AST appoints new chaplain
Minister at Grace United looking forward to new role with students
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Rev. Stephen Fram, newly appointed AST chaplain, at Grace United Church in Dartmouth. Photo: Michael Kimber
Rev. Stephen Fram is minister to about 325 families at Grace United Church in Dartmouth. He's also a new chaplain for students at the Atlantic School of Theology in Halifax.
There are two chaplaincy positions at AST, both of which are voluntary. Fram's colleague at the school is Rev. Charlie Black. They both have different denominational backgrounds, but work in the same role: to provide a confidential ear for all students.
Fram says he aims to be someone who can help them work though things like issues of identity -- "to be someone who journeys with the students, or is there to listen."
‘They may want to have another ear'
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A message for those who pass by Fram's church in Dartmouth. Photo: Michael Kimber
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Cynthia O'Connell, a student at the school, says, "Chaplains at AST play a pivotal role for students -- they serve as confidants and counsellors."
Fram explains, "It's difficult to go to a professor or even a supervisor or a minister in the context of your denomination because there's a power dimension to it, in which they're also supervising them, or evaluating them."
The AST is founded under 3 denominations: Roman Catholic, Anglican, and United Church. But Fram says, "it also has a significant population of other students. The majority of folks there right now are United Church students, followed by the Anglicans, but I believe there are some Lutherans and Mennonites, and others who are picking up courses in different streams."
With such a range of backgrounds, a chaplain cannot provide specific spiritual advice, but they can help them on their path.
"They're in seminary, so there are some issues around sense of call, identity, and other things that they may want to have another ear for," says Fram.
A shift in challenges for Fram
Fram is quite familiar with the school and its programs-he graduated from AST in 1989 with a Masters degree in Divinity.
Since then, Fram has been a minister at three different United churches, served as the president of the Pictou County Council of Churches in the mid-90s, and worked extensively with youth as the director of a United churches' youth forum.
Fram is also used to supervising interns regularly at his church, where he takes on students for eight months who are working towards ministry.
He explains the interns at his church are focusing on who they're becoming as a minister and how they see themselves, so issues of identity could often come up.
Taking on this new role as a chaplain to students at AST is "a bit of a shift in challenges."
Students pushed to get chaplains in their school
Part of his job, beyond talking with students, is raising issues that are important to them with the president or the senate.
Fram says, "The students felt they needed an independent, confidential resource to talk to about issues such as the transition to a new curriculum, community needs, etc."
O'Connell says the students were the ones who pushed to get chaplains into their school.
"Intially there was no official committee for chaplaincy at the school. The student union took it upon themselves to hire a chaplain."
Eventually they began a joint venture with the administration, which became a chaplaincy committee, including a student representative. Students even contribute financially, along with the school, by allotting a portion of their union fees to be put towards hiring chaplains.
Fram recognizes the importance of his role to students, and hopes to make the position more visible and more welcoming. He and Black want all students at the school to be aware they are there for them when needed.
Dawn Robertson, Communications and Development Officer at AST, says it seems like the position has been quite useful since the students organized for it several years ago.
"My impression is it's a very good support system for them."
O'Connell says although she hasn't had a chance to get to know Fram in the short two weeks he's been around, his presence on campus and at chapel services so far is appreciated.
"He's becoming a part of our community here at AST."
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