Discover what reviewers are saying

• Rabbi Stephen Roberts has outdone himself… again! Stephen has always been a prolific chaplain, author, researcher, and teacher of spiritual care. His current work may indeed be his magnum opus. By writing about the APC competencies, he has done a major service to the field. In particular, his book accomplishes the following:

1. It demystifies the certification journey. Moving from a process education model of CPE to the evaluative experience of chaplaincy certification can be a daunting experience. Rabbi Roberts book competently supports spiritual caregivers in this transition.
2. It gives an organized, easily accessible overview of chaplain competencies and how to meet them
3. It offers selective bibliography for his readers (chaplain and CPE Educators) to continue bolstering their knowledge.
4. It gives writing samples of what competent responses may look like. This will be especially helpful for spiritual caregivers who are better articulating their competence in relationship but struggle to do so in writing.

                           Rabbi Nathan Goldberg, MS, BCC - ACPE Certified Educator

• Roberts’ The Art of Chaplaincy is an excellent, detailed analysis of the competencies for professional chaplaincy. Not only does he dissect each competency and its meaning with precision, but also includes guiding questions, applications for praxis and written examples. This volume is an excellent resource for those who are 1) teaching pastoral care and Clinical Pastoral Education, or 2) serving as a chaplain or pastoral leader, or 3) seeking certification.  I will be adding it to the reading list for my Doctor of Ministry students!

                           Bishop Teresa E. Snorton - The CME Church

                           Faculty Mentor, Payne Theological Seminary 

                           ACPE and BCC (Retired)

• Professional chaplaincy is beautiful, complex, and vital work. Cultivating the competencies to do it well takes years of study and practice. Stephen Roberts provides in The Art of Chaplaincy an insightful examination what it takes to provide effective chaplaincy care to those who need what we have to offer. 

                           Brent Peery, DMin, BCC

                           Author: Outcome Oriented Chaplaincy: Perceptive, Intentional, and Effective Care

• In the Art of Chaplaincy, Roberts offers the next installment in his indispensable body of professional guidance material for the field of chaplaincy, supported by decades of experience.  This book is an essential resource for anyone involved in training, learning, professional practice, management and continuing education of professional chaplains. It is a timely resource that helps to further articulate the value proposition of professional chaplains.

                           Allison Kestenbaum, MA, MPA, BCC-PCHAC, ACPE Certified Educator
                          Manager of Spiritual Care & Clinical Pastoral Education - UC San Diego Health

                           Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Medicine, Department of Geriatrics 

                                                 and Palliative Care - UC San Diego Health Sciences 

• In The Art of Chaplaincy, Rabbi Stephen Roberts has produced a foundational resource for aspiring and experienced chaplains alike. Through his thorough and practical review of the common standards of the professional chaplaincy field, Rabbi Roberts is a teacher par excellence, whose work is as accessible to the reader as it as magisterial and comprehensive in its content. Thanks to this resource, I have great hope that the next generation of chaplains will flourish in their efforts to bring healing to our broken world. 

                           Rabbi Ed Bernstein, BCC 

                           Host of NeshamaCast, the NAJC’s podcast on Jewish spiritual care

• The Art of Chaplaincy is a vital and timely crafted resource that addresses the complexities of the spiritual needs of a diverse patient population while affirming the dignity of every human being. It is a must have for students engaging in Clinical Pastoral Education and all who practice spiritual care as chaplains. It offers valuable insights on the unique role of the chaplain; hence, a highly recommended read for the interdisciplinary team and administrators. 

                           Yoke Lye Lim Kwong - ACPE Certified Educator, National Faculty

                           Author of “Spiritual/Pastoral Care in Worlds Beyond,” 

                                                  Professional Spiritual & Pastoral Care (2012), Rabbi Stephen Roberts, ed.

• Stephen B. Roberts has created another signal text for the field of chaplaincy. The brilliance of the Art of Chaplaincy is that its framework connects multiple bridges between the education and the practice of spiritual care for strong professional and leadership development through careful maintenance of standards and competencies. And more deeply, this book addresses the nuanced and complex reflective practices for personal development and the honesty of stating that care of others cannot authentically occur without care of self.

                           Rev. Lynne M. Mikulak -  ACPE Certified Education, APC Board Certified Chaplain

• The Art of Chaplaincy is a comprehensive and foundational contribution to the field of clinical spiritual care. I have known Stephen Roberts for nearly three decades, and together we have invested in the professional excellence and growth of the field across multiple dimensions. If the patient is the “living document” chaplains’ study in clinical residency, then The Art of Chaplaincy belongs alongside that formation as a core resource for those preparing for board certification and for those seeking to deepen their professional practice. I was especially grateful for the book’s attention to triaging and managing crises, grief and loss, and the institutional integration of spiritual care—three areas that matter deeply in disaster spiritual care, healthcare, and the life of institutions caring for people in vulnerable moments. This book reflects practical wisdom, professional seriousness, and a real understanding of what chaplains are asked to carry when the stakes are high. I am proud to commend it as an essential guide in the field of spiritual care.

                           Timothy G. Serban, MA, BCC - Founder and Principal Consultant, Serban Care Consulting

                           National Disaster Spiritual Care Leader, American Red Cross

• This book is an outstanding resource for anyone engaged in the certification process. It provides clarity, structure, and depth to the Common Standards in a way that is both rigorous and approachable. My recommendation for The Art of Chaplaincy is based on my first-hand experience. I have served as a mentor for ChaplainDL, a Board Certification Prep course designed by Dr. Roberts. After incorporating the chapter material for the book into the course, participants described how helpful the breadth of resources were in being able to clearly understand and address the expectations of the new Common Standards. A valuable resource for all Chaplains and Chaplain Educators. 

                           Bob Hamilton, M.Div. BCC

                           Retired Director of the Department of Spiritual Care and Wholeness,

                                            Cone Health, Greensboro, NC 

• Chaplain Roberts has created a comprehensive guide to both the theory and practice of Spiritual Care, also known as Chaplaincy. This work might be very helpful to people looking into the profession of chaplaincy and could be extremely important to CPE students and spiritual care professionals preparing for Board Certification. I offer my warmest recommendations! 

                           Rabbi Joseph S. Ozarowski, D. Min., BCC

                           Past President, Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains
                          Author, To Walk in God’s Ways: Jewish Pastoral Perspectives on Illness and Bereavement

• Stephen Roberts has done it again! He has developed a highly practical text suitable for all chaplains -- from first-week CPE trainees to well-experienced clinicians who wish to review and hone their skills. It is especially good for the more mature CPE alums who wish to review the major concepts of their clinical training before drafting documents to submit to their boards for certification. It is also useful for clinical preceptors helping their mentees who are writing papers to address the twenty-nine competencies typically identified by APC, NACC, and NAJC. As an endorser, I frequently receive calls from endorsees seeking advice for their preparations to sit for their boards. This text will be a regular reference from me for them to consult. 

                           David Plummer  -  Board Certified Chaplain/APC, Board Certified Clinical Chaplain/CPSP, 

                           Diplomate Pastoral Psychotherapist/CPSP, and Certified Psychotherapist/ACPE