The MDiv Chaplaincy Concentration

In 2016 the Seminary launched a new MDiv chaplaincy concentration which provides the student with all the components needed for chaplaincy endorsement by the Adventist Church and several other Chaplaincy organizations. The former chair of the Christian Ministry department reflects on the value and purpose of this new chaplaincy opportunity.

The gospel commission empowers us through the authority of Jesus Christ to preach, baptize, teach and make disciples among all the peoples of the earth. This forms the foundation of the mission of the church and every member under the banner of Christ. Pastors are called of God, recognized by the body of Christ, and commissioned to lead the redeemed in pursuit of this mission. The Holy Spirit empowers with diverse spiritual gifts that form an interdependent system of ministry designed to meet and satisfy the equally diverse needs of those within and outside the body. In addition, the Spirit prunes and prepares each of God’s children for the miracle of the fruit of transformation that manifests itself in the loving and joy-giving character of our Savior.

The result is an almost irresistible combination of character and spiritual competency that facilitates missional ministry. The character qualifications are universal while the competency qualifications are vastly diverse. This diversity is revealed in the unique gifts that enable individuals within the faith community to serve in markedly different ways while collectively ministering to a broad spectrum of candidates for Christ’s kingdom. So also, it is with pastoral ministry. Even though the primary calling in Matthew 28:18-19 is preaching, baptizing, discipling and teaching, the pattern of Jesus’ service also embraced practical ministry: “…to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to set the oppressed free, and to break every yoke?” (Isa 58:6). The variety of needs requires a diversity of calling and giftedness.

In 2014 our beloved chaplain, James North, retired after a career that included 25 years as the Seminary chaplaincy professor. His departure sparked the creativity of our Seminary community regarding the need to focus our chaplaincy course offerings. In the middle of 2015 the Christian Ministry Department with the help of Chaplain Keith Wakefield approved a draft proposal of a Chaplaincy Concentration to the Dean’s office and the Master of Divinity Program. The proposed Concentration consisted of five courses totaling 15 semester hour credits to be merged with the traditional Master of Divinity program. Within 90 days of submitting the proposal, the concept of a Chaplaincy Concentration was processed and approved under the able direction of Dean Moskala.

Encouragement and counsel came from the General Conference and the North American Division Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries departments as well as from the Adventist Health System. Revisions and curricular adjustments were made with the help of Chaplain Johnathan Ward who came to us from Atlanta Children’s Hospital where he had served as staff chaplain for over a decade. Chaplain Ward welcomed over 30 students into the Chaplaincy Concentration during the first year it was offered. This response was a source of joy and gratitude for God’s blessings on the united efforts of all who had captured the vision of chaplaincy education at a time when the market for chaplaincy professions was high. Today Dr. Anna Galeniece, formerly Associate Professor of Applied Theology and Director of the Master of Chaplaincy program at the Adventist University of Africa, directs the chaplaincy program. To God be the glory.

The philosophy upon which the new Concentration was structured included a commitment to the diversity model of interdependent professional specialization. Chaplaincy is a specialized ministry and falls under the overall umbrella of Pastoral Ministry. The Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary and Andrews University as an institution hold that chaplaincy is a noble and necessary ministry calling that deserves an equal seat at the table of ministry. Chaplains serve a broad spectrum of organizations including hospitals, correctional institutions, armed forces units, corporations, law enforcement and a variety of other entities who recognize that the people they serve and the employees they retain must be ministered to spiritually in order to maintain a healthy working environment.

Chaplains carry the Seventh-day Adventist worldview into the market place every day. They reflect Adventist values to peers and clients in practical ways that honor the spiritual diversity by respecting the values and beliefs of those they serve. In many cases, the chaplain is not free to openly proselytize and thus faces a delicate line between honoring the call to share faith while maintaining respect for the person served and the policies of the institution. Careful professional education is required to hone the skills necessary to communicate and lift Jesus Christ in these restricted contexts. The Seminary Chaplaincy program offers such skill development along with advanced training in crisis and trauma, death and dying, ethics and philosophy in chaplaincy, and clinical pastoral care. These collectively prepare the Master of Divinity student to enter chaplaincy with skills beyond most of their entry level peers.

We are proud of our chaplaincy program and grateful to those who led and encouraged the process of its development. The vision we have for chaplaincy includes a Clinical Pastoral Care (CPE) center as well as a program for training CPE supervisors which are in short supply in the varied chaplaincy markets. We are excited about the future and solicit your prayers and support as we continue to develop our dreams into ministry reality.