9.18.2007 - 11:45am ET

(CSRwire) NEW YORK, NY - September 18, 2007 - The John Templeton Foundation will give a $1.1 million grant to The HealthCare Chaplaincy to further aid its transformative initiative in clinical pastoral education. This is the largest single grant The Chaplaincy has received in its 46-year history, and will be distributed over three years.

In collaboration with the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, The Chaplaincy will restructure clinical pastoral education—mentoring, pedagogy, and the certification process. The Chaplaincy will also develop new approaches to curriculum and assessment. The Chaplaincy's desire is to be an effective channel for change within the global, multifaith spiritual care community.

"For decades, The Chaplaincy has been growing in its reputation as a leader and innovator in the pastoral care, education, and research fields," said President and CEO, Rev. Dr. Walter J. Smith, S. J. "Now, with the support of the John Templeton Foundation, we have set some ambitious goals to move the profession further ahead."

Dr. Paul Wason, Director of Life Sciences at the John Templeton Foundation, said, "I was immediately impressed with The HealthCare Chaplaincy's vision for developing this very important profession. But equally important, from my perspective, is that they have developed an excellent strategy to reach it."

In taking on this academic challenge, The Chaplaincy is shifting its educational priority to become more dedicated to doctoral-level clinical education-a commitment that no other clinical pastoral education program in the world has undertaken. Faculty resources are being expanded and reorganized; a new graduate curriculum is being developed; and new academic partnerships are being forged.

The proposal to the John Templeton Foundation, "Partnerships for Change: Transforming the Profession of Pastoral Care," listed other project goals, such as:

Expanding the post-doctoral pastoral research fellowship program.

According to The Chaplaincy, a substantive transformation of its educational practice is critical to the advancement of the field. Faculty resources, curriculum, and certification processes need to be strengthened to meet future challenges in the profession.

The John Templeton Foundation was established in 1987 by Sir John Templeton, and with current assets of roughly $1.1 billion, this independent, family philanthropy's vision is derived from a commitment to scientific research and scholarship. The mission of the John Templeton Foundation (www.templeton.org) is "to serve as a philanthropic catalyst for discovery in areas engaging life's biggest questions. These questions range from explorations into the laws of nature and the universe to questions on the nature of love, gratitude, forgiveness, and creativity. Our vision is derived from John Templeton's commitment to rigorous scientific research and related scholarship. The Foundation's motto "How little we know, how eager to learn" exemplifies our support for open-minded inquiry and our hope for advancing human progress through breakthrough discoveries."

The HealthCare Chaplaincy is a multifaith community of professionals from many cultures dedicated to caring for persons in spirit, mind, and body. The Chaplaincy’s mission is to further excellence and leadership in pastoral care, education, and research. For more information, visit www.healthcarechaplaincy.org

For more information please contact:

Steven Shannon, Director, Marketing and Communications
The HealthCare Chaplaincy
212-644-1111 ext. 141
www.healthcarechaplaincy.org

Jackson Kytle, Vice President, Academic Affairs
The HealthCare Chaplaincy
212-644-1111 ext. 205
www.healthcarechaplaincy.org

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