Chaplain Educator -Duke Hospital

At Duke Health we are driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina—ranked among the nation’s best—offers 1,062 patient beds, a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo‑surgery center, and comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities.

About the role

The Chaplain Educator is a training position for Certified Educator Students (CES) or Certified Educator Candidates (CEC). The incumbent provides pastoral care, counseling, and spiritual support to patients, families, and staff, while also delivering individual and group instruction to Year 1 and Year 2 Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) students. The role includes recruitment, admissions, curriculum development, and program evaluation for Duke’s ACPE‑accredited CPE program. It is a three‑ to four‑year position with an education contract that requires progress through the ACPE certification process, reviewed annually by ACPE faculty.

Responsibilities

• Year 1 – ACPE Certified Educator Student
  • Provide and administer pastoral care, counseling, and spiritual support to patients, families, and staff.
  • Work on competencies and ACPE certification admission process.
  • Engage with CEC peers at least twice a month for ongoing educational growth.
• Year 2 – Certified Educator Candidate, Phase 1
  • Continue providing spiritual support to patients, families, and staff.
  • Increase individual and group instruction for chaplain interns and residents.
  • Engage with CEC peers at least twice a month for ongoing educational growth.
  • Assist in recruitment, admissions, curriculum development, and program evaluation of the ACPE‑accredited CPE program.
• Year 3 – Certified Educator Candidate, Phase II
  • All duties from Phase 1, plus:
    • Coordinate all aspects of recruitment, admissions, curriculum development, and program evaluation for all accredited levels of ACPE Clinical Pastoral Education.
    • Participate in accreditation activities and engage in ACPE professional life.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Skills in crisis intervention.
• Ability to provide pastoral care and spiritual support in a high‑stress environment.
• Skills in pastoral research and spiritual assessment.
• Knowledge of pastoral theology and behavioral sciences.
• Understanding of group dynamics and proficiency in group leadership.
• Physical capability to sustain work in a high‑stress environment.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s in Divinity or its equivalent.
• Successful completion of four units of ACPE Clinical Pastoral Education.
• Additional graduate‑level work in a related field is preferred.

Experience

• At least one year of pastoral ministry in a church, institution, or chaplaincy setting.
• Completion of four units of ACPE Clinical Pastoral Education.

Licensures / Certifications

• Eligibility for “Board Certified Chaplain” by the Association of Professional Chaplains.
• Eligibility for ordination, endorsement, or commissioning by one’s faith group or denomination.

Physical Job Functions

Some positions may require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request.