For the first time, an atheist has been appointed as a head chaplain in Britain’s National Health Service.
Lindsay van Dijk, 28, will lead three priests at the Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, the first time that Christian clerics have been subordinate to an atheist lead chaplain in the health service.
Van Dijk, born in the Netherlands, said, “I am delighted to have been appointed as lead chaplain and look forward to working with our multi-faith and belief team. Together, I know we can ensure people are able to receive the spiritual, pastoral and religious care that is right for them. We want patients, their families and staff across the Trust to know they can come to us for support in their time of need, irrespective of faith or non-religious beliefs.” She added, “Anyone within the chaplaincy team goes to patients to lend a listening ear, to provide spiritual and emotional support, and doesn’t specifically say ‘I’m from this faith’ as it’s not important. We’re not there to proselytize our own beliefs.”
If a patient requests a prayer or religious ritual, they are offered a chaplain from their faith.
Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern, said, “People of different faiths or none should be able to choose which chaplaincy service they would like. Putting a humanist in charge of the chaplaincy team shows how far we have come from the Christian roots of the NHS.”
The Rev Malcolm Brown, the Church of England’s director of mission and public affairs, said chaplaincy was a “traditionally Christian concept,” adding that humanists and Christians could work together “without trespassing on each other’s territory”.
Van Dijk previously worked for the Humanist Community at Harvard University.