Essential Chaplain Skill Sets: Discovering Effective Ways to Provide Excellent Spiritual Care

Dr. Keith Evans has written an excellent book covering the knowledge, skills, and abilities that detail the essence of chaplaincy. He provides a very clear working and descriptive definition of chaplaincy and how chaplaincy fits into the modern workplace. While he is speaking from a Healthcare perspective, from which his chaplaincy experience is embedded, his details of chaplaincy and the direct application of the chaplain skills are very well explained as they are employed through the ten functional areas of chaplaincy (Healthcare, Military, Corporate, Public Safety, Sports, Institutional, etc.). It is the making of a fine textbook on chaplaincy, which is exactly how I intend to use this fine resource. For a comprehensive understanding of the field of chaplaincy and the specific chaplain skills, this book is a must-read. Evan as Dr. Evans practices chaplaincy from a Christian faith perspective, he clearly understands the importance of meeting people where they are in terms of their presenting problems or issues of life regardless of their religious faith or their lack thereof. In this book, he defines chaplaincy in broader terms laying the foundation that Chaplaincy is the platform from which ministry and pastoral care are provided in the workplace, meeting people's needs as they are presented and then responding to the religious/spiritual issues as he is invited into the sacred areas of people's lives. Regardless of whether one is a new chaplain or one with many years of chaplaincy experience, Dr. Keith Evans book provides the tools for further chaplaincy development covering issues from the basic to the most strategic skills needed to practice. Read the book you will not be disappointed!

As Chaplain to a veterans' service organization, I must be respectful and compassionate to all faiths; and to those I encounter that may have no religious faith at all. This book reveals exactly the skills a Chaplain should have, and how to effectively use them in service to others. I wish I had it when I began my office, but I have it now. I highly recommend it to beginning, or experienced Chaplains everywhere.

This is well written, and helpful for any chaplain.

Comptehensive

Very pleased with the book and speedy delivery.

From one who has been a professional hospice and hospital chaplain for eight years, ordained, holder of a Doctorate of Ministry with four units of Clinical Pastoral Education under my belt, this is very good book on many levels. It lays out the philosophical, psychosocial and spiritual aspects of chaplaincy, and adds in enough nuts and bolt to get you through the first couple of units of CPE. It makes clear that chaplaincy and pulpit ministry are light years apart and anyone considering jumping though the many hoops needed to work in clinical settings and be an effective member of a clinical team, would save themselves a ton of time and trouble by first reading this book. And if you have decided to make that leap, this book is a valuable primer for CPE, and once inside this spiritual and emotional boot camp reading this book will help you get through the generally painful process. I once counted writing 27 verbatim in my 16 months of CPE and residency in two hospitals, and this book introduces you to this methodology of analyzing patient visits, using such examples of attending a death in ER, a fetal demise, a patient who talks to Satan and another dealing with a shocking terminal demise, all situations pro chaplains face. The book is both deep and well written, and a must read for anyone seriously considering embarking or already on the path to one of the most challenging and rewarding ministries on earth: Professional Chaplaincy.Dr. Eddie Donnally, D.Min and Author: "Ride the White Horse, Doctrine of Demons, The Golden Altar"

I have found in Dr. Keith Evan’s book, “Essentials of Chaplaincy Skill Sets,” a splendid guide leading the reader across the vast field of 21st Century Spiritual Care. The author writes from a comprehensive grasp and understanding of the developing history within the chaplaincy craft. He then takes from that history the essentials of the chaplaincy skill sets needed to prepare for and practice all aspects of spiritual care. And, he grounds both history and practice in best-practices chaplaincy research allowing the chaplain practitioner to improve their pastoral spiritual skill sets. This clear, comprehensive and compassionate resource book would certainly benefit the candidates preparing for pastoral, chaplaincy and general faith-community ministries. I have found this excellent book to also be a gem when I’ve been asked by family, friends and fellow workers, “What do chaplains bring to the table?” I’ve read many books on Chaplaincy but Dr. Evan’s presents the clearest, most comprehensive and practical advice and guide I have found available in the field.

Super book well done and informative for All of Chaplains and to be Chaplains. Thank you sir God bless.

Brother Keith Evans has done a sincere job in introducing the subject. A concise handbook for both new and old