The Art of Chaplaincy: A Comprehensive Guide to the Professional Standards of Spiritual & Pastoral Care (Ebook, EPUB)

"This is the most thorough guide to those 29 competencies I've ever seen. Step by step, it walks the reader through each competency: why it matters, ways to develop it, and examples of demonstrating it. I recommend this for anyone seeking to become a Board Certified Chaplain and anyone who supervises, mentors, or otherwise supports future BCCs."

Joel Nightingale Berning, MDiv, BCC, ACPE, CSCS 
Editor, BCCI Competencies Rubric

The Art of Chaplaincy: A Comprehensive Guide to the Professional Standards of Spiritual & Pastoral Care is both a teaching tool and a professional guide. It equips chaplains, students, and educators with the foundational skills and standards essential to providing high-quality spiritual and pastoral care in diverse settings.

Each chapter focuses on one of the 29 professional competencies required for recognition by the major Board Certified Chaplain (BCC) organizations: the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC), Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC), the National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC), and ACPE. Through real-world examples, concise instruction, and model essays, the book demonstrates what professional excellence looks like in practice — and how to express it with clarity and confidence in writing.

Designed for use in CPE programs, certification mentoring, and self-study, The Art of Chaplaincy bridges the gap between classroom learning and professional application. It helps chaplains translate their experiences into language that reflects clarity, competence, and compassion — the true art of professional chaplaincy.

A Textbook for Certification. A Lifelong Resource.

What's Inside

• One chapter per BCC competency, with model essays showing what proficiency looks like in writing
• Tested and refined in BCC preparation courses at ChaplainDL
• Bridges CPE training and certification — translates clinical experience into the written articulation certification requires
• Practical guidance on assessment, intervention, ethical decision-making, and professional identity
• Pluralistic and inclusive — addresses care across diverse religious, cultural, and spiritual contexts

Who This Book Is For

• Chaplains preparing for board certification
• CPE students and educators
• Hospital, hospice, military, correctional, and disaster chaplains
• Seminary faculty teaching pastoral care
• Spiritual care administrators and program directors

About the Author

Rabbi Stephen B. Roberts, DD, MBA, BCC, is a Board Certified Chaplain, educator, and author of several foundational textbooks in chaplaincy training. A past president of Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains and a national disaster spiritual care leader, he founded ChaplainDL and has trained thousands of chaplains across faith traditions. He holds an MBA from the Wharton School.

Format & Delivery

This is the EPUB ebook edition. EPUB is the universal ebook format compatible with Apple Books, Google Play Books, Kobo, Nook, Adobe Digital Editions, and most ebook readers (excluding Kindle, which uses a different proprietary format).

After purchase, you will receive an email from BookFunnel with a personalized download link. The link allows you to download the ebook directly to your preferred device or reading app. BookFunnel provides free customer support if you need help with delivery or device compatibility.

⚠ Presale Notice

This is a presale order for the digital (EPUB) edition. Your ebook will be delivered by email through BookFunnel in mid to late June 2026, at the same time the hardcover ships. You will be charged at the time of order. Due to the digital nature of ebooks, all ebook purchases are final sale and non-refundable once the download link has been issued.