Salem State University Chaplain: Welcoming Everyone

By Eric Butler

Salem, MA - Homework, tests, meeting graduation requirements, social situations, and any number of other things can bring stress down on a student. On top of that each person has a life outside of campus, responsibilities and problems that we all carry around without always having a way to handle it. Here at Salem State University students have people they can turn to when they are feeling overwhelmed. One of those sources of help is Reverend Laura Biddle, Salem State’s first University Chaplain.

“A chaplain is a companion to people who are struggling or celebrating. As your chaplain, I am committed to showing up when you need me,” Biddle explained in an interview earlier this year.

Biddle is no stranger to the Salem State community. She has spoken at graduations three times in the past, having been invited by associates she knew from the University. She was eventually invited to work full-time as the campus’ first Spiritual Life chaplain. This was made possible by a private donation from a longtime supporter of the university, who felt the community would benefit from a chaplain’s presence. The donation is enough for three years, and Biddle hopes when that time is up that Spiritual Life will be maintained in other ways such as by the school itself.

The reverend comes to the position with a lot of experience in different fields as a minister and grief counselor. Ever since graduating from the seminary in 1986 and being ordained in the Episcopal Church, Biddle has found herself building an impressive amount of achievements and skills that help her when it comes to helping other work through their problems and grief.

One of the biggest parts of her work was when she was a prison minister at Massachusetts Correctional Institution (MCI) Framingham. During her time there Biddle was minister to the “Framingham Eight,” eight women in abusive relationships who fought back and were arrested. She has also advocated for laws that were on the side of women in such cases. She has also done work with the LGBT community, giving her exposure to minority groups with troubles unique to themselves.

Biddle brought her hobbies, like the guitar and puppeteering, into her ministry while working at churches for women and children. Besides her work with the churches, Biddle has also done work with families that have experienced deaths or suicide from members in the military. She does these national events every year with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), a non-profit support for military survivors.

When asked to look back at her accomplishments, Biddle said she has “loved each aspect of my ministry.”

If she had to choose any significant accomplishments the answer might not come from prison ministry, work with the LGBT community, or being Salem States first chaplain, though those are all high achievements. Biddle said that her biggest success would be raising a family as a single mother,. She is also currently serving as “sabbatical pastor” for a church in Boxford, Mass.

Going forward, Biddle said she is focused on the spiritual life of Salem State’s students and staff. Her time here has been spent doing programs like Ash Wednesday, which saw a turnout of around 40 people, Good Friday, which drew around 15, and Bible studies during the Lent season. She aims at not just Christians but also to include the other faiths on campus such as Buddhists, Muslims, Pagans, and more. Part of those efforts will be continuing the Multi-Faith Council.

Spiritual Life is open to anyone who feels they need it or who wants to participate in its various activities such as the meditative Labyrinth that happened in early April.

Biddle is available to help people feeling overwhelmed by stress or grief. As she said, that kind of peace is “equally important as the mind and body.” Spiritual Life is located on the ground floor of Ellison Campus Center on North Campus.

The sign at the door says: “Everyone is welcome.”

Photo: Rev. Laura Biddle at the Ash Wednesday service this year, Feb. 10, 2016. About 40 people attended. Photo: Eric Butler

This article originally appeared on the Salem State University Viking Voice