Job Description

Part-Time Chaplain Christian Hospital

The Part-Time Chaplain provides spiritual and emotional support to patients, families, and staff within the acute care setting of the hospital. This role includes assessing and responding to spiritual needs, offering crisis intervention, conducting spiritual assessments, and participating in interdisciplinary team meetings to ensure holistic patient care.

Christian Hospital has been serving St. Louis and the surrounding metro areas since 1903. U.S. News & World Report ranks Christian Hospital No. 5 in St. Louis for overall clinical excellence and No. 9 in Missouri, which puts us in the top 6% of all hospitals in the state!

The U.S. News adult methodology ranks clinical specialties and rates common care procedures and conditions. Christian was nationally ranked as high performing in the clinical specialty of geriatrics and in the following seven of 21 common procedures and conditions: heart attack, heart failure, kidney failure, diabetes, COPD, pneumonia and stroke. High performing in a specialty means we were in the top 10% nationally of all evaluated hospitals for that specialty or procedure and condition.

Northwest HealthCare, six miles west of Christian, offers 24-hour emergency care, the Sleep Disorders Center and a variety of outpatient diagnostic and imaging services.

Spiritual Care provides intensive, inter-faith spiritual care and counseling to patients and their families, as well as all employee hospital staff members. Our comprehensive spiritual care and counseling practice includes spiritual care assessment, grief support, managing emotional stress, and sacramental/religious care. Our department is accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education Inc., to educate students in the practice of clinical ministry. All of our chaplains hold advanced academic degrees in theology, and in some cases mental health, are professionally board certified as chaplains, and are endorsed for health care ministry by their respective faith traditions. Our chaplains are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide spiritual and emotional support to patients, families, and staff through presence, prayer, empathetic listening, and appropriate spiritual interventions.
• Conduct spiritual assessments to identify needs, concerns, and desired support.
• Offer timely crisis intervention and grief support during emergencies, trauma, or end-of-life situations.
• Document each patient and family encounter in accordance with hospital policy and professional standards.
• Participate actively in interdisciplinary team meetings to advocate for spiritual care needs and collaborate on patient plans.
• Work in coordination with the Spiritual Care Department and hospital staff to support organizational goals and patient-centered care.
• Organize, promote, or conduct a religious service twice a year, as assigned.
• Maintain professional boundaries and respect for diverse cultural, religious, and secular backgrounds without judgment or proselytizing.

Qualifications

• Ecclesiastical endorsement or ordination from a recognized faith community.
• Preferred: Board Certification (or eligibility) through the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC), National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC), or an equivalent professional chaplaincy organization.
• Demonstrated experience providing spiritual support in healthcare, congregational, or crisis settings is strongly preferred.

Required Skills & Personal Attributes

The ideal candidate must possess a unique blend of personal qualities suited to the emotionally intense healthcare environment. These include:

• Compassion and empathy in responding to spiritual, emotional, and existential needs.
• Cultural and religious competence, including sensitivity toward individuals from diverse faith traditions, worldviews, and secular perspectives.
• Ability to maintain professional composure in emotionally charged or traumatic situations.
• Commitment to respecting the beliefs, values, and choices of others without imposing personal theology or engaging in proselytizing.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including active listening, presence, and nonjudgmental support.
• Ability to practice healthy self-care, manage stress, and maintain professional resilience to prevent burnout.

Work Schedule

• Part-time Chaplains are required to work up to 24 hours per week, scheduled by the department manager.
• Occasional on-call, weekend, holiday, or per-diem flexibility may be required based on departmental needs.

Reporting Structure

The Part-time Chaplain will report to the Spiritual Care Manager and collaborate closely with the chaplaincy team and interdisciplinary hospital staff.

Benefits and Legal Statement

At BJC were committed to providing you and your family with benefits and resources to help you manage your physical, emotional, social and financial well-being.

• Comprehensive medical, dental, vison, life insurance, and legal services available first day of the month after hire date
• Disability insurance* paid for by BJC
• Annual 4% BJC Automatic Retirement Contribution
• 401(k) plan with BJC match
• Tuition Assistance available on first day
• BJC Institute for Learning and Development
• Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Paid Time Off benefit combines vacation, sick days, holidays and personal time
• Adoption assistance

*Not all benefits apply to all jobs

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees in this position. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. Equal Opportunity Employer

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