Professional Spiritual & Pastoral Care: A Practical Clergy and Chaplain’s Handbook

The first comprehensive resource for spiritual and pastoral caregivers—a vital resource for clergy, seminarians, chaplains, pastoral counselors and caregivers of all faith traditions.

This essential resource integrates the classic foundations of pastoral care with the latest approaches to spiritual care. It is specifically intended for professionals who work or spend time with congregants in acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities, rehabilitation centers and long-term care facilities.

Offering the latest theological perspectives and tools, along with basic theory and skills from the best pastoral and spiritual care texts, research and concepts, the contributors to this resource are experts in their fields, and include eight current or past presidents of the major chaplaincy organizations.

“More than a conventional clergy and chaplain’s practical handbook.... Charts the contours of the discipline, with sensitivity and appreciation for diversity, integrity and interdisciplinarity.... Every professional in the field should have this volume on his or her desk.”

—Lester Edwin J. Ruiz, PhD, director, Accreditation and Institutional Evaluation,
The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada

“A ‘must have’ volume for all care providers, whether student, supervisor or local practitioner ... whether in a solo position or a member of a larger staff.”

—The Rev. Dr. David C. Johnson, BCC, ACPE Supervisor;
president, Association of Professional Chaplains

“Helps to form those who practice and teach this vital vocation in practical and profound essays. A useful resource for seminaries and practitioners.... I commend it to all who help create sacred places and times to heal wounds of mind and heart and who enable the spiritual journey to continue to unfold.”

—The Rev. Gregg A. Mast, PhD, president, New Brunswick Theological Seminary

“Impressive.... An excellent resource for providers of pastoral care as well as a teaching resource for those professionals who teach pastoral care.”

—Sally A. Schwab, president-elect, Association for Clinical Pastoral Education

“A significant and invaluable gift to the profession of chaplaincy.... A prized resource for the CPE student and the twenty-five-year-anniversary chaplain [and] answers a real need.”

—David A. Lichter, DMin, executive director, National Association of Catholic Chaplains

“A guidebook that points the way at the critical beginning of the [chaplaincy] path.... An invaluable resource for the most seasoned professionals as well as beginning students.”

—Rabbi Julie Schonfeld, executive vice president, The Rabbinical Assembly

Rev. Nancy K. Anderson, ACPE Supervisor

Rev. Dr. Willard W. C. Ashley, Sr., MDiv, DMin, DH

Dr. Nancy Berlinger, PhD, MDiv

Rev. W. L. (Bill) Bross, MDiv, BCC

Rev. Robin C. Brown-Haithco, MDiv, ACPE Supervisor

Rabbi Zahara Davidowitz-Farkas, MHL, BCJC, CPSP Diplomate Supervisor

Paula DeAngelo, MS, Senior OD Consultant

Chaplain D. W. Donovan, MA, MS, BCC

Dr. George Fitchett, DMin, PhD, BCC, ACPE Supervisor

Rev. Bill Gaventa, MDiv

Rabbi H. Rafael Goldstein, BCJC

Chaplain Dr. Daniel Grossoehme, DMin, BCC

Sr. Norma Gutierrez, BA, BCC

Rev. George Handzo, MDiv, BCC, CSSBB

Rev. Curtis W. Hart, MDiv, BCC, CPSP Diplomate Supervisor

Rev. Brian Hughes, MDiv, BCC

Rev. Dr. Martha R. Jacobs, MDiv, DMin, BCC

Chaplain Gerald L. Jones, MA, BCC, ACPE Supervisor

Rev. Robert A. Kidd, MDiv, BCC

Rev. Yoke Lye Kwong, BCC, ACPE Supervisor

Rev. Michele J. Guest Lowery, MDiv, BCC

Rev. Marcia Marino, DMin, BCC

Rev. Lynne M. Mikulak, MDiv, MSW, BCC, ACPE Supervisor

Rev. Nancy Osborne, MDiv, ACPE Supervisor

Rev. Jon Overvold, MDiv, BCC

Rev. Brent Peery, DMin, BCC

Chaplain Linda F. Piotrowski, MTS, BCC

Rev. David B. Plummer, BCC, LMFT

Rabbi Stephen B. Roberts, MBA, MHL, BCJC

Rev. Dr. Glenn A. Robitaille, RPC, MPCP, CPP

Chaplain Timothy G. Serban, MA, BCC

Bishop Dr. Teresa E. Snorton, MDiv, DMin, BCC, ACPE Supervisor

Rev. Dr. Dane R. Sommer, MDiv, DMin, BCC

Rabbi Dr. Shira Stern, MHL, DMin, BCJC

Rev. Jo Clare Wilson, ACPE Supervisor

Rev. Sue Wintz, MDiv, BCC

Rabbi Stephen B. Roberts, MBA, MHL, BCJC, has taught and written extensively on pastoral and spiritual care. He is co-editor of Disaster Spiritual Care: Practical Clergy Responses to Community, Regional and National Tragedy (SkyLight Paths); a contributor to Jewish Pastoral Care, 2nd Edition: A Practical Handbook from Traditional & Contemporary Sources (Jewish Lights); a past president of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains; and former associate executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis overseeing the Jack D. Weiler Chaplaincy Program, which employs chaplains in over fifty health care facilities. He is also chairman emeritus and a founder of Disaster Chaplaincy Services, Inc., a partnership program within the American Red Cross in Greater New York.