials.
- Supporting community members with ad-hoc meetings, phone calls, or text messages.
- Providing occasional accompaniment to medical appointments, court dates, and the like.
Non-profit organization work: Depending on the skills and experiences of the applicant, somewhere between 4 – 8 hours per week would be spent on administrative, fundraising, or other organizational work. This could include social media, newsletters, grant writing, etc. The exact shape that this part takes will depend on specific fit between the experiences of the applicant and the needs of COTW; job title may vary accordingly.
Required Skills and Experience:
Chaplaincy related:
MDiv or equivalent (in progress or completed)
At least one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)
Experience working with several of the following:
- People and communities experiencing poverty
- Homelessness or housing instability
- Incarceration / re-entry
- Mental health
- Substance use disorders
- Trauma-informed care
- De-escalation
- Restorative Justice
- Political organizing
- Group facilitation
- Mediation and conflict resolution
Non-profit experience:
Ideally, at least two years of experience with some aspect of non-profit work, such as fundraising, grant writing, development work, social media communications, etc.
Excellent written and oral communication skills
How to Apply
The application process is rolling and start date is negotiable. If interested, please send a cover letter and CV to Jill Gaulding at jill@chaplainsontheway.org