By Sherri Blevins
DEKALB CO- On Sunday, September 17, 2023, DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden administered the oath of office to three new team members. Adam Moore, Bob Reynolds, and Cat Reynolds promised to uphold the office of DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Chaplain.
For the past five years, the Department has had only one chaplain to serve all the needs of the inmates and officers. Chaplain Mike Harper has filled that role well and has now been made Senior Chaplain over the team. MVN spoke with Chaplain Harper about his role with the Department and the jail prison ministry he oversees.
Harper explained that the jail ministry team sends volunteers to minister to inmates three nights a week. Currently, there are approximately sixty members of the team. The job description of a chaplain is different. Harper said, “A chaplain serves under Sheriff Welden. We are actually sworn into office and receive a badge. We are sworn officers and are placed in what is called reserve status. If the Sheriff needs the entire Sheriff’s Department to show up, we would also show up and work as officers. Jail ministers do not. We have certain privileges that jail ministers don’t have. We can meet with inmates one-on-one and go into the pods alone; ministers can’t. I describe a chaplain as being two things: he is a confidant because everything that is said to us is confidential unless someone is going to harm themselves or someone else or if there is any illegality going on, whether by Sheriff’s officers or inmates. If there is, we report it to someone else; otherwise, everything is confidential for officers and inmates. Chaplains are also trained at the Chaplains Academy, and there are different levels of training within the academy. Everyone must complete the basic training at the academy and then serve a one-year internship before taking the oath of office. This time allows the Sheriff and officers to get to know the applicants and determine their strengths and weaknesses before being sworn into office.” Harper also explained that the chaplain could serve families of inmates and officers, relaying messages to family members when appropriate.
There is no age limit on becoming a chaplain; both men and women may apply. Harper said his goal is to build a twenty-five-member team in the future to better serve the Department. If you are interested in becoming a chaplain or joining the jail ministry team, call the DeKalb County jail and ask for Chaplain Harper. He will help you with the process from that point on.
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