Excellence In Chaplaincy Ministries

Rev. Bob Collins, Chaplain writes:

I just returned from Mobile, Alabama where we had our annual training seminar of the International Conference Of Police Chaplains. It was a long trip to and back as we made stops in Atlanta and Los Angeles. Needless to say, I slept on board pretty soundly after a long but fruitful and fun week of meetings and reunions with my police chaplain buddies.

I met new chaplains and friends as well as taught two one and a half hour sessions on Monday morning and afternoon. My class was on "How To Work With Police Recruits." The point of the class was that any "early involvement" into the lives of police officers, it will only serve as a ministry advantage for chaplains. In fact, I am the class chaplain for the 161st which started at the beginning of the month. Will make regular visits with them along their six month training time at the academy.

Also, on Thursday night of our conference, we have a banquet. Some 500 chaplains and their spouses and friends attend. They give out credential certificates to those who attained senior and master levels of training. (I received my Master's level a few years ago when we were in San Antonio, Texas).

Three additional awards are also given out...named for our late chaplain John A. Price, who served in the Albuquerque police dept. The award is given in three catagories: a) volunteer in a smaller dept.; b) volunteer in a larger dept. and c) career or full-time chaplain.  This is the second time in 25 years that HPD has been recognized. Sister Roberta Julie Derby received it 20 years ago. Andy Kikuta was presented with a beautiful bronze sculpture recognizing the recipients of excellence in chaplaincy ministries. "I truly feel honored to be in a class of 75 other chaplains who demonstrate what chaplaincy is all about in their lives and their work. I was surprised yet humbly honored to receive the 2008 volunteer in a larger dept."