History

In the beginning...

- During the 1930's & 40's some ministers were exercising part-time chaplaincies in hospitals in their parishes

-1945: The National Council of Churches Executive discussed the possibility of full-time qualified chaplains on the staff of mental hospitals

-1958: The first meeting of Clinical Pastoral Training Committee was held

-1964:  The first NZ hospital chaplains conference was held with 49 chaplains attending from both the National Council of Churches and the Roman Catholic Church

-6 March 1972: The NZ government agreed to part- fund Hospital Chaplains:

   The Cabinet decision involved for the government:

• agreeing to increase full-time chaplains from 40 to 55 by 1975
   

• providing funding on a formula starting from 33% in 1973 to 50% -50% cost share with churches from 1 April 1975
   

• requiring the formation of the Interchurch Advisory Council on Hospital Chaplaincy (ICAC) made up of  "Major churches and the Department of Health”  to " regularise and fund professional pastoral care" in public hospitals "for adherents of all belief systems."

   The decision involved for the Churches:

Denominations coming together in a single body ICAC to work with the Department of Health to:

• distribute Government subsidy money
   
• monitor and harmonize standards of training, accreditation and pastoral care services in hospitals
   
• Fostering the development of ecumenical rather than denominational chaplaincies
   
• Establishing local ecumenical chaplaincy committees,  including a representative of the local hospital, to be involved in appointments, local funding, support and welfare of chaplaincies
   

Developments over time

Between 1970 -2000 the population increased by 1 million  & changed to become multicultural, multi ethnic, multi faith.

Employment legislation and Court decisions created difficulties for traditional  "employment" arrangements of chaplains.

In 1996  the Interchurch Council for Hospital Chaplaincy (ICHC) became an incorporated Charitable Trust.

In recent years new chaplaincies in Forensic, Maori, Pacific Island  & Community Health have been developed.

Stipended chaplaincy positions peaked in 1999 at 66 full time equivalent covering 48 sites.

During the 1990's the health contract funding methods constantly changed. By 1999 the Government funding was meeting only 35% of the cost. Churches and local committees were struggling to meet 65% of the cost of chaplaincies.

2000: The Minister of Health established a joint ICHC/ MOH (Ministry of Health) working party to look at the chaplaincy services needed in the public health sector from 2001 - 2010 and how these could be funded. A report was prepared by the working party in October 2001.

While the Government accepted the recommendations for new terms and conditions in the contract between the Ministry of Health and the ICHC for the provision of chaplaincy services, it was unwilling to provide additional funding. Since that time the number of stipended chaplaincy positions has been reducing.