Chaplaincy to Veterans

The Need
Patients in VA hospitals or psychiatric institutions, even more than other hospital patients, are often cut off from their families and friends. Many of these patients are suffering from chronic physical and/or emotional effects of trauma. Others suffer from acute psychoses; many are impoverished or homeless.

The Challenge
The institutional/VA chaplain is a part of the patients' therapeutic team. He or she brings love and acceptance to those society forgets. He or she must minister to the families of patients, but the major responsibility is to bring a ray of hope to "those who sit in darkness" (Isaiah 42:7, NIV), the darkness of despair and depression.

(Scripture quotation taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society, and is used by permission.)

The Requirements
Full-time Institutional/Veterans Administration (VA) chaplains have completed the prescribed course of study for their credentials. They must be endorsed  and have completed at least two quarters of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). They must be able to relate to people who have emotional/psychiatric disorders. Individual institutions may have training prerequisites; check with the institution with which you are interested in working.