Staff Chaplain - Full Time

General Summary:

Fulfill the responsibilities of Hospital Staff Chaplain in support of the Department’s mission serving as an advocate for issues emanating from the domains of value, meaning, spirituality, culture, religion, and ethics on behalf of the patients and their families, volunteers, staff, and the community-at-large; to offer support in the identification, facilitation, and utilization of spiritual resources on behalf of the above, enabling the experience of a healthy, meaningful, and unifying relationship among their spiritual, emotional, and physical dimensions of life; adhere, at all times, to the Cannon of Ethics for Chaplains and

support the Mission of Frederick Memorial Hospital while remaining always in compliance with the hospital’s Code of Conduct.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities Required:

 Education: All applicants must possess the degree of Master of Divinity or equivalent educational qualifications.  Equivalent educational qualifications means possession of a bachelor’s degree of at least 120-semester hours plus completion of not less than 70-semester hours graduate course work which included all of the following: 20-semester hours in pastoral ministry; 20-semester hours in any combination of theology, ethics and philosophy of religion, counseling psychology or pastoral counseling; 20-semester hours in the study of sacred writings, including the study of languages in which sacred writings are/were written; 10-semester hours in religious history and/or world religions; educational content must be accredited and the college(s), university(ies), or theological institution(s) from which the education was received must be listed as an acceptable accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. 

1. Ecclesiastical Endorsement: All successful applicants must possess or be able to acquire (within 90-days of hire) ecclesiastical endorsement, dated within the previous 12-months, from the authorized national endorsing official of his/her faith group or denomination.  Ecclesiastical endorsement is the written official statement of the endorsing body certifying that the applicant is in good standing with the faith group or denomination and that the individual is, in the opinion of the endorsing body, qualified to perform the full range of ministry required in the pluralistic setting wherein health care is delivered.  Endorsements are accepted only from the national endorser designated by the faith group. 

1. Clinical Pastoral Education: In addition to the educational requirements listed in above, successful applicants must have completed 4-units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), as defined by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE), the national Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC), the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy (CPSP), or the American Psychotherapy Association (APA).  800-hours of supervised ministry in a formal training program which incorporated both ministry formation and pastoral care skills development may be substituted for 2-units of the required CPE.


2. Experience: All successful applicants must have at least two years professional experience, or equivalent, after completion of their educational requirements, which has demonstrated both practical pastoral knowledge and skill and ability to minister within a pluralistic setting.  Supervised or guided pastoral experience completed during graduate professional education may be credited for up to one of the two years of experience.  Completion of a doctoral degree directly related to pastoral ministry may be substituted for one year of experience.  Professional experience, as listed above, must demonstrate all of the following: (1) ability to serve as a consultant/advocate to an interdisciplinary treatment team; (2) in-depth knowledge of related professional fields, particularly in the behavioral sciences; © understanding of, and ability to respond to, the particular concerns and issues pertaining to treatment-related issues of religious/pastoral/psycho-spiritual/emotional concern;  (3) knowledge of structure, regulations, practices, and programs of health care delivery systems; ( 5) ability to interpret and apply a body of rules, regulations, policies, and procedures in professional practice; (6) ability to develop and maintain liaisons with a variety of pluralistic and diverse community-based organizations and faith groups.


3. Must be proficient in written and spoken English.


4. Must have in your possession, at all times, a valid motor vehicle operator’s license and required vehicle insurance.


5. Demonstrate ability to manage stress associated with the conflicting needs of self, a diverse patient population and their respective family members, inter-disciplinary staff, volunteers, community-based faith leaders, and the community-at-large; which includes individuals suffering from acute/chronic terminal illness and traumatic stress in all attendant phases.


6. Demonstrate ability to maintain confidentiality in accordance with professional standards, canons of ethics, and regulatory guidelines.


7. Must demonstrate and maintain current knowledge and skills in providing appropriate care/contact for patients in the following age groups:

_X_       Neonate (0 thru 30 days)

                _X_        Infant (31 thru 12 months)

                _X_        Child (13 months thru 12 years)

                _X_        Adolescent (13 years thru 17 years)

                _X_        Adult (18 years thru 65 years)

                _X_        Geriatric (66+ years)

Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient’s status.  Possess the ability to interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient’s requirements relative to his/her age-specific needs and to provide the care needed as described in the unit’s/department’s policies and procedures – Not applicable.

Physical Demands:

Light Work – Lifting up to 20 pounds on an infrequent basis (less than one lift every three minutes) and/or carrying up to ten pounds, or requiring walking or standing to a significant degree (about six hours a day).

Ergonomic Risk Factors:

Repetition: Repeating the same motion over and over again places stress on the muscles and tendons. The severity of risk depends on how often the action is repeated, the speed of the movement, the required force and muscle involved

Awkward Posture: Posture is the position your body is in and its effect on the muscle groups that are involved in the physical activity. Awkward postures include repeated or prolonged reaching, bending, kneeling, squatting, standing, working overhead with your hands or arms, or holding fixed positions.

Working Conditions:

Blood borne Pathogen Exposure Risk Category A – WILL have exposure to blood or body fluids

When assisting patients and family members, work may be performed in locations other than in the hospital (i.e., private residence, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, funeral homes and/or cemeteries).  Work is frequently in an uncontrolled environment, with physical and emotional factors present which may present risk of threat to personal safety and stress associated with patient/family behaviors related to acute/chronic/terminal illness and/or death/dying situations. 

Reporting Relationship:

 Reports to and receives direction and oversight from the Director, Department of Pastoral Care.

Positions Supervised:

Provide direction and oversight, as may be directed and in accordance with Departmental policies/protocols, to Volunteers working within the Department (e.g., Volunteer Chaplains, Visiting Clergy, Visiting Ministers, Pastoral Care Volunteers, and Pastoral Care Interns).