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Chaplaincy > Sector Ministry
Exeter Airport Chaplaincy

The chaplaincy exists to serve the staff of Exeter and Devon Airport Limited, the staff of any other company operating at Exeter Airport, airport passengers and those who accompany them. The chaplaincy is sponsored by Churches Together in Devon as part of the service offered by the Christian Church in Devon. It is supported by Exeter & Devon Airport Limited as an additional means of support to Airport staff, providing them with an independent person they can talk to and seek assistance from. The chaplaincy will be available to people irrespective of their faith and when appropriate will seek the involvement of ministers from other faiths.

AIRPORT CHAPLAINCY MISSION STATEMENT

Mission Statement
To identify, understand, and share in the issues affecting airport employees, aircrew, and passengers, and to reveal God's presence in those situations through the Chaplaincy presence.

Aims of the Chaplaincy
Our aims will be:
• to understand the work people do and some of the opportunities and issues
that arise in work;
• to understand the nature of the community that grows up around a place of
work and the kind of society to which it contributes;
• to respond to those in the light of Christian faith;
• to be available to meet the needs of passengers;
• to be available to individuals and groups throughout the Airport;
• to contribute to ensuring that the Airport has a positive work environment;
• to encourage local churches to take a lively interest in the world of work and
in the activities of the Airport in particular.
Ways of Working

The Chaplaincy seeks to reflect spiritual and ethical values in human life on the airport, offering a Christian-based ministry to employees, passengers and visitors - be they of any faith or none. The Chaplain seeks:
To be visible - a friendly, well known face at the Airport, through personal workplace visiting, meeting with managers, attending representatives meetings as invited, and through other contacts - and to be proactive in discerning need.
To be available to any Airport employee for work-related or personal needs; to listen, and to offer independent, confidential support and encouragement - showing concern and interest towards all.
To walk the terminal building regularly, enabling a response to the needs of passengers and those who work there.
To communicate with staff in the companies on site, and to enhance a sense of community at the Airport
To act through leading the Chaplaincy/Local Clergy joint Accident Team (if there is one) in the event of a major aircraft or Airport incident, and to share, where possible, in the work of the Airport's Emergency Planning Group.
To encourage and support any groups of Christian employees which meet on the Airport for prayer, study and discussion.
To inform and challenge the churches regarding faith and work links, and also to seek prayer support for the Airport Chaplaincy ministry carried out on their behalf.
To learn from, and share in, the wider work of the churches' industrial mission.




Extract from DIocesan News--

Churches Together in Devon has
been working with Exeter Airport
to establish a chaplaincy service
for the growing airport.
Discussions began earlier in the
year on setting up a chaplaincy
and it started to operate from late
summer. Exeter Airport has
around 300 staff and a million
people a year use it. The
chaplaincy is ecumenical and is
sponsored by Churches Together in Devon in co-operation with Exeter
Airport. All the chaplains are voluntary and any sessions at the Airport have
to fitted into their current appointment.
A lead chaplain, the Revd John Eyles, has been asked to help us set up the
chaplaincy. John is a retired Church of England priest who was chaplain to
Birmingham International Airport for ten years. The County Ecumenical
Officer said, “We are so grateful to John for bringing his experience and
wisdom to this new venture. He has quickly gained the trust of those he
serves”. Alongside John as chaplains are the Revd Gary Birch, a Baptist
minister and Pastor Ian Huxham, an Elim minister.
The aim of the chaplaincy is to serve the needs and interests of those
employed at the Airport and those who travel through. They aim to visit
the Airport on a regular basis and be available to all employees as they
move around the site. They shall be available to passengers as opportunity
allows and can always be called in to help meet a particular need. John
Eyles explained, “Our aim is to relate to the opportunities and issues that
arise, and respond to them in the light of Christian faith”.
The Airport’s Communications Manager, Stephen Ayres, recognises that
chaplains can help staff who are facing difficult issues at home or at work
and can offer a calming presence to worried passengers “Some passengers
become very anxious before a flight”. A chaplain was asked to be available
to a Spanair flight following the disastrous fire at Madrid Airport.
The chaplaincy will not advocate any one
denomination, but will link with other
churches and other faiths when necessary.
It is hoped that some local churches will take
an interest in this work and pray for it.
The chaplains at the Airport
We are grateful to Radio Devon for some of the above story. The photograph
and logo were kindly provided by Exeter Airport.