Prepare for Chaplaincy at Beeson
Beeson Divinity School is committed to preparing God-called persons for a variety of ministry roles in the Church of Jesus Christ across a broad spectrum of Protestant Christian denominations and traditions.
Among these roles is the ministry of chaplains, who serve in pastoral capacities in contexts such as the armed forces, hospitals and other clinical settings, home health and hospice services, and workplaces. Chaplains provide much needed Gospel witness and Christian care and counsel in many of life’s most critical times and places. If God is calling you to such a ministry, you will find an excellent program of training and support at Beeson Divinity School.
Program Design and Benefits
A Recommended Track of Study
In addition to the Master of Divinity (MDiv) program’s solid core of biblical and theological coursework, students preparing for chaplaincy are advised to use their 12 elective credits for courses such as Introduction to Chaplaincy Ministry, Marriage & Family Counseling, and Crisis, Trauma, & Grief, or to complete a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) in a local hospital or the chaplain basic course required for military chaplaincy. These students should plan to complete their 8-month supervised ministry practicum in one of many chaplaincy ministry settings in the Birmingham metropolitan area.
Ample Vocational Guidance and Enrichment
Beeson has enlisted the help of chaplains, Christian counselors and strategic partners from various sectors to advise and assist students in their preparation for chaplaincy ministry. These experienced practitioners also provide occasional ministry enrichment events and opportunities for observation in ministry settings.
Personal Support for Students and Alumni
Beyond the networks of support and the scholarship assistance available to all Beeson students, there are other sources of support and assistance designated for students preparing for chaplaincy ministry. For example, Beeson’s advisory board of chaplaincy professionals can provide helpful assistance to students and alumni seeking employment opportunities, supplementing what is available through our placement services office. And scholarships, such as the Hutchens and Holle Scholarships, are designated for students preparing for service as military chaplains.
“Beeson nurtured a firm foundation of theology and praxis that sustained me first while pastoring a local church and then particularly carried me through the most difficult days of deployments to combat.""When faced with the biggest and hardest questions of life, I had an assurance of the Lord’s sovereignty over chaos in this world and His genuine love for me. That foundation sustained me and empowered me to care for others in the face of loss and trauma."
- Lt. Col. Loren Aderhold, MDiv ‘99
“Beeson’s classic evangelical spirit, dedication to studying the Holy Scriptures and interdenominational community helped prepare me to minister to service members of all walks of life in the military."
- Cmdr. Kaelan Clay, MDiv ‘08
“Theologically, Beeson gave me a deep confidence in Scripture and helped me develop a strong biblical framework for ministry. Whether I’m teaching soldiers in the Middle East, counseling someone in crisis, speaking to athletes or preaching on Sunday mornings, I can still trace much of my ministry framework back to Beeson."
- Capt. James Drake ’03, MDiv ‘10
“I came to Beeson looking to be equipped for active ministry and that’s what I received there, both for pastoral work and chaplaincy for more than 30 years."
- Brig. Gen. Ben Sprouse, MDiv ’98
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