The Heart of a Chaplain: Exploring Essentials for Ministry

Chaplains go where others will not or cannot go. As culture changes and becomes more secular, chaplains have become society’s new “pastors.” Chaplains fulfill a sacred calling to accompany and provide professional support and spiritual nurture for everyone in their distinctive secular communities, which authorize and hold them accountable. A chaplain’s ministry requires specialized knowledge, competencies, and an understanding of its unique opportunities and challenges. With forty-four contributors, The Heart of a Chaplain thoroughly examines what a chaplain is along with the foundations, uniqueness, and professional qualifications of chaplaincy. This book surveys six major chaplain categories, revealing the rich diversity of ministry. In addition to a mentoring tool and an extensive resource section, this second edition adds reflection questions, case studies, and several additional chapters, including a brief survey on the global nature of chaplaincy. The “memorable moments” of chaplains will leave you laughing or crying with joy.

DR. JIM BROWNING served as a pastor, a hospital, and an active-duty senior chaplain in the military. He is the director of The Marsh Institute for Chaplains. DR. JIM SPIVEY, formerly a seminary professor and military senior chaplain, currently serves as pastor of Gambrell Street Baptist Church, Fort Worth, TX. Dr. Browning and Dr. Spivey established the Marsh Institute for Chaplains, a religious nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to collaborate, equip, support, and advocate for chaplains in diverse and global settings.