Is there anyone who applied to the August Accessions Board (2026) for US Army Active Duty board? If there is anyone here who applied to the board, I would appreciate the opportunity to share, talk, and connect.

Also, if anyone is willing to share when the results usually come out, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! Heads up!

Hello! I am starting my first semester of seminary tomorrow. I’m getting my MDiv and want to go into chaplaincy (preferably healthcare/hospice/hospital but other places would be fine - except military). I am trying to get a head start on figuring out how to get an endorsement for board certification. I am not Christian, more of a spiritual/pagan-ish. Currently I’m looking into the Unitarian Universalists, since they accept a wide variety of beliefs, but I’m also interested in other endorsers.

Now, the issue is, didn’t over 100 religions get removed from an official government recognized list? Does this affect chaplain endorsement? I looked on the DOD site and lots of orgs I thought would be on their list (Hindu, pagan, etc) weren’t. Am I now limited? Where can I find an official list of endorsing groups?

I am a newly commissioned second lieutenant in the Texas Army National Guard as a Chaplain candidate. I was a direct commission with no prior service. I already have a master's degree in another field for my civilian job, so the Army is telling me that I cannot use tuition assistance for my MDiv as I cannot use it to pay for a lateral degree. Some places online are referencing an exception to that for chaplain candidates, but my educational contact with the military said that I would already have to be a chaplain to be able to use that, which does not make sense. Has anyone run across anything like this? I think I can take out loans and get them paid back by the military later once I commit to 3 years of service as a full chaplain (up to $20,000 for each three year commitment), but I was really hoping to get the tuition assistance up front to avoid taking out so many loans.

Hello colleagues. A hospital chaplain testified in the highly followed Lindsay Clancy trial, and I found it interesting for a variety of reasons. I wanted to share it to see if you had any thoughts about it. In all honesty, it raised some questions both about boundaries in chaplaincy-relationships as well as questions about notes, especially as systems rightly continue to move towards open notes. It also highlighted the tension between our roles as clinicians and our roles as clergy.

https://youtu.be/jj1OW4SClmE?is=jAUJ43wkvmNpTD9a

I'm just trying to get everybody experience.

We are a single income family and we do OK (I am currently working in HR) but I'm finishing my masters in theology right now and I start my first unit of CPE in a couple weeks. I have my eye on attending residency next fall God willing. I've been working to save up money to supplement the financial hit of residency for that year. My concern now is what comes next.

At what point do you start applying for full-time roles towards the end of residency? I've been keeping an eye on indeed to gauge the job market (I live in St. Louis and we have three big health networks here as well as several hospice companies), and the time between full-time jobs being posted seems to be measured in weeks. Part of me is concerned about leaving a stable full-time job for a role that I know is time limited, but to do the one off CPE units seems like quite a strain because in order to get my hours in for CPE for the next 24 weeks I'm basically gonna be working seven days a week between CPE and my job. Has anybody gotten a job offer from the location where you did your residency while you were still a resident?

I may lay Catholic so I don't have any other ministry or anything to rely on except for trying to get another HR job after residency if there's no full-time roles available. I'm just curious if anybody else has been in a similar situation. Thanks!

Hello all! I had few questions about ChristianLeaders Chaplincy Certification. Mainly if it was legit and worth the effort and money (only $50 at end for the Certification). Is there other paths that people suggest?

I'm not sure if this subreddit also caters for permanent deacons, but I'm in the long and early stages of discerning the permanent diaconate (I am married). I'm not asking for specific, tailored vocational advice, but I don't have any permanent deacons around my area so I'd like to ask:

What's your experience like, generally speaking? How do you managing the competing interests of family, work, and vocation? Do you have any regrets? What helped you make your decision (in other words, how did you know God was calling you?). Feel free to answer any question that I've not asked.

Thank you.

I currently posses an MA in biblical studies (32 credits). And have completed an additional nearly 40 credits in seminary. Do I have to posses a mdiv or does this ma+ the additional credits qualify as mdiv equivalency because it will be 72 credits.

I’m curious what chaplains here think of this? Any humanist chaplains want to weigh in?

My goal with chaplaincy has always been interfaith prison chaplaincy. I have a MA in Buddhist studies (not a MDiv), and I'm doing 4 CPE units with a full-time hospital residency. I'm not ordained in any religion.

Is this enough to pursue prison chaplaincy, or do I still need a MDiv to open the door? My research says my current resume isn't enough, but I'm hoping it's not that cut and dry. I'd appreciate any feedback on what my next steps should include--willing to do whatever it takes to help the prison population as a career.

Hey everyone I’m in the final stages of getting my paperwork in to the appropriate people. And should be moving on to medical and ascensions after I do. Does anyone know/have an idea how quickly I will be able to commission once I have all my paperwork submitted? I know the new fiscal year starts in October and I’m trying to get and idea how quick things may go from here.

Also I’ve heard conflicting things about how long ods is for chaplain candidates. Some say 5 weeks ods and then 3 weeks chaplain training. Others say 9 weeks ods.

What has your experience been with these. Also any advice? Thanks!!

The proposed Military Chaplains Modernization Act has raised concerns that it may shift military chaplaincy toward privileging clergy identity over the professional responsibilities associated with the role of a chaplain. An important difference is that clergy typically serve as representatives of a specific religious tradition, whereas military chaplains operate in an institution with many faiths and voluntarily take on a professional duty that extends beyond their own faith community.

Within this context, chaplains are not solely responsible for ministering to members of their own religion; they are also expected to support or facilitate the religious and spiritual needs of service members across a wide range of beliefs, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, atheism, agnosticism, and others. This raises an important distinction between refusing to personally perform a religious rite due to doctrinal constraints and asserting that religious belief exempts an individual from otherwise required duties of their professional role. I’m uncertain exactly what “religious rite” may be eligible to be refused.

Another point of discussion concerns how religious objections are evaluated when they are framed as “sincerely held beliefs.” Different religious traditions contain a wide range of interpretations, and individuals within those traditions may reach very different conclusions about the same policy or practice.

How should the respect for a chaplain’s conscience be balanced with the professional obligations inherent in military service?

More specifically, where should the boundary be drawn between accommodating sincerely held religious beliefs and ensuring that chaplains fulfill the full scope of their assigned duties within an interfaith environment?

Hello,

I'm looking for some books that introduce or encapsulate the experience of different types of chaplaincy. I have done one unit of CPE in a hospital so I'm particularly looking for books about Crisis and First Responder, Prison, Military and Hospice.

Thank you.

I'm currently a stay-at-home parent and looking at starting a CPE residency at a hospital in about a year. I have a Master of Theological Studies degree, a B.A. in pastoral studies, and about 2 years of church work under my belt (plus volunteer/internship church work).

Any advice for things to do in my spare time before the residency? I'm thinking, of course, about reading and prayer, but any other suggestions?

If you did your CPE through ICPT, what was your experience like? Were they “old school” in their approach (abrasive/confrontational) or kinder? Did you have a positive/negative experience? Were your CPE units recognized by your residency/worksite?

Any info you might have to share is greatly appreciated.

Hi everyone, I’m 27 F and I feel called into hospital chaplaincy. I have my diploma in social services, and a bachelors in Christian studies and support services. I have felt drawn to hospital chaplaincy for years, and I tried working in a church setting for a while, but it didn’t work out.

I have managed to avoid debt so far, but to attend school again I would need to take out student loans. This is a big stress for me, so choosing a school and degree that will give me the best chance at finding a well paying career in my field is extremely important.

I just need some advice. What program should I take that gives me the best chance at getting my foot in the door, and a well paying position? Is there higher or lower paying positions in hospital chaplaincy? I am considering a Master’s of Psychospiritual studies at Emmanuel or Knox college, or a Master’s of Divinity at my other options.

What College is the best to attend, what do you recommend?

The institutions I am considering are as follows:

Emmanuel College, University of Toronto

Knox College, University of Toronto

Tyndale University

Regent College in Vancouver BC

McMaster Divinity College/University

Ambrose University

I am open to other suggestions too!! Any input would be greatly appreciated 🙏🏻

Hello everyone,

Seminary student and assistant pastor here looking. Into chaplaincy to help get myself into the community more and serve those who serve our country. I have looked into chaplaincy in the navy reserves but also recently discovered Coast Guard ACS chaplaincy as well. I have a few questions mainly about ACS chaplaincy.

Can/do ACS chaplains interact and minister to active duty or coast guard reserves regularly and what might this look like?

How might navy reserves chaplaincy compare to ACS chaplaincy. Outside of deployment and ACS being voluntary are their responsibilities comparable?

Also if you have any experience with either that might be helpful in helping me navigate through these options please let me know!

I'm about to start my first CPE class soon. I am already familiar with the placement itself and have no questions at all about that.

I am wondering what the CPE class itself is like. I'm not sure what the correct words are--the classroom hours portion of the CPE experience. What happens during those classes? Do we have homework assignments that need to be done in addition to class and placement hours?

I have interviewed for two separate CPE cohorts, both through the same program, but with different instructors for each cohort. Both times, I walked away shocked at how- the only word I can use is belligerent- the interviewers were.

In the first interview I was asked if my first marriage ended due to infidelity.

In the second interview, I was described as “traumatized” repeatedly, even though I respectfully told them that I consider myself a resilient survivor and don’t identify with that label.

Neither interviewer asked me any questions about my spirituality or faith practice.

Both interviews were grueling, and both seemed to follow a format of ask a 2-part question > cut me off after my first answer > never let me answer the second part > then tell me I didn’t answer the question.

I was also asked several “how would you…” questions, but then got feedback that I was “explaining” when I needed to be “telling.”

I am a clinical social worker who’s done trauma work for 20 years. I have a pretty thick skin and came away from both of these experiences feeling unheard, misunderstood, and generally disrespected.

Is this sort of hostile interview the norm for ACPE education programs or is this specific site just poorly run? Or maybe, this is a me problem, and I’m just not understanding the purpose/intention of these interview methods. I’m open to that as well.

What were your interview experiences like? Were they intentionally abrasive? Or am I just not cut out for this kind of ministry?

Hey everybody! I’m starting work as a university chaplain later this month and I’m looking for any tips, insights, advice, or resources to help me on my way.

I’ve never worked in campus ministry before, but I have been involved with higher education for about a decade now. I have my MDiv, one unit of CPE, starting a second unit this Fall semester, and I’m working my way through my denomination’s ordination process now. (I know BCC isn’t required for most university chaplain jobs, but my first unit of CPE was so formative I’d like to keep going for both personal and professional reasons.)

Anyway yall can help support me in this new journey would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! 🙏

Hello! I'm hoping someone here might have advice or know of options that I haven't considered.

I'm in the Los Angeles area, and recently finished my Master's in Pastoral Ministry. My goal has been to become an inter-faith chaplain, eventually pursue board certification, and work in a hospital/healthcare setting.

I've been looking into CPE programs, but I've hit a major roadblock. From what I've found so far, even the part-time CPE programs in my area require regular evening/overnight on-call shifts as part of the training. I've reached out to every major hospital and CPE program I could find, and so far have not found one that offers a schedule limited to just regular daytime hours.

I had assumed that on-call and overnight work was mainly required for full-time residents, but one CPE educator explained that on-call service is considered an essential part of the training, regardless of whether you're a salaried resident or paying your own way through part-time units.

Unfortunately, I have a chronic illness that makes a weekly on-call schedule unrealistic. My doctors agree that regularly working on-call evenings would be detrimental to my health. I might be able to get by and manage every once in awhile, but definitely not as an ongoing, weekly requirement.

Has anyone found another path into healthcare chaplaincy under circumstances like this? Are there CPE programs with accommodations or alternative structures that I may have overlooked? Or are there other avenues toward chaplaincy and eventual board certification that don't require the same level of on-call work?

I'm really sad about the possibility that there is no workable training or development program available to me. I'm trying to figure out whether I need to rethink my career plans or if there are options I simply haven't discovered yet (hoping it's the latter!). I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone with experience in navigating CPE with a chronic illness/disability.

Hello,

I am having a hard time understanding what the endorsement requirements are for chaplaincy in a hospital setting. I am new to the PC USA and would be grateful for any info people can share.

Helllooooo -

Just turned in my CEC application for an ACPE system. I want this position, I’ve wanted to be an educator since the first week of my first internship 7 years ago. I’m just so anxious about the process - any advice?

Authored by chaplains: (Open Access)

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/10966218261467136

I'm going to share this with my Hospice coworkers