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Q. What is a chaplain?
Webster’s New World College Dictionary says, “…3. a clergyman, or sometimes a layman, appointed to perform religious functions in a public institution…” A chaplain, then, is distinguished from the parish pastor because his chaplaincy is performed in a public institution as he ministers to those in a hospital, nursing home, police station, fire hall, jail or prison, or to those in the military and their families. A parish pastor might also serve as a chaplain on a part-time basis at one of those facilities.
Q. What is the WELS Chaplain Certificate?
The WELS Chaplain Certificate (CCP) is designed to raise professional standards, enhance individual performance of ministry, and demonstrate the knowledge essential for the practice of chaplaincy care.
Q. What does a chaplain’s role look like in various settings?
The following are broad descriptions. Specific duties will depend on the agency’s expectations, the chaplain’s availability and commitment, and how the role evolves as the chaplain gains experience and earns the trust of agency supervisors.
Healthcare Facilities – The chaplain’s focus will be primarily on individual visits with patients and support for staff members. In a long-term care facility, a chaplain may have opportunity to lead group worship (hymns/devotion/prayer). Hospice chaplains visit in-patient units and homes to minister to the dying and their families.
Law Enforcement/Fire/EMS – The chaplain’s time will likely be spent on ride-alongs, station visits, and building relationships. It may include death notifications, advising command staff, and other duties.
Correctional Facilities – The chaplain’s main role will be leading Bible studies for inmates. There may be opportunities to counsel individual inmates and offer support to staff members.
Military – A uniformed chaplain may welcome an offer to teach a class on-base or host support events for personnel and families at a church campus. Where WELS personnel request it, leading worship on-base may be possible.
Q. What kind of hours are expected?
That depends on the agency’s needs and the chaplain’s availability and commitment. It can range from “we’ll call you if we need you” to “we’ll take as much of your time as you are able to give us.”
Q. How is this program different than what Institutional Ministries offers?
Institutional Ministries, based in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, serves residents of healthcare and correctional facilities, primarily in the Midwest, utilizing four full-time chaplains and dozens of volunteers.
The Chaplain Certification Program offers training to prepare volunteers to serve through Institutional Ministries or in their own congregation or community.
Q. Who may enroll in the Chaplain Certificate Program?
The WELS Chaplain Certificate Program exists to help and train individuals, WELS pastors, staff ministers, teachers, laypeople, and those in confessional agreement with WELS for service in various forms of chaplain ministry.
Q. How can women serve as chaplains?
A chaplain’s role is to share God’s Word, to witness, and to comfort. None of these roles is forbidden by Scripture to women. All lay chaplains are to be under the supervision of their pastor and should regularly consult with the pastor about their activities.
Q. Can I enroll individual courses without being accepted or enrolled in the Chaplain Certificate Program?
Yes, anyone who meets the entry requirements of Martin Luther College may enroll in the college’s courses.
Q. Are there any specific prerequisites for laypeople?
There are no course prerequisites; however, the prospective student should be spiritually active in his or her WELS/ELS church and have a passion for serving others. All lay (non-CRM) candidates are required to take the Foundation Course TH9534 “Grounded in Scripture,” preferably before they take any of the other courses. Special exceptions may be granted in unique circumstances by the WELS Chaplain Certification Committee.
Q. What does the process typically look like? Get certified and you’ll get a role? Or does a church see an opportunity for a role and ask a member to get certified?
Most often, a called or lay worker will recognize his or her aptitude for chaplaincy and the type that seems most attractive, then decide to pursue certification. Alternatively, a congregation may identify an opportunity, then encourage a member with the appropriate gifts to fill the role.
Chaplain courses can be taken individually, without the need to commit to the full certification process. For example, a member who is already visiting nursing homes might be encouraged to take the course on geriatric ministry.
Q. What courses are required to obtain the chaplain certificate?
A student must achieve a passing grade in all four required courses (THE9520, THE9522, THE9532, and either THE9521, THE9531, or THE9601), plus one elective to qualify for certification. Lay people who do not have a minor in theology from a WELS or ELS college must also take THE9534 as a prerequisite (see below).
Foundation Course
- THE9534 Grounded in Scripture – An introduction to theology that focuses on scriptural teachings that are of special importance to Christian early childhood teachers and lay chaplains. All lay people (non-CRM) accepted into the program are required to take this course, which provides a solid foundation in doctrine. Students are strongly encouraged to take this course first, if possible. The Committee may grant exceptions to this requirement.
Required Courses
- THE9520 Communicating Forgiveness – A study of the scriptural meaning of forgiveness and the many ways this truth can be communicated vividly and meaningfully by God’s messengers.
- THE9522 Your Chaplaincy and Ethical Issues – A practicum in chaplaincy requiring a field site and discussion of chaplaincy issues and experiences. A chaplain field site is required for this course.
- THE9532 Chaplaincy Seminar – A week-long, face-to-face seminar following the fieldwork course including group interaction and portfolio presentations to the Chaplain Certification Program Committee.
ONE of the following courses is also required
- THE9521 A Scriptural Approach to Addiction Counseling – A study of addictions, especially substance abuse and pornography, and the ways Christians try to help through law/gospel counseling and referral.
- THE9531 Trauma Basics – What Is Trauma? – An introduction to the basic effects of trauma on body, mind, and soul.
- THE9601 The Spiritual Side of PTSD – Helps spiritual advisors recognize the signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and provide appropriate spiritual care.
Elective Courses
- THE9521 A Scriptural Approach to Addiction Counseling (if not taken as a required course) – A study of addictions, especially substance abuse and pornography, and the ways Christians try to help through law/gospel counseling and referral.
- THE9523 Ministry to the Incarcerated and Their Families – A study of service to the incarcerated and their families and the ways in which jail ministries can be established.
- THE9524 Frontline Chaplaincy – This elective is specially designed for those who would serve as chaplains to people on the frontline of the defense of our society, namely the military, the police and firefighters, and their families.
- THE9525 Geriatric and Care Facility Ministry – A team-oriented approach to ministry for people who are aging or residents in care facilities. Provides both knowledge and skills for congregation members to provide spiritual care for homebound and institutionalized.
- THE9531 Trauma Basics – What Is Trauma? (if not taken as a required course)– An introduction to the basic effects of trauma on body, mind, and soul.
- THE9533 Grief, Loss, and Trauma – Help for the Hurting – Explore grief, loss, and trauma from a biblical as well as mental health perspective. Develop understanding of what happens when someone experiences a traumatic loss and learn how to minister to such a person, both initially and in the long term.
- THE9601 The Spiritual Side of PTSD (if not taken as a required course) – Helps spiritual advisors recognize the signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and provide appropriate spiritual care.
Additional education may be pursued, based on the type of chaplaincy and what level of training is desired or required by the calling body or hiring agency. Experiential learning credits may be possible Ecclesiastical endorsement requires specific theological training. (See FAQ question regarding ecclesiastical endorsement).
The Martin Luther College courses are open to all called workers and lay members, whether or not seeking chaplain certification. They may serve as personal continuing education.
Q. What grade do I need to maintain?
A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 is required for certification. A grade of C or higher is needed for a course to count toward requirements of the certificate program. A grade of C- or lower will not help fulfill the requirements to complete the program. A student may retake a course if a grade of C- or lower is earned. The CCP Committee reserves the right to deny certification if they have concerns about the applicant despite the applicant’s successful completion of courses.
Q. What other requirements are there to become a chaplain?
Agencies that utilize chaplains will have different religious requirements. Some chaplaincy work requires ecclesiastical endorsement.
Q. What do I have to do to maintain my certificate?
Continuing education units of credit (CEUs) will be required to maintain one’s certification active.
Q. What is ecclesiastical endorsement?
Ecclesiastical endorsement is the church’s affirmation that the worker is religiously trained, a member in good standing with his/her denomination, and is performing or will perform a valid ministry in the name of that denomination. A form is available for trained WELS workers to request ecclesiastical endorsement. Called workers will apply for Ecclesiastical Endorsement through the district president. Non-CRM workers will apply through the WELS Chaplain Certification Committee who will seek a recommendation from the applicant’s pastor and then pass the recommendation on to the district president. The synod president signs and issues the final Ecclesiastical Endorsement certificate.
Q. What level of theological training is required for WELS ecclesiastical endorsement?
The applicant must have completed the religious training required to achieve a certificate or diploma for his/her position, whether pastor, teacher, staff minister, evangelist, congregational assistant, etc.
Q. Is there a high demand for chaplains?
There is greater demand in certain areas (geography-wise and ministry-wise). Some agencies, when shown the benefits, may welcome a chaplain’s services, especially if it doesn’t cost them anything.
Q. How might I use my chaplain certificate and ecclesiastical endorsement?
Ministry can be carried out in many different facilities. Those facilities might include, but are not limited to, children’s homes, general hospitals, hospices, mental health facilities, jails, prisons and other correctional institutions, half-way homes, retirement communities, substance abuse clinics, and military installations.
Q. Why do I need a chaplain certificate and ecclesiastical endorsement?
Many healthcare facilities, jails and prisons, and military bases are tightening their requirements for ministry in their facilities, especially if a pastor wants to reach out to more than just his own members or a layperson wants to do chaplaincy work.
Endorsement is required for membership and a certificate in virtually all professional chaplaincy associations. It is also a demonstration of the chaplain’s commitment to professional competency and accountability to the mission of the church.
Q. Should church leaders be looking for these opportunities?
Chaplaincy is one more way to reach people by going outside the walls of the church. A church’s location and setting may offer more or fewer opportunities.
Q. What is Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)?
CPE is professional education for ministry. It brings students into a supervised clinical setting. The concepts of CPE are included in the required course: “Your Chaplaincy and Ethical Issues.” The essential elements of CPE training are these:
- The actual practice of ministry to persons in need
- Detailed reporting and evaluation of that practice
- Pastoral supervision
- A small group of peers in a common learning experience
Q. Where does one conduct fieldwork or CPE training?
The fieldwork/CPE programs are offered through health care institutions, hospitals of all kinds (e.g. general, university, children’s, psychiatric, military, VA), geriatric centers, hospices, parishes, mental health facilities, correctional institutions, and a variety of other settings.
Q. How many CPE units are required for a certificate?
No CPE units are required in this program, unless the program participant chooses to use CPE as an elective. If a person also wants to be certified by a national certifying agency, those agencies may require additional units. One unit might be a daily course for nine weeks or it might be one day a week for nine months (400 hours). Each program has different requirements.
Q. What are the costs to be certified and endorsed?
The courses earn credits through Martin Luther College, which is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Click here for current Tuition and Fees. The costs for the CPE program vary by institution. There is no charge for endorsement.
For more information contact
chaplaincert@wels.net
Q. Is financial assistance available?
Financial assistance is available from several different sources for applicants who have completed at least one course in the certificate program. Application for such assistance may be made through the WELS Commission on Special Ministries and the Chaplain Certification Committee.
Q. I’m interested. Who can I talk with to learn more?
Email chaplaincert@wels.net. You can also request a phone call for a more in-depth conversation.