Stephen B Roberts, DD, MBA, BCC

Rabbi Stephen B. Roberts is one of the most influential voices in modern chaplaincy and interfaith spiritual care. A Board-Certified Chaplain (BCC) and ordained rabbi, he blends deep theological grounding with practical expertise and strategic business acumen—earned through an MBA from the Wharton School.

Stephen’s books are widely used in seminaries, CPE programs, and professional settings around the world. His landmark titles include Professional Spiritual and Pastoral Care (the first comprehensive multi-faith training manual), Disaster Spiritual Care, and An Invitation to Chaplaincy Research. His newest work, A Truth Versus The Truth: How Religious People Embrace or Resist the Modern World, (Next Steps Publishing™) explores how global faith communities respond to modernity, from gender and science to education and language.

Roberts is a pioneering leader in disaster spiritual care. As Commanding Officer for the American Red Cross chaplaincy response post-9/11, Stephen led a team of more than 800 clergy. He co-authored national guidelines for multi-faith disaster care adopted by faith groups across the spectrum—Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, and others. He helped launch the American Red Cross’s national Disaster Spiritual Care function and has taught widely on faith-based trauma response and resilience.

Across his career, Stephen has built bridges among faiths. He’s worked shoulder to shoulder with clergy from all traditions—on hospital floors, in disaster zones, and at interfaith summits. His leadership roles have included President and Treasurer of the Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC), Associate VP of the New York Board of Rabbis, and Director of Pastoral Care at Beth Israel Medical Center.Rabbi Roberts is a frequent speaker and media guest known for clear, insightful commentary on faith, crisis, grief, and the evolving role of religion in modern society.

Rabbi Roberts’s gift is making complex religious landscapes readable and relevant to anyone seeking to understand faith in the 21st century—whether scholar, seeker, journalist, or podcast listener. He is especially interested in conversations that explore how religious identity shapes public discourse, policy, education, and ethics.

With his unique blend of pastoral authority, academic rigor, and media-savvy communication, Rabbi Roberts is a dynamic guest and commentator for outlets exploring religion, culture, politics, and spirituality in a rapidly modernizing world.