To obtain CCCC endorsement into the ministry as a Chaplain (military or civilian), prior approval for licensing and ordination is required from the CCCC Credentials and Chaplaincy committees. Candidates must be members of the CCCC in good standing.
All applicants will undergo an interview with a CCCC military chaplain (active duty, Reserve, or retired), or a non-CCCC evangelical chaplain approved of by the CCCC Chaplain committee.
For individuals applying for entry as Chaplains into the United States Armed Forces, the CCCC Endorser sends the DD Form 2088 for ecclesiastical endorsement to the prospective military branch office. In the case of individuals applying for the Chaplain Candidate program, a letter of recommendation is sent.
Candidates will have a minimum of two years of pastoral experience in a congregationally-governed church, preferably a CCCC church.
Each civilian chaplain pursuing healthcare ministry should have one year (4 quarters) of Clinical Pastoral Education/CPE or its equivalent. Military chaplains are encouraged to do the same, although they are given equivalent training in the services which includes self-understanding and pastoral care alongside clergy of other faith groups.
Minimum educational requirements for endorsement as CCCC Civilian & Military Chaplains:
- Bachelor’s degree of 120 semester hours (180 quarter hours) undergraduate credits (or the equivalent) from a qualifying educational institution listed in the current edition of the American Council on Education (ACE) Accrediting Institutions of Post-secondary Education. If the school attended is not listed in the ACE Directory, all credits earned must be transferable to a school maintaining such listing.
- The applicant must possess a Master of Divinity degree, or equivalent theological degree earned in residence (90 hours), or have the equivalent of graduate-level study in theology or related subjects, leading to ordination and endorsement that will quality the candidate to successfully perform the professional functions as a chaplain.
- All post-graduate educational requirements must be completed in an institution that is an accredited member of the Association of Theological Schools, or accredited by a regional accrediting agency or association listed in the Directory. If the school attended is not listed in the ATS directory, all credits earned must be transferable to a school maintaining such listing.
- Note: Military chaplaincy requirements often change; it is the applicant’s responsibility to contact the branch they are considering to determine the most recent data regarding acquisitions. See links below.
CCCC specific requirements for approval and endorsement for hospital/healthcare chaplaincy:
- The applicant must have successfully completed four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), or the equivalent in clinical training and experience.
- Licensed or Ordained clergy status in good standing with the CCCC.
- In agreement and compliance with the CCCC ministerial code of ethics.
- Letter of recommendation from a CCCC chaplain addressing the following:
- Evidence the Chaplain is able to minister as an evangelical in a diverse/pluralistic healthcare environment.
- Evidence the Chaplain is capable of adjusting to the unique ministry challenges of the healthcare chaplaincy, able to work within the institution without compromise of personal convictions and the doctrines and practice of the CCCC.
- Evidence the Chaplain is able to appropriately relate to patients and their families, healthcare personnel and their family members and all others within the scope of the Chaplain’s ministerial area of responsibility.
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