CHPL 220 Foundations of Chaplain Leadership

This course provides a foundational study in chaplain leadership; focusing on the calling, character, competence, and connection of the chaplain to lead within secular and religious contexts. Special emphasis is placed on the chaplain’s ability to influence critical decisions and lives within the chaplain context.

Chaplain leadership responsibilities necessitate analysis of personal qualities essential for effective spiritual leadership in religious, secular, and pluralistic settings. This course is designed to provide tactical or entry-level chaplain leaders the ability to assess their calling, character, competence, and relational intelligence, and to improve those qualities primarily in themselves, as well as those they may be required to lead vocationally.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (4)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student will participate in 4 Discussions, each requiring the student to provide an original thread of 300–400 words that demonstrates comprehension and synthesis of and engagement with course content. Original threads must be well-reasoned responses to instructor-provided instructions with supporting documentation from course readings and other carefully evaluated sources. The student must cite at least 2 authoritative sources and reference all borrowed words and ideas in original posts and follow-up evaluations of other students’ postings. Citations and references should be listed in Turabian format. The student is then required to reply to 2 other students’ threads. Replies must be evaluations that demonstrate critical engagement with the ideas and writing of others totaling 200 words giving commendations and areas for improvement of the other students.

Paper: Chaplain’s Calling and Leadership Audit Assignment

After taking the Christian Leader Audit in “Appendix A” of Being Leaders, the student will write a 1000-1200 word paper articulating his/her findings. The student will discuss his/her strengths and weaknesses and note any findings that surprised him/her as well as findings that affirm his/her chaplain calling. The student will propose activities by which he/she will refine his/her leadership.

Paper: Chaplain’s Calling and Servant Leadership Audit Assignment

After taking the Servant Leader Audit in “Appendix D” of Being Leaders, the student will assess his/her leadership and write a 1000-1200 word paper describing how God has called him/her to servant leadership as a chaplain. The student must ensure he/she discusses ways the call has been confirmed, as well as his/her servant leader’s strengths and weaknesses. The student will propose how he/she may refine those strengths and weaknesses while preparing for chaplain ministry.

Paper: Components of Chaplain Leader Competence Assignment

The student will write a 1000-word paper reflecting on the importance of the four legs of professional chaplain competence described in the video by Dr. Costin. The student should ensure he/she explains his/her understanding of each leg of competence and how to strengthen each leg of his/her chaplain competence.

Paper: The Embodiment and Effective Practice of Chaplain Leadership Assignment

The student will write a 1500-1700 word paper on what he/she has learned from the chaplain leadership of Chaplain Henry Gerecke (featured in Mission at Nuremberg). The student should ensure that he/she discusses his/her understanding of Chaplain Gerecke’s calling, his character, his chaplain ministry competence, and his relational wisdom. The student should include thoughts in his/her conclusion on how he/she will apply lessons learned from Chaplain Gerecke’s ministry to the practice of chaplain leadership.