Résumé de section

  • Chaplain Foundations (1 Unit)

    Foundational Chaplain Training • Ministry Presence • Officiating Leadership

    Instructors: Rev. Chaplain Tom Walcott & Rev. Henry Reyenga
    M'inscrire

    This course introduces the essential foundations and practices of Christian chaplaincy.

    Designed for volunteer, part-time, or developing chaplains, this training prepares those who sense a calling to serve in real-life ministry settings as spiritual leaders who guide others through life’s defining moments with grace, presence, biblical wisdom, and public trust.
    Course Description

    Grounded in the Ministry Sciences approach of Christian Leaders Institute, this course explores chaplaincy as a ministry of presence in which chaplains carry the peace and presence of Christ into moments of blessing, dedication, transition, crisis, trauma, recovery, public prayer, Scripture reading, discernment, and relational care.

    Students will learn how chaplain ministry fosters healing, identity, transformation, and wholeness in homes, hospitals, care settings, workplaces, community spaces, and other chaplain parishes beyond church walls.

    Rather than focusing primarily on weddings and funerals, which are developed more fully in other courses, this training highlights the wider range of sacred moments chaplains are called to lead: blessings, dedications, infant baptisms, house blessings, commissionings, retirements, public prayers, crisis response, Scripture ministry, and ongoing relational presence.

    Students will also be introduced to the importance of ordination, endorsement, accountability, public credibility, confidentiality, and sustainable rhythms for lifelong chaplain service.

    This course is also offered for degree program credit through the Leadership Excellence School, and it serves as the foundational course for the Licensed Chaplain ordination credential through the Christian Leaders Alliance. Students will be introduced to the next steps of chaplain preparation, including additional required courses, recognized ordination, and later specialization in more defined chaplain parishes.

    Course Outcomes

    By the end of this course, students will be able to:

      1. Articulate how their personal testimony connects to their chaplain calling
      2. Define and name their chaplain parish (circle of influence or visitation)
      3. Lead a wide variety of spiritual and ceremonial moments with depth and humility
      4. Understand their role as a “non-anxious presence” in crisis or transition
      5. Apply biblical foundations of blessing, prayer, discernment, and presence
      6. Represent the Christian faith with clarity, love, and legitimacy in public settings
      7. Develop a sustainable rhythm of rest, reflection, and community support

    Course Structure and Requirements

    • Watch all video lectures
    • Complete all required readings and case studies
    • Pass all quizzes
    • Complete the final feedback survey

    Grading Scale

    • A = 93–100
    • A- = 90–92
    • B+ = 87–89
    • B = 83–86
    • B- = 80–82
    • C+ = 77–79
    • C = 73–76
    • C- = 70–72
    • D+ = 67–69
    • D = 63–66
    • D- = 60–62
    • F = 0–59

    A minimum of 60% is required to pass this course.

    Course Deadline

    • Students have 180 days to complete the course.
    • All assignments must be submitted before the deadline.
    • Missed deadlines result in administrative withdrawal.
    • Re-enrollment is required if the course is not completed in time.

    Final Feedback Survey

    The final activity invites student feedback. As you complete the course, note any suggestions or improvements that may help strengthen this course for future students.

    Ready to begin? Scroll up and click the “Enroll me” button to get started.