PORTLAND — The Chaplaincy Institute of Maine has announced the ordination of nine Interfaith Chaplains at its 12th annual ordination on Sunday, June 7 at the First Parish Church in Saco. Rev. Fred Jordan, M.D., of South Paris, is among the ordinands. Jordan, 75-years-old, is just beginning his chaplaincy career. He said he plans to continue his chaplaincy “as long as I live.”

ChIME has ordained 130 Interfaith Chaplains since its inception in 2002. Fully-employed adults are able to participate in the ChIME two-to-three-year program, because it takes place one evening a week and one weekend a month. In addition, volunteering to be a spiritual resource in a community organization is a key component of the ChIME training. In the first year, students focus on inner work, preparing the self for chaplaincy. In the second and optional third year, students explore ways to serve the larger community. Students serve their internships in local faith communities, hospitals, detention facilities, shelters, and nursing homes, as well as in street ministry, youth ministry and arts and music ministries.

Those ordained have completed two-to-three years of study and over 300 hours each of service in an organization. For his internship, Jordan served as a chaplain at Midcoast Hospital in Brunswick.

Another ChIME 2015 graduate, Rev. Leslie Hyde, of Yarmouth, served her internship in Lewiston at the Center for Wisdom’s Women.