Chaplain Resident

Trinity Health Southeast Michigan offers Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) programs accredited by the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. This one-year residency program begins August 31, 2026, and includes three CPE units (tuition cost of $400 per unit). For more information, contact Emily Werner at Emily.Werner@trinity-health.org.

About the role

Under Clinical Pastoral Education and Pastoral Care Services supervision, participates with the patient care team to support healing of body, mind, and spirit by providing direct spiritual care to patients, visitors, and staff.

Responsibilities

• Provides assessment of spiritual needs, pastoral interventions, and care planning to integrate patients' beliefs, values, relationships, religion, and/or spirituality with their healing process.
• Cooperates with faith community clergy (with patient permission) to facilitate their involvement in patient/visitor spiritual care.
• Provides spiritual care to hospital/health system associates/staff, particularly during highly stressful situations.
• Serves as a "Bereavement Guide" to families/significant others/visitors of deceased patients.
• May provide communal and occasional private religious services for staff and patients/families.
• Participates in 24/7 on-site staffing for Pastoral Care.
• May assist with spiritual and ethical matters for staff and management associates.
• Maintains confidentiality of patient, visitor, and staff information.
• Understands and responds sensitively to diverse religious beliefs and practices.
• Documents pastoral interventions in patient records and internal chaplain logs.
• May perform specific religious functions (e.g., sacramental ministries for Roman Catholic priests) when appropriate.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Academic preparation for ministry, typically including a master’s-level degree from an Association of Theological Schools (ATS) approved seminary or divinity school, or equivalent as judged by professional chaplaincy certifying organizations (e.g., APC, NACC, NAJC, CAPPE).
• At least one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) from an ACPE-accredited center.
• Endorsement as a chaplain by one’s faith group or ability to obtain such endorsement.

Benefits

• Full benefits package including medical, dental, vision, PTO, life insurance, and disability.
• Retirement savings plan.
• Opportunity for growth and advancement within SJMHS and Trinity Health.

Pay

Annual stipend of $47,507.