Chaplaincy

Introduction

The House of Healing International Ministries Believers Fellowship is a non-denominational, Pennsylvania-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to spiritual growth, leadership development, compassionate service, and community care. We develop compassionate leaders who are equipped to provide emotional, spiritual, and person-centered support in faith-based, humanist, and community settings.

Our Mission

We exist to cultivate compassionate leaders who serve with integrity, empathy, ethical responsibility, and respect for human dignity. Through education, mentorship, and practical experience, we equip chaplains to provide care that honors diverse beliefs, values, cultures, and lived experiences.

Chaplaincy Leadership Development Programs

We currently offer two non-clinical chaplaincy leadership development tracks designed for individuals seeking meaningful service in community, nonprofit, workplace, educational, and faith-based settings.

Faith-Based Chaplaincy

This six-month leadership development program is designed for individuals called to provide spiritual, pastoral, and faith-centered care rooted in biblical principles while serving diverse communities with compassion and integrity.

Humanist Chaplaincy

This six-month leadership development program is designed for individuals who desire to provide compassionate, ethical, person-centered care without reliance on a particular religious tradition. Humanist chaplains support people of all backgrounds by emphasizing dignity, meaning-making, empathy, reason, and shared humanity during life’s challenges and transitions.

Required Volunteer Practicum

Both tracks include a supervised volunteer practicum to provide meaningful real-world experience. Students complete 20 hours of volunteer service in approved faith-based, secular, nonprofit, healthcare, educational, or community settings where emotional, spiritual, or person-centered support is provided.

Students document their service through a brief reflection and supervisor verification.

Curriculum Overview

Both programs provide training in the core competencies expected of effective non-clinical chaplains. Coursework includes ethics, trauma-informed care, crisis response, active listening, compassionate care, professional boundaries, documentation, cultural humility, interfaith awareness, reflective practice, and community engagement.

While the Faith-Based track prepares students to provide biblically grounded spiritual care, the Humanist track prepares students to provide inclusive, nonreligious, person-centered care rooted in empathy, ethical practice, and respect for individual autonomy.

Both tracks emphasize compassionate presence, emotional support, ethical leadership, and service to diverse communities.

Who This Program Is For

These programs are designed for individuals seeking leadership development in emotional, spiritual, or person-centered support. They are ideal for aspiring Faith-Based or Humanist Chaplains, Community Chaplains, Volunteer Chaplains, First-Responder and Crisis-Response Chaplains, Workplace and Corporate Chaplains, Senior-Care and Assisted-Living Chaplains, Ministers, Lay Leaders, Community Wellness Advocates, students preparing for future CPE, and individuals launching independent chaplaincy or community care services.

Quarterly Leadership Development

To maintain active fellowship chaplain status, graduates participate in four leadership development sessions each year through online education or competency assessments. This ongoing formation promotes continued growth, ethical accountability, and excellence in service.

CPE Certification

Neither track includes Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). However, both tracks provide a strong foundation for students who later pursue ACPE-accredited CPE or other advanced chaplaincy education.

Educational Status

Our chaplaincy leadership development programs are ministry and community-service formation programs. They are not degree-granting academic programs and are not affiliated with an accredited college or university.

Core Values & Code of Ethics

Regardless of track, every chaplain is expected to demonstrate compassion, integrity, respect, confidentiality, accountability, professional boundaries, and ethical service.

Faith-Based Chaplains provide care rooted in their faith tradition while honoring the dignity of every individual. Humanist Chaplains provide care rooted in shared humanity, ethical practice, and respect for each person’s beliefs and values.

All graduates are expected to represent their credentials honestly, pursue continued growth, and serve every individual with humility, professionalism, and compassion.

Tuition & Enrollment

Both the Faith-Based Chaplaincy and Humanist Chaplaincy tracks are six-month chaplaincy leadership development programs.

Program Investment: $650

Your investment includes live online instruction, course materials, individual mentorship, volunteer practicum guidance, quarterly leadership development following graduation, and eligibility to receive a non-clinical chaplaincy license issued by The Believers Fellowship upon successful completion of all program requirements.

Payment plans may be available. Please contact us for enrollment information, upcoming class dates, and scholarship opportunities.

Disclaimer

The Believers Fellowship and its Board Members make no guarantees regarding employment, credential transferability, or future opportunities. Chaplaincy requirements vary among organizations. Students are responsible for researching the qualifications required for their intended ministry, volunteer, or service settings.