The Art of Chaplaincy

This is the most thorough guide to those 29 competencies I've ever seen. Step by step, it walks the reader through each competency: why it matters, ways to develop it, and examples of demonstrating it. 

I recommend this for anyone seeking to become a Board Certified Chaplain and anyone who supervises, mentors, or otherwise supports future BCCs."

       Joel Nightingale Berning, MDiv, BCC, ACPE, CSCS
      Editor, BCCI Competencies Rubric

When you order from Next Steps Publishing, the savings that would otherwise go to a distributor or retailer come back to you. That is why the hardcover edition of The Art of Chaplaincy is available here at $95.95, compared with $119.95 at major retailers. Same book. No middleman.

REMINDER: E-Book version only available here, from the publisher. Use button below to purchase.

The Art of Chaplaincy: A Comprehensive Guide to the Professional Standards of Spiritual & Pastoral Care is both a teaching tool and a professional guide. It equips chaplains, students, and educators with the foundational skills and standards essential to providing high-quality spiritual and pastoral care in diverse settings.

Each chapter focuses on one of the 29 professional competencies required for recognition by the major Board Certified Chaplain (BCC) organizations: the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC), Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC), the National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC), and ACPE. 

Through real-world examples, concise instruction, and model essays, the book demonstrates what professional excellence looks like in practice — and how to express it with clarity and confidence in writing.

Designed for use in CPE programs, certification mentoring, and self-study, The Art of Chaplaincy bridges the gap between classroom learning and professional application. It helps chaplains translate their experiences into language that reflects clarity, competence, and compassion — the true art of professional chaplaincy.

A Textbook for Certification. A Lifelong Resource.

What's Inside

• One chapter per BCC competency, with model essays showing what proficiency looks like in writing
• Tested and refined in BCC preparation courses at ChaplainDL
• Bridges CPE training and certification — translates clinical experience into the written articulation certification requires
• Practical guidance on assessment, intervention, ethical decision-making, and professional identity
• Pluralistic and inclusive — addresses care across diverse religious, cultural, and spiritual contexts

Who This Book Is For

• Chaplains preparing for board certification
• CPE students and educators
• Hospital, hospice, military, correctional, and disaster chaplains
• Seminary faculty teaching pastoral care
• Spiritual care administrators and program directors

Book Details - 2 Formats:

Hardcover: Price: $95.95 - Direct From Publisher

EBook: $75.95 - Only Available Direct From Publisher

Hardcover ISBN: 979-8-9993880-4-9 Ebook ISBN: 979-8-9993880-3-2