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Professional Spiritual & Pastoral Care: A Practical Clergy and Chaplain's Handbook
The first comprehensive resource for spiritual and pastoral caregivers—a vital resource for clergy, seminarians, chaplains, pastoral counselors and caregivers of all faith traditions.
This essential resource integrates the classic foundations of pastoral care with the latest approaches to spiritual care. It is specifically intended for professionals who work or spend time with congregants in acute care hospitals, behavioral health facilities, rehabilitation centers and long-term care facilities.
Offering the latest theological perspectives and tools, along with basic theory and skills from the best pastoral and spiritual care texts, research and concepts, the contributors to this resource are experts in their fields, and include eight current or past presidents of the major chaplaincy organizations.
480 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2001
173 people are currently reading
208 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 17, 2019
I had to read large portions of this for a course I am currently taking, so that is why I have marked it as read. I'm sure that at some point in the future I will read the pats that I wasn't required to currently read.
This is a very comprehensive and helpful resource for anyone involved professionally in spiritual or pastoral care ministry. It is aid out in a very structured and helpful manner and I can see how it would be able to quickly access the information one would need in any particular situation. The four sections are: Theology of Spiritual/Pastoral Care; The Process of Spiritual/Pastoral Care; Spiritual/Pastoral Care with Special Populations; and The Infrastructure of Spiritual/Pastoral Care. Each section contain articles by people working in the field and it was really helpful to read of their personal experiences.
For me, one of the book's weaknesses was that the book was heavy on involvement in the medical and healthcare field, which is probably where I will not find myself working in the future. Having said this, most of what was written is adaptable to most fields of spiritual/pastoral care.
I am grateful for the opportunity given me to read this book and I know it is one that I will refer to often in the future.
This is a very comprehensive and helpful resource for anyone involved professionally in spiritual or pastoral care ministry. It is aid out in a very structured and helpful manner and I can see how it would be able to quickly access the information one would need in any particular situation. The four sections are: Theology of Spiritual/Pastoral Care; The Process of Spiritual/Pastoral Care; Spiritual/Pastoral Care with Special Populations; and The Infrastructure of Spiritual/Pastoral Care. Each section contain articles by people working in the field and it was really helpful to read of their personal experiences.
For me, one of the book's weaknesses was that the book was heavy on involvement in the medical and healthcare field, which is probably where I will not find myself working in the future. Having said this, most of what was written is adaptable to most fields of spiritual/pastoral care.
I am grateful for the opportunity given me to read this book and I know it is one that I will refer to often in the future.
October 20, 2024
A First-Rate Text
"Professional Spiritual & Pastoral Care" is a first-rate text which is worth reading by students, chaplains, CPE supervisors, and seminary professors. Rabbi Stephen B. Roberts, edited and put together the text in an attempt to provide clergyman, professional chaplains and CPE students with a single, up to date, source for helping them become familiar with core pastoral care skills. The book is to be “one place you can turn to in your desire to learn about / keep current the basic skills that you need to do effective professional / chaplaincy / spiritual / pastoral care – whether as a congregational clergy member, a seminarian, or professional chaplain.” In my opinion, the book does accomplish its purpose. I have highlighted and bookmarked several sections. I keep my copy on my desk and refer to it often when I am charting.
"Professional Spiritual & Pastoral Care" is a first-rate text which is worth reading by students, chaplains, CPE supervisors, and seminary professors. Rabbi Stephen B. Roberts, edited and put together the text in an attempt to provide clergyman, professional chaplains and CPE students with a single, up to date, source for helping them become familiar with core pastoral care skills. The book is to be “one place you can turn to in your desire to learn about / keep current the basic skills that you need to do effective professional / chaplaincy / spiritual / pastoral care – whether as a congregational clergy member, a seminarian, or professional chaplain.” In my opinion, the book does accomplish its purpose. I have highlighted and bookmarked several sections. I keep my copy on my desk and refer to it often when I am charting.
January 1, 2013
Author Information
Rabbi Stephen B. Roberts, MBA, MHL, BCJC writes, Professional Spiritual & Pastoral Care: A Practical Clergy and Chaplain’s Handbook as an attempt to provide clergyman, professional chaplains and CPE students with a single, up to date, source for helping them become familiar with core pastoral care skills. It is natural for Rabbi Roberts to write this comprehensive treatise as he has lectured and written prolifically in the subject of pastoral and spiritual care. He served as past president of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains and as the former executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis.
Summary
Robert’s work is divided into four parts. The first, which encompasses chapters one and two, is the presentation of two essays relating how two professional chaplains have developed their own theology for doing pastoral work and professional chaplaincy. The heart of these chapters is center in providing the framework for the reader to develop his or hers own theology of care.
Chapters three to eighteen are the backbone of the book as they provide the foundational core skills one needs to be able to provide professional-level chaplaincy and spiritual/pastoral care. In this second part, an array of authors present on various common tasks that chaplains perform on a day-to-day basis like, charting, listening skills, life reviews, spiritual care of the staff, listening and responding skills, ethics, implementing a spiritual/pastoral care plan, among others.
The third part of the book addresses the spiritual/pastoral care needs of special populations. In these chapters, the reader is giving the “how to” on spiritual/pastoral care of international and immigrant patients, pediatrics, mental health patients, GLBT people, patients with disabilities, those with chronic illness, and those with survivor grief.
The last section of the book is made up of the last eight chapters, which present “specific topics that professional chaplains, and those studying to become one, need to be aware of and to practice in their professional life” (page xiv). In this segment, which seems to be aimed at chaplains in administrative positions, the issues of quality improvement, strategic planning, research, and outcome-oriented chaplaincy are discussed, as they are rapidly becoming an integral part of today’s professional chaplaincy.
Critical Analysis
It is the opinion of this reviewer that the author accomplishes his intended purpose of providing an up to date source for professional chaplains and CPE students alike. This book, as the author announces in the preface, “Is not intended to be read in one sitting, rather it is designed with four specific groups, and their learning needs, in mind” (page xii). In order to accomplish the goal of providing one up to date source, the author has created this book aimed at a diverse audience including, congregational pastors (part one), seminarians (part two), CPE students (part three), and professional chaplains (part four) and is written according to their needs. Nonetheless, the person who desires to obtain a broad knowledge of professional chaplaincy and spiritual/pastoral care will benefit greatly from reading this book in its entirety.
Another strength that is noteworthy is that it provides the novice CPE student with an in depth insight into each aspect of professional chaplaincy and spiritual/pastoral care. This was certainly true in the case of this reviewer. As an example, Kidd’s chapter (seven) on foundational listening and responding skill was instrumental in achieving one of my learning goals, which was to learn to improve my listening-responding skills. Upon reading this chapter, this reviewer learned that in order for effective listening to occur the listener must encourage the speaker to take all possible conversation initiative, while staying attuned to the present and staying objective as possible during the conversation.
Another strength of the book is that it is a collection of essays written by over thirty healthcare professionals who write from many years of experience and from their expertise on their subjects. Those who read this book will learn and profit from the experience and knowledge of ACPE supervisors, rabbis, chaplains, marriage and family therapist, social workers, researchers, and ethicists.
This book is well written, easy to understand, and relevant, but a critical weakness is that despite the extent of topics that are discussed, the chapters lack depth and give only and overview of each topic. If the intention of the reader is to gain an in depth knowledge of each topic then it is suggested that after reading this treatise to seek another that deals with the specifics of the topic that is desired to be explored. Plenty of reading suggestions are outline in the last three pages of the book.
Despite my quibble, this book provided this reviewer with insightful theological perspectives and tools, along with basic theory and skills, which have been extremely valuable in my role as a congregational pastor and a CPE intern. It will be a resource not only during my clinical pastoral education, but also during the many years I foresee serving as a professional chaplain. For further understanding on the topic of spiritual/pastoral care, Roberts’ other work, Disaster Pastoral Care: Practical Clergy Responses to Community, Regional, and National Tragedy (Skylight Paths Pub, 2008) is recommended.
Rabbi Stephen B. Roberts, MBA, MHL, BCJC writes, Professional Spiritual & Pastoral Care: A Practical Clergy and Chaplain’s Handbook as an attempt to provide clergyman, professional chaplains and CPE students with a single, up to date, source for helping them become familiar with core pastoral care skills. It is natural for Rabbi Roberts to write this comprehensive treatise as he has lectured and written prolifically in the subject of pastoral and spiritual care. He served as past president of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains and as the former executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis.
Summary
Robert’s work is divided into four parts. The first, which encompasses chapters one and two, is the presentation of two essays relating how two professional chaplains have developed their own theology for doing pastoral work and professional chaplaincy. The heart of these chapters is center in providing the framework for the reader to develop his or hers own theology of care.
Chapters three to eighteen are the backbone of the book as they provide the foundational core skills one needs to be able to provide professional-level chaplaincy and spiritual/pastoral care. In this second part, an array of authors present on various common tasks that chaplains perform on a day-to-day basis like, charting, listening skills, life reviews, spiritual care of the staff, listening and responding skills, ethics, implementing a spiritual/pastoral care plan, among others.
The third part of the book addresses the spiritual/pastoral care needs of special populations. In these chapters, the reader is giving the “how to” on spiritual/pastoral care of international and immigrant patients, pediatrics, mental health patients, GLBT people, patients with disabilities, those with chronic illness, and those with survivor grief.
The last section of the book is made up of the last eight chapters, which present “specific topics that professional chaplains, and those studying to become one, need to be aware of and to practice in their professional life” (page xiv). In this segment, which seems to be aimed at chaplains in administrative positions, the issues of quality improvement, strategic planning, research, and outcome-oriented chaplaincy are discussed, as they are rapidly becoming an integral part of today’s professional chaplaincy.
Critical Analysis
It is the opinion of this reviewer that the author accomplishes his intended purpose of providing an up to date source for professional chaplains and CPE students alike. This book, as the author announces in the preface, “Is not intended to be read in one sitting, rather it is designed with four specific groups, and their learning needs, in mind” (page xii). In order to accomplish the goal of providing one up to date source, the author has created this book aimed at a diverse audience including, congregational pastors (part one), seminarians (part two), CPE students (part three), and professional chaplains (part four) and is written according to their needs. Nonetheless, the person who desires to obtain a broad knowledge of professional chaplaincy and spiritual/pastoral care will benefit greatly from reading this book in its entirety.
Another strength that is noteworthy is that it provides the novice CPE student with an in depth insight into each aspect of professional chaplaincy and spiritual/pastoral care. This was certainly true in the case of this reviewer. As an example, Kidd’s chapter (seven) on foundational listening and responding skill was instrumental in achieving one of my learning goals, which was to learn to improve my listening-responding skills. Upon reading this chapter, this reviewer learned that in order for effective listening to occur the listener must encourage the speaker to take all possible conversation initiative, while staying attuned to the present and staying objective as possible during the conversation.
Another strength of the book is that it is a collection of essays written by over thirty healthcare professionals who write from many years of experience and from their expertise on their subjects. Those who read this book will learn and profit from the experience and knowledge of ACPE supervisors, rabbis, chaplains, marriage and family therapist, social workers, researchers, and ethicists.
This book is well written, easy to understand, and relevant, but a critical weakness is that despite the extent of topics that are discussed, the chapters lack depth and give only and overview of each topic. If the intention of the reader is to gain an in depth knowledge of each topic then it is suggested that after reading this treatise to seek another that deals with the specifics of the topic that is desired to be explored. Plenty of reading suggestions are outline in the last three pages of the book.
Despite my quibble, this book provided this reviewer with insightful theological perspectives and tools, along with basic theory and skills, which have been extremely valuable in my role as a congregational pastor and a CPE intern. It will be a resource not only during my clinical pastoral education, but also during the many years I foresee serving as a professional chaplain. For further understanding on the topic of spiritual/pastoral care, Roberts’ other work, Disaster Pastoral Care: Practical Clergy Responses to Community, Regional, and National Tragedy (Skylight Paths Pub, 2008) is recommended.
September 25, 2023
This is the text we used in the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program I completed at UC Davis Medical Center. The featured authors are indispensable interlocutors for chaplains working in professional healthcare settings. Rabbi Stephen Roberts's anthology will appeal to novice and seasoned spiritual care providers alike. Highly recommended.
June 21, 2025
Should be required for Chaplains
This is one of the best resources that I have found as a hospital chaplain after doing this work for the last five years. As I am working towards Board certification, I am finding the different authors are providing valuable insight, and I highly recommend it.
This is one of the best resources that I have found as a hospital chaplain after doing this work for the last five years. As I am working towards Board certification, I am finding the different authors are providing valuable insight, and I highly recommend it.
November 29, 2018
The text provides step by step consideration for insight and review of best practices.
May 21, 2021
More for career chaplains than students like me, and definitely focused on hospital settings more than prisons or military. Still, a wide range of excellent, practical information.
July 28, 2024
This is a great read. It is a wonderful resource with many clinical and pastoral perspectives. It is a very easy read that is hugely helpful for those in ministry.
March 17, 2013
Like any collection of articles by a variety of authors, PS&PC has its highs and lows. What I value most about the book is its insistence on spiritual/pastoral/chaplaincy care as a professional discipline, one they requires its practitioners to think, plan, document and collaborate with others just like any other group of professionals. At the same time, however, some of the chapters present an unrealistic view of the authority and influence of chaplains. I was also turned of by the anxiety, prevalent within chaplaincy and in several chapters of the book, about the need for chaplains to justify their existence. If systems theory has taught us anything, it's that letting our praxis be driven by anxiety is unhelpful, to ourselves and those we would serve.
March 28, 2015
An excellent book that can help with chaplaincy competencies. Not intended to be read in one sitting but instead to be used as a resource. I learned much but also it helped to review and reinforced skills and competencies that I already had. A valuable resource for anyone that provides pastoral care no matter the setting that ministry may exist.
May 19, 2014
An excellent primer!
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February 29, 2012Currently reading for CPE.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews