CHAPLAINS TO RETIRED CLERGY FAMILIES

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The Chaplains to the Retired Program is a Church Pension Group (CPG) program designed for every Diocese. Chaplains provide local support to retired clergy, their spouses, and surviving spouses. Each diocesan bishop is encouraged to appoint Chaplains to the Retired. The directive reads, "This is an extension of the Bishop’s ministry, thus enabling and enhancing the Bishop’s pastoral care as chief pastor."  It is also motivated by this Scripture, "Let us visit our brothers and sisters, and find out how they are getting along."  (Acts 15:36).     These chaplains serve by:

• Providing local pastoral care and support for spouses and beneficiaries
• Hosting gatherings
• Keeping you in touch through regular communication

To support the Chaplains to the Retired, CPG holds annual meetings to keep them up-to-date on the benefits provided by CPG and other information important to retirees.

Diocesan Chaplains to Retired Clergy Team:

The Rev. Bruce DeGooyer, Coordinator and Ministry to the Widowed

The Rev. Heather Mueller, Ministry to those on Maui, Moloka'i, and Hawai'i Island

Mrs. Delia Chang, Ministry to the Widowed

The Rev. Carol Arney,
​Newsletter and Ministry to those outside Hawai'i

The Rev. Canon Frank Chun & Norma, Ministry to those on O'ahu and Kaua'i

Contact the team

Here in Hawai'i, the Chaplaincy program has mushroomed, and now boasts a team of six (shown above). Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick first appointed the Rev. Canon Frank Chun and his wife Norma as Chaplains to Retired Clergy in 2009.  For over ten years, they diligently called, met with, traveled to, arranged monthly gatherings and social events, and kept everyone in the loop with an online newsletter.  In June of 2020, they officially retired from coordinating the ministry (see Chronicle article, June 6, 2020), but continue to serve those on O'ahu and Kaua'i. The Rev. Bruce DeGooyer now coordinates this ministry with shared responsibilities alongside the team.

The Talk Story Project
​​In Hawai'i locals often say, "TALK STORY!" when it's time to "shoot the breeze" and catch up with one another.

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Enjoy the wit and wisdom of our retired clergy and their families, whose years of "church life" have produced scores of some very interesting, sometimes embarassing, oftentimes funny, but always memorable stories.  The Talk Story Project, spearheaded by the Rev. Canon Frank Chun and the Rev. Heather Mueller, is a (growing) collection of stories from Diocesan-related retired clergy, spouses, and widows, in either audio or written formats. They are making them available for all to enjoy!

Visit the Talk Story Project Webpage