The Chaplaincy Program at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is an effort which began soon after the tragedy of September 11, 2001. At that time, a field operation was set up on 30th Street at First Avenue in between the Medical Examiner's building and the old wing of Bellevue Hospital. Field professionals from a number of disciplines arrived including the New York Police Department, Fire Department, Central Intelligence Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Guard. State Police, Corrections Department of the City of New York, Disaster Morticians, dental and DNA identification experts and others all of whom joined the existing staff of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. All the human remains from the wreckage of the World Trade Center arrived here awaiting identification and return to families and loved ones. The original chaplaincy effort was directed towards the support of these professionals and volunteers. The Interfaith effort was coordinated by The Rev. Betsee Parker who arrived in the early days of September 2001. She was later joined by The Rev. Charles Flood who helped form the program and direct the volunteer interfaith chaplains who arrived.

In late 2001, an Interfaith Memorial Service was added to the program every Friday afternoon to remember those who had been found in the previous week. The chaplains also received the bodies and remains of uniformed personnel in a ceremony which was conducted upon the arrival of every new set of remains.

With the closing of the World Trade site in May 2002, Chaplains Parker and Flood have formed a new program to provide spiritual care for the family members and friends of the victims who visit at scheduled times seven days a week. There are currently over 17,000 separate human remains awaiting DNA identification.

The program operates as a volunteer service of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and uses protocols, training programs and supervision for chaplains developed for this specific situation. Interfaith chaplains from Christian, Jewish, Moslem, Buddhist and other traditions are on site to comfort visitors and provide support for the remaining field personnel and staff of the Medical Examiner's Office.

This program derives its uniqueness from many sectors primary of which is the strict interfaith nature of the spiritual care given. All chaplains are trained to provide spiritual support to all faith traditions.
The purpose of this web site is to give news concerning the program, provide a means for others to communicate with us and give ongoing encouragement and comfort to the families and friends of victims.