The Changing Landscape of Spiritual Care: Implications for the Theological Education of Chaplains

Abstract

ABSTRACT Amidst forecasts about the future of theological education, the authors suggest that a spiritual care revolution is taking place, one that centers chaplains as the religious leaders of the future. This introduction situates the work of chaplains in the current moment and urges pastoral theologians to increase their ongoing investments in spiritual care education that is nimble and responsive to these changes. The authors organize insights around three basic questions that can serve as prompts for vital discussions about how to educate chaplains more effectively to meet current demands: What are we educating for? What are we educating chaplains to do? Where is the need? This issue features the research conducted from various collaborations around chaplaincy education and highlights the value of creating feedback loops between working chaplains, educators, and chaplaincy researchers.