Our Story
The Chaplaincy Institute of Maine (ChIME) grew out of an honest longing for spaces where people could come together from different histories, beliefs, and traditions to explore and express their faith and spirituality. We remain a living organization, firmly rooted in our past and reaching towards a future where ongoing interfaith engagement and interspiritual practice lead us ever onward toward oneness.
A Timeline
On Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday in January 2001, Rev. Jacob Watson invited 7 close friends and colleagues to explore developing a chaplaincy school in Maine.
2001
ChIME was incorporated as a non-profit educational organization in 2002. In September of that year, the first class of 10 students began a two-year Interfaith Ministry program in Portland, ME.
2002
From 2004-2011, thanks to Rev. Joel Grossman, ChIME also held classes in Amesbury, MA.
2004-2011
In 2020, ChIME launched its first “blended cohort”, creating an option for students to attend weekly classes online and attend monthly in-person workshops.
2020
In 2022 ChIME adopted a Clinical Pastoral Education program, now known as CPE@ChIME.
2022
ChIME partnered with the School of Global Citizenry to host online programming, including asynchronous program components, thus allowing the Interfaith Ministry program to reach a wider audience of students from the New England region and beyond
2023
In 2025, ChIME moved to an ADA accessible location in Yarmouth, ME, to further expand accessibility.
2025
Today, the two-three year Interfaith Ministry program educates 25-35 students annually and the CPE@ChIME engages 10-12 trainees over a course of a year.
The Present