The Rise of the Chaplains

An interesting article by Brandeis University Sociology Professor Wendy Cadge in The Atlantic this morning.

“There is no commonly agreed-upon definition of the role of chaplains. They are not licensed or institutionally regulated by the state, which means that anyone can call themselves a chaplain and seek work or volunteer opportunities. Most organizations require the candidates they hire to undergo specific training, however, including a master’s degree in a relevant field, supervised clinical training, and the support or endorsement of the prospective chaplain’s religious group.”

Professor Wendy Cadge

At some point, military chaplaincy needs to move beyond a mere “occupation” to an actual profession by adding a Code of Ethics and uniform standards of practice — and then enforcing them. Clearly, we’re not there yet!