Chaplain Resident

Houston Methodist; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading hospital in Texas is seeking a Chaplain Resident for the Fall 2026 position to participate in the Clinical Pastoral Education program. This role offers the opportunity to provide spiritual care for patients, families, and employees while being mentored by experienced chaplains. Candidates should hold a Bachelor's in theological studies and have two years of membership in a faith group. Responsibilities include documenting patient visits and engaging with interdisciplinary teams to enhance care.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in theological studies or related field.
• Enrollment in a Master’s degree in theological studies preferred.
• Two years of membership in a faith/belief group.

Responsibilities

• Participate in the clinical pastoral education program.
• Assist in initial patient assessments.
• Document patient visits and spiritual care.

Skills

Demonstrates necessary skills and competencies

Proficiency in English

Effective communication

Ability to work independently

Strong interpersonal skills

Basic computer knowledge

Ability to maintain confidentiality

Strong multi-tasking abilities

Education

Bachelor’s degree in theological studies or related field

Enrollment in a Master’s degree in theological studies

Job description

Overview

Come lead with us at Houston Methodist Hospital. The Chaplain Resident - Fall 2026 position participates in the Houston Methodist Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program for up to a year, including classroom learning and individual supervision from the Educator Clinical Pastoral Education and/or Manager Clinical Pastoral Education. The resident precepts with and is mentored by assigned Sr. Chaplain/Chaplain to provide spiritual care for patients, families, and employees. The role is participatory in the daily life of the hospital, including serving with chaplains on committees and assisting with departmental projects.

Responsibilities

• Participate in the clinical pastoral education program and in daily hospital activities as described above.

Qualifications

• Education
• Bachelor’s degree in theological studies or related field
• Enrollment in a Master’s degree in theological studies from an institution accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or equivalency preferred
• Education approved by Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) or Cognate preferred
• Experience
• Two years of membership in a faith/belief group
• Licenses and Certifications
• Required
• Skills and Abilities
• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform as a resident, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
• Proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing English sufficient to perform essential functions, especially where patient or employee safety or security is impacted
• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers with a customer service focus and positive language
• Ability to work independently; manage challenging interactions and patient care situations; demonstrates sound judgment and strong communication
• Professional conduct at all times; strong interpersonal and team skills
• Ability to adapt to multiple ongoing priorities with minimal supervision
• Basic computer knowledge and ability to enter and maintain patient documents
• Positive demeanor and strong multi-tasking abilities; organized and detail-oriented
• Professional handling of confidential/sensitive information
• Ability to complete the Residency Program and demonstrate competencies within the program curriculum and timelines

Essential Functions

• People Essential Functions
  • Provide a supportive and positive environment for patients, family members, visitors, employees and physicians. Provide spiritual care support to employees.
  • Contribute to a dynamic, team-focused work unit and develop ongoing relationships with internal stakeholders and clinicians to best serve patients and families.
  • Communicate effectively with patients, families, staff and physicians; provide crisis intervention; collaborate with the care team in a positive, supportive, non-judgmental manner; report pertinent information clearly.
  • Contribute to improvements in department scores for employee engagement.

• Service Essential Functions
  • Participate in spiritual care morning report and interprofessional rounds, discharge planning, support groups, and other interprofessional teams.
  • Assist in initial patient assessments and care plan development; respond to referrals; support patient participation in their plan of care.
  • Contribute to meeting/exceeding department and organization targets for patient satisfaction.
  • Provide administrative/clerical support as needed; participate in worship as assigned and provide spiritual leadership as part of the department.

• Quality/Safety Essential Functions
  • Check in with the clinical mentor; collaborate with the mentor to provide spiritual care to meet needs across faiths during hospitalization, including for pre-operative, critically ill, and dying patients.
  • Document patient visits and spiritual care in the patient record; seek guidance from Educators and precepting Chaplain as appropriate; escalate issues to ensure quality and safety.
  • Offer recommendations for department development; report near misses and contribute to quality/safety initiatives.
  • Adhere to Houston Methodist policies and standards within budget; participate in hospital committees as requested.

• Finance Essential Functions
  • Use resources efficiently; manage time effectively; minimize overtime; help other team members as needed.

• Growth/Innovation Essential Functions
  • Prepare patient care reports and summaries in line with CPE program requirements; seek feedback and mentoring; pursue ongoing development.

• Supplemental Requirements
  • Work Attire: Business professional; uniform/scrubs as indicated
  • On-Call: Yes (employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies)
  • Travel: Travel within the Houston Metropolitan area may be required

Note: Houston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.