Chaplain

A chaplain is a priest or a member of the clergy serving a group of people who are not organized as a mission or church. For example a chaplain is often attached to a military unit (often known as padre), a private chapel, a ship, a prison, a hospital, a college or other (especially boarding) school, even a parliamentary assembly and so on.

Various Non-Military

Chaplains also can be attached to emergency services agencies (see the International Conference of Police Chaplains or the Federation of Fire Chaplains), educational institutions like universities and colleges, scout troops, ships, places like hospitals and prisons, and on occasion private companies and corporations. Chaplains also serve in hospice programs and retirement centers. The term can also refer to priests attached to Roman Catholic convents.

Related Topics:
Universities - Scout - Hospital - Prison - Corporation - Hospice - Retirement center - Roman Catholic - Convent

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Many hospitals and hospices employ chaplains to assist with the spiritual needs of patients, families and staff. In the United States, healthcare chaplains are typically educated through the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education and may be certified by one of the following organizations:The Association of Professional Chaplains, The National Association of Catholic Chaplains, or The National Association of Jewish Chaplains. In Canada, they may be certified by the Canadian Association for Pastoral Practice and Education. Certification typically requires a Masters of Divinity degree, faith group ordination or commissioning, faith group endorsement, and four units (1600 hours) of Clinical Pastoral Education.

Related Topics:
Chaplains - Canada

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Even some large businesses employ chaplains for their staff and/or clientele. The National Institute of Business and Industrial Chaplains is one of the agencies that certify chaplains for business settings in the United States.

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