Conducts designated faith group religious and/or spiritual programs, services and ceremonies/celebrations at one or more correctional facilities within a defined geographic area.

Positions in this class are dedicated to one specific designated faith group, providing religious/spiritual programs and services for that faith group.  These positions may be supervised by a higher level correctional chaplain or the DOC Religious Program Manager.  A designated faith group can be defined as:

1. One with a formal structure of leadership and representation such as an ecclesiastical or judicatory system; or,
2. One with a less than formal structure of leadership and representation, such as a spiritual leader or faith group representative.

Plans and conducts weekly religious/spiritual faith group service for adult or youth offenders. Examples of these faith group services would be: Juma and Sweat Lodge.

Plans and conducts special religious/spiritual observances for a specific faith group. Examples of these observances would be: Ramadan, Change of Seasons, and Pow Wow.

Plans and teaches faith group study programs such as Native American Circle, TALIM and WICCA.

Provides counseling to individual faith group members at several institutions within a specific geographic region.

Provides services to faith group members at several institutions within a specific geographic region.

Communicates the faith group’s beliefs and practices to other offenders, staff and volunteers.

Completes monthly and annual reports on religious programs as required, for each facility served.

Performs other duties as required.

Knowledge of: factors involved in development of behavior problems; purposes of mental and correctional institutions; methods and objectives of rehabilitation programs;

Ability to: Prepare and conduct specific faith group religious/spiritual services, practices, ceremonies, and celebrations; conduct training in faith group religious/spiritual services/practices; establish rapport and counsel offenders and their families on moral or ethical problems; understand behavior of individuals under severe emotional strains; cooperate with other staff members and clergy.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

A Bachelor’s degree from a federally recognized accredited college or university.

AND

One year of documented (2,000) hours of supervised faith group training to perform defined religious/spiritual programs and services for their faith group.

AND

Two years documented experience (following faith group training and role recognition) performing the faith group’s defined religious/spiritual programs and services. 

NOTE:  The judicatory or faith group representative for an applicant must provide, in writing, the qualification criteria used by the faith group for religious/spiritual leadership.

New class established: 2-11-2000
New class code: (formerly 38760) effective July 1, 2007