Interest in Chaplaincy is Growing

An increasing number of Calvin Theological Seminary graduates are seeking to serve as chaplains in hospitals, hospice facilities, prisons, the military and in other settings, said Rev. Ron Klimp, director of the CRC’s Chaplaincy & Care office.

Historically, about 10 percent of seminary graduates have chosen the chaplaincy as a career. But in the last five years, said Klimp, that number has been rising steadily for different reasons and is now approaching 15 percent.

“These are only rough numbers because is hard to track. But the trend is certainly a line starting to significantly rise,” said Klimp.

As a way to respond to the growing interest in chaplaincy, his office is co-hosting its first day-long Chaplaincy Fair on March 10 at the seminary. Until now, Klimp has met with seminarians over lunch every so often to introduce them to this special area of ministry.

But with the interest growing, in part because finding a job in a church is getting harder, he approached the seminary to see if he could set up a display and bring in a few speakers to discuss and answers questions on the topic, said Klimp.

Klimp said students from schools around West Michigan and beyond have been invited to attend the fair. Also invited are people from other groups whose have the role of recruiting chaplains to serve their churches or institutions.

Rev. Jul Medenblik, president of the seminary, said students “have increasingly expressed an interest in exploring ministry opportunities beyond parish ministry.

“Many feel called to prison ministry, hospital chaplaincy, military chaplaincy and more, so we are glad to co-host an event where students are given an opportunity to learn and explore pathways in chaplaincy.”

The seminary does offer a Master of Arts degree with a speciality in pastoral care as well as offers students the chance to earn clinical pastoral care credits in settings outside the seminary.

Some seminaries, however, are starting to offer a full-fledged program in chaplaincy, said Klimp.

Rev. Alan Baker, supervisor of chaplain ministries for the Reformed Church in America, said his office will have two representatives at next week’s Chaplaincy Fair. He also said two recruiters for the military will be there.

Currently, the RCA has 141 active chaplains, which is about 16 percent of its total clergy.

“We are seeing more hires available in the chaplaincy,” he said. “It is a larger part of the ministry than in the past.”

As a teacher in two seminaries, Baker said he sees more courses being offered in this area.

Baker also said more and more businesses are seeking to hire chaplains as are police and fire departments. Meanwhile, competency requirements for chaplains are going up.

“Becoming board-certified by a group such as the Association of Professional Chaplains is a bigger and bigger piece,” he said.

As for why he sees a growing interest in this area, Klimp said graduates may be turning to the chaplaincy because it has been harder in recent years for them to find positions in churches..

“The seminary is graduating larger numbers, but the churches aren’t growing in order to accommodate that,” said Klimp.

Another reason may be the many challenges that pastors face in today’s changing church climate, which could be encouraging graduates to more seriously consider the chaplaincy, said Klimp.

In addition, chaplaincy itself is gaining a higher profile as standards increase and as health care facilities and the military express a need for trained chaplains.

“The chaplaincy as a specialty is becoming more visible and respected and more attractive, especially in hospitals where chaplains are now considered to be part of the treatment staff,” said Klimp.

A key role that Klimp plays in his job is to interview and endorse chaplains to serve in the CRC. Currently, the CRC has 133 chaplains who have been endorsed to serve in variety of places.