Date

12-2021

Department

Rawlings School of Divinity

Degree

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Chair

Thomas T. Cook

Keywords

chaplaincy, spiritual care, pastoral care, the human spirit

Disciplines

Christianity | Religion

Abstract

This DMIN project is based on the Pastoral Ministry program at Nyack College, which publicly promotes that it leads the student to become a professional in the ministry context. The problem is that the academic curriculum does not include components of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). The project facilitator reasons that the current environment demands that spiritual care providers possess a specific skill set extending beyond pulpit preaching, reading scriptures, and prayer. The literature review contains articles, journals, and books that explore caring for the human spirit within the physical, spiritual, emotional, financial, religious, and holistic context. The research methodology designed for such inquiries is created in the Google Analysis software, which produces descriptive and numerical statistics of participant responses collected through web-based interviews, a clergy focus group of three participants, a student questionnaire, and a CPE survey. The most significant findings are the responses by the HEOP students, which is the target population. A sample size of 100 HEOP students was given a questionnaire to complete. Participant feedback identifies shortfalls in the HEOP student’s ministerial knowledge and spiritual care practices. A second noteworthy instrument utilized by the project facilitator was a detailed computerized CPE survey for 20 individuals that completed one or more CPE units. The collected responses are expressed in narrative form, tables, and charts. The data informs the primary stakeholders and others about the chaplain’s approach to caring for the human spirit and introduces more effective methods not presently visible in the College’s academic curriculum.

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