Earlier this week, Sydney’s Daily Telegraph reported that New South Wales would have no full-time paid police chaplains from August 21 because of mass resignations over a clause in their new contracts.
The contracts indicated that they would be forced to disclose confidential pastoral information from their conversations with police officers.
Many pastors believed the wording would bring them into conflict with their ethical obligations of keeping names and conversations confidential.
That wording has now been changed after NSW Police conceded the original contracts had caused confusion.
However, it’s unclear whether it has come too late to stem the mass exodus of chaplains.
THE CONTRACT CLAUSE THAT CAUSED CONFUSION
The problematic clause said: “Upon request, contracted chaplains will now be required to disclose the full names of members who have used the chaplaincy service.”
The new contracts also demanded that if a chaplain identifies any psychological distress, workplace conflict, trauma exposure, fitness for duty concerns, health conditions, or financial hardship, they must provide relevant information to a police officer’s manager
“These cover just about everything. It is all-encompassing,” said volunteer chaplain Michael George.
“In fact, this clause goes against every benefit of having a chaplaincy service.”
VOLUNTEER CHAPLAINS WERE ALSO PREPARING TO QUIT
Before the changes, Mr. George told The Telegraph: “I will officially tender my resignation as it is clear that through the provisions outlined, NSW Police are no longer wishing to maintain a chaplaincy capability.”
“It is designed, at worst, to remove police chaplaincy from the force through policies that would limit chaplains to the point where they would become ineffective in their role.”
The newspaper reported many of the chaplaincy service’s 80 volunteers were also expected to quit because of these new conditions which also included a ban on them wearing honorary uniforms.
Senior police and chaplains met on Wednesday to discuss the terms and conditions of the new contracts which caused four pastors to quit and prompted rank-and-file members to rally in support.
“The commander of Health, Safety and Wellbeing Command has met with the NSW Police Force senior chaplains and service providers to answer questions, clarify misinformation and communicate our strong support for the valuable work they do in our organisation,” a police spokesperson said.
“CHAPLAINS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE CONFIDENTIAL PASTORAL INFORMATION”
The contentious wording has now been amended to clarify what is expected of chaplains.
“These obligations do not require the disclosure of confidential pastoral information and have long been observed by chaplains providing services to the force,’’ the spokesperson explained.
NSW Police said it would continue to meet with the pastors to ensure their work – and the responsibility of the force to its officers – complied with workplace policies around mental health.
Police chiefs conceded the contracts had caused confusion by not making it clear that the problematic clause was only ever intended to be used in the case of mass casualty events or “significant and traumatic” incidents, in order to ensure no impacted officers missed out on accessing support.
They acknowledged that this information “should have been included in the body of the contract to avoid confusion and this has now been amended.’’
“NSW POLICE DEEPLY VALUES THE IMPORTANT ROLE CHAPLAINS PLAY”
At the request of the senior chaplains, the force has also created a chaplain co-ordinator position, with the successful applicant scheduled to begin work this month.
NSW Police said it “remains strongly committed to the chaplaincy service and deeply values the important role chaplains play in supporting our people, their families and the broader community.”
State Premier Chris Minns said NSW Police had taken on board the feedback and criticisms.
“(Chaplains) do an incredible job with police morale, dealing with often young officers in horrifyingly difficult circumstances, and we owe them a big debt of gratitude,’’ Mr. Minns acknowledged.
LYLE SHELTON WELCOMES CHANGES
Family First Party National Director and candidate for the NSW Upper House Lyle Shelton welcomed the NSW Police Force’s decision to amend the controversial chaplaincy contracts after widespread concern that they would undermine the confidentiality at the heart of pastoral care.
Mr. Shelton said it was a victory for common sense and for the many police chaplains who courageously spoke out rather than compromise the trust placed in them by officers.
“I welcome the decision to clarify the contracts and preserve the confidentiality that has made police chaplaincy such a valued institution for the past 50 years,” Mr .Shelton said.
“I commend NSW Police for listening to the concerns of chaplains and correcting this mistake.”
“I hope this episode reminds governments everywhere that our Christian heritage contains enduring wisdom which should be preserved, not sidelined.”
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