Chaplain Certification And Chaplain Career Jobs
A letter from one who experienced a chaplain job loss (which resulted in chaplain unemployment) prompted me to write on how chaplain certification could increase chaplain career job opportunities.
Importance Of Chaplain Certification
Dear Unemployed Chaplain:
Thanks for writing me as you research chaplain jobs. I understand that these are days of struggle for you and I hope I can at least give words of encouragement to you as you search for chaplain employment.
Thanks too, for accessing my website. I started it as a hedge financially for when retirement becomes reality but also as a way to impact my world with a positive message through the Internet.
You asked: "What about ministers like me who have a Master of Arts in Religion, 4 units Clinical Pastoral Education or CPE, and a year's experience as a Hospice chaplain, but have been laid off due a restructuring?"
I notice that you did not include chaplain certification in your list of chaplain qualifications. You have discovered by now that most hospital chaplain jobs require certification by one of the professional chaplain associations.
You are fortunate to have your educational requirements met in your search for chaplain jobs. Many have written that not having an M.Div. is a barrier to finding another chaplain job. And several say what you say: "I can't afford to take seminary classes right now."
As to my suggestions, please take what I say as ministry career idea prompters. You have probably tried most of what I will say but perhaps one idea will jump start your chaplain employment search.
Seven Suggestions To Finding Hospital Chaplain Jobs
- First on my list of suggestions is that you contact your faith endorsing group. I recently hosted a chaplains luncheon for Nazarene Chaplains so that our Chaplain Ministry Director could share what is taking place in chaplaincy. Perhaps your faith group has such a person to contact for more information.
- Networking is a great way to discover what hospital chaplain jobs are out there. Contact fellow chaplains who just may be able to help you network with hospices or hospitals with chaplain job openings.
- Check out per diem opportunities. Both of the chaplains I hired started as per diem as we grew the case load. Perhaps a per diem position plus an associate position at a local church could meet your needs. I have many churches tell they never thought of doing a job share with a hospice in order to fill a part time staff position.
- Do not assume an M.Div. is out of the question for you. Check out local seminaries to see if they have a program that gives life credit as well as educational credit for the work you have already done.
- Explore employment opportunities that will make chaplaincy a part of the duties. I worked at a Christian Internet Company that included chaplain duties in my job description. This could work at other businesses as well. I had Blue Shield talk to me while I was taking CPE asking if I would consider being chaplain to their 1500 employees.
- Remember that any job can be a ministry without necessarily being a ministry position. Even starting a business is a possibility, perhaps hiring people in your same situation.
- Realize that even the Association of Profession Chaplains has a category for Associate members who lack an M.Div. degree so explore certification possibilities. The chaplain who encouraged me to consider chaplaincy did not have her M.Div. but she was pretty clever in that she contacted a chaplain recruiter, a healthcare headhunter, who was able to get her a position at a major hospital while she finished her degree.
I will close for now but will be praying for God's direction even in your job loss. Do you realize some of the greatest endeavors came about because of a pink slip?
Onward with purpose,
Chaplain Paul Slater
------------------
Chaplain, You Can Create A Website To Fund Your Ministry, Start A Business, or To Share Your Life Passion
InfoPublishing is a way to share your spiritual passion with the internet world.
Build an online ministry/business based upon what you already know,
taking your subject matter to transform your knowledge into growing, diversified revenue streams.
Launch Your Own Website
If you are one who has experienced a chaplain job loss (resulting in chaplain unemployment), chaplain certification could increase chaplain career job opportunities but also gives you unique material for your own income producing website.
Click to see a favorite product or featured website:
