TY - JOUR
T1 - Spiritual Care at the Crossroads
T2 - An Ecumenical White Paper on the Future of Christian Healthcare Chaplaincy
AU - Peng-Keller, Simon
AU - Balboni, Michael
AU - Balboni, Tracy
AU - Haussmann, Annette
AU - Haythorn, Trace
AU - Mösli, Pascal
AU - Neuhold, David
AU - Nuzum, Daniel R.
AU - Smeets, Wim
AU - Swift, Chris
AU - Swinton, John
AU - Roser, Traugott
AU - Vandenhoeck, Anne
AU - Winiger, Fabian
PY - 2025/4
Y1 - 2025/4
N2 - This ecumenical White Paper aims to clarify the profile of Christian healthcare chaplaincy in a context of rapidly changing healthcare systems. The increasing complexity and specialization of healthcare, the shift towards outpatient care, mounting economic pressures, the demographic and epidemiological transitions towards chronic and elderly care, and global health crises are profoundly transforming and challenging Christian healthcare chaplaincy. At the same time, the societal context of healthcare chaplaincy is also changing rapidly. While church resources and influence are declining, spiritual and religious diversification is on the rise. This paper engages with this rapid change as a moment of opportunity. It addresses the role of Christian healthcare chaplains in a time of change and clarifies their theological basis, their professional competencies, and the future of their education and training.
AB - This ecumenical White Paper aims to clarify the profile of Christian healthcare chaplaincy in a context of rapidly changing healthcare systems. The increasing complexity and specialization of healthcare, the shift towards outpatient care, mounting economic pressures, the demographic and epidemiological transitions towards chronic and elderly care, and global health crises are profoundly transforming and challenging Christian healthcare chaplaincy. At the same time, the societal context of healthcare chaplaincy is also changing rapidly. While church resources and influence are declining, spiritual and religious diversification is on the rise. This paper engages with this rapid change as a moment of opportunity. It addresses the role of Christian healthcare chaplains in a time of change and clarifies their theological basis, their professional competencies, and the future of their education and training.
KW - Chaplaincy education and training
KW - Professionalization
KW - Specialized spiritual care
KW - Spiritual care competencies
KW - Spiritual diversification
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=86000015802&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10943-025-02255-0
DO - 10.1007/s10943-025-02255-0
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:86000015802
SN - 0022-4197
VL - 64
SP - 1031
EP - 1046
JO - Journal of Religion and Health
JF - Journal of Religion and Health
ER -