Chaplain

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Walla Walla (WA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 101,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Chaplain to provide complete religious ministry to Veteran patients, caregivers, and staff, serving as a spiritual advisor and point of contact for spiritual needs.

The role includes conducting religious services, pastoral ministry, and administration of Chaplain services within a VA medical setting. The position requires a Master of Divinity or equivalent, ecclesiastical endorsement, and board certification, with collaboration across a

Qualifications

• Master of Divinity degree or equivalent educational qualifications as evidenced by a graduate-level theological degree
• ecclesiastical endorsement current and maintained
• board certification by BCCI or equivalent
• foreign education evaluated for equivalence if applicable

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary spiritual advisor for patients, caregivers, and staff
• Lead and conduct religious services, worship, and pastoral ministry
• Provide pastoral counseling on medical, ethical, and existential issues
• Collaborate with healthcare teams to address spiritual distress and bereavement
• Develop measurable, outcome-driven pastoral care programs
• Prepare sermons and administer rites and sacraments
• Provide crisis intervention and spiritual support during crises
• Coordinate with community resources to meet religious needs of patients

Skills

Pastoral care

Counseling

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Master of Divinity

Job description

Summary

Serves as a Chaplain professional providing complete religious ministry services to Veteran patients according to their specific needs and desires. Serves as a primary resource - spiritual advisor and point of contact for the spiritual needs of patients - caregivers - and staff. Conducts religious services and worship - pastoral ministry - and administration of Chaplain services.

Summary

Serves as a Chaplain professional providing complete religious ministry services to Veteran patients according to their specific needs and desires. Serves as a primary resource - spiritual advisor and point of contact for the spiritual needs of patients - caregivers - and staff. Conducts religious services and worship - pastoral ministry - and administration of Chaplain services.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

Basic Requirements

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency: Chaplains must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C.
• 7403(f)
• Education: Applicants must possess a Master of Divinity degree or equivalent educational qualifications as evidenced by a graduate-level theological degree from a college - university or theological school accredited by a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
• COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS WITH CONFER DATE REQUIRED
• NOTE: For applicants who do not possess a Master of Divinity degree or equivalent educational degree - an approved educational equivalency review from a nationally recognized board certification body for chaplains (see paragraph f) is acceptable
• Foreign Education: To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must be submitted to a current affiliate agency of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) at https://www.naces.org/members and be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program
• Ecclesiastical Endorsement: In accordance with 38 C.F.R
• 17.655 - ecclesiastical endorsement is a condition of employment as a VA chaplain
• An individual must possess and maintain a full and active ecclesiastical endorsement to be employed as a VA chaplain
• Applicants must have an ecclesiastical endorsement - dated within the past 12 months
• Ecclesiastical endorsements must be from the official national endorsing authority of the applicant's/employee's faith group or denomination
• Ecclesiastical endorsement is a written official statement - by the official national endorsing body of the faith group or denomination - certifying that the applicant is in good standing with the applicant's faith group or denomination
• and stating that the individual is - in the opinion of the endorsing body - qualified to perform the full range of ministry required in the VA pluralistic setting
• Loss of endorsement will result in removal from the GS-0060 Chaplain series and may result in termination of employment
• The National Chaplain Service maintains a list of approved endorsing organizations that can be found here: https://www.patientcare.va.gov/chaplain/Employment_Information_and_Resources.asp --COPY OF ENDORSEMENT REQUIRED DATED WITHIN 12 MONTHS
• Board Certification
• Applicants must be a Board-Certified Chaplain certified by BCCI ® or a U.S. certifying body that has a reciprocity agreement with BCCI ®
• Board Certification that requires 4 units of CPE is qualifying
• The National Chaplain Service maintains a list of approved certifications found on the National VA Chaplain Service SharePoint
• Note: Provisional or Associate or other status as a candidate for board certification does not meet the board certification requirement for the FPL GS-11 or above
• Exception for Non-Board-Certified Chaplains
• Non-Board-Certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements - may be given a temporary appointment as a Chaplain under the authority of 38 U.S.C.
• 7405(c)(2) not to exceed 2 years
• Non-Board-Certified Chaplains must provide proof of completion of 4 units of CPE as required by an approved board certifying body
• Non-Board-Certified individuals may only provide care under the supervision of a certified Chaplain at or above the FPL
• Non-Board-Certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained
• Temporary appointments of non-board-certified Chaplains may not be extended beyond 2 years or be converted to a new temporary appointment
• Failure to Obtain Board Certification
• In all cases - Chaplains must actively work to meet requirements for board certification starting from the date of their placement into the occupation
• At the time of appointment - the HR Office staff in collaboration with the supervisor will provide the employee with the written requirements for board certification - including the time by which the board certification must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming board certified by the deadline
• Failure to obtain board certification during this time may result in separation from employment
• Loss of Credential
• Management officials - in collaboration with HR Office staff must immediately relieve employees who fail to maintain any of the required certifications (board certification - ecclesiastical endorsement - or when applicable a specialty certification) of the duties and responsibilities associated with this occupation which may also result in separation from employment
• Grade Determinations: Chaplain - GS-11 Experience: At this level - the candidate must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-9 level that is directly related to the position to be filled
• *In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-9 grade level - the candidate must meet the experience above and demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of advance care planning to educate - inform - and counsel patients and families
• Skill in guiding patients in verbalizing and expressing values through life review - oral history - and end of life preparation and documentation
• Ability to develop pastoral care programs that are measurable - outcome-driven and evidenced based within the department guidelines
• Skill in counseling on medical and ethical issues - terminal diagnoses or crises - moral injury - problems of conscience - family or marital difficulties and justice or confinement matters Ability to support the development of staff resiliency and develop programs for staff development and wellness by providing spiritual and emotional support
• Ability to educate and equip healthcare staff and trainees screening for spiritual and religious needs of patients and the importance of appropriate referrals to chaplains for complex spiritual distress
• Knowledge of community needs to coordinate with community organizations to provide comprehensive spiritual care - utilizing outside community resources to meet the religious needs of patients that cannot be met by chaplain staff
• Preferred Experience: Experience working with the Veteran population is preferred but not required
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-9 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: There are no physical requirements for this occupation per OCHCO Communications email to VA Handbook 5019 - updated on 4/17/2026.

Duties

• Duties will include - but are not limited to: Serves as a primary resource - spiritual advisor and point of contact for the spiritual needs of patients - caregivers - and staff
• Leads and offers prayers and religious services for Veteran patients - patient families - staff - and community
• Provides counseling services to patients and staff
• Serves as a fully recognized member of an integrated multi-professional treatment team
• Provides pastoral counseling on medical and ethical matters - including moral injury - problems of conscience - family or marital difficulties - justice or confinement matters - terminal diagnoses - or crisis
• Develops measurable - outcome-driven - and evidence-based pastoral care
• and creates staff development and wellness programs
• Provide all necessary religious worship services and instruction on an individual or group basis for a major faith group
• Administers ordinances - rites or sacraments
• prepares and delivers sermons
• arranges for the atmosphere and symbolism of worship
• and conducts funeral services when needed
• Provides crisis intervention and stabilization as required
• Collaborates with healthcare teams to create and update treatment plans to address spiritual distress - grief - and loss as existential concerns to enhance holistic care
• Possesses knowledge of advance care planning to educate - inform - and counsel patients and families
• Uses skills developing pastoral care programs that are measurable - outcome-driven and evidenced-based within the department guidelines
• skills counseling on medical and ethical issues - terminal diagnoses or crises - moral injury - problems of conscience - family or marital difficulties - and justice or confinement matters
• Uses skills supporting the development of staff resiliency and developing programs for staff development and wellness by providing spiritual and emotional support
• Uses knowledge of community needs to coordinate with community organizations to provide comprehensive spiritual care utilizing outside community resources to meet the religious needs of patients that cannot be met by chaplain staff
• Work Schedule: Sunday-Thursday 0800-1630 (work hours are flexible)
• Compressed/Flexible: Available
• Telework: Not Available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.