Advancing Spiritual Care Through Research

Educating chaplains for research literacy: results of a national survey of Clinical Pastoral Education residency programs

Educating chaplains for research literacy: results of a national survey of Clinical Pastoral Education residency programs

Research has been a theme in clinical pastoral education since the founding days of Anton Boisen, who used it “to inform his ministry and educate his students” [p. 10], but its place in curricula for chaplaincy training has varied over time and with each training program. While the ACPE does not formally address research as an educational objective for its accredited centers, the organization has long supported projects by students and supervisors and encouraged dialogue and investigation informally through such means as our Research Network. Now, however, the role of research in education for professional chaplaincy has been given new focus by the Association of Professional Chaplains through their adoption of Standards of Practice, Standard 12 of which states, “The chaplain practices evidence-based care including ongoing evaluation of new practices and, when appropriate, contributes to or conducts research.” It is with this in mind that a group of leading researchers in the ACPE undertook the present study of “residency programs that serve as the primary training for people who seek to become professional chaplains” [p. 2].