Although chaplains have common standards for certification and a common code of ethics, they have no standards of practice. There has been much conversation about standards of practice for chaplains but little formal progress. Others with whom chaplains serve and communicate, such as doctors, nurses and those from other disciplines in health care settings, have standards of practice. Having standards of practice can help chaplains communicate with others about chaplaincy and assist chaplains in discussions with other chaplains. Standards of Practice for Professional Chaplains in Acute Care Settings is a logical place to start, given the large portion of chaplains serving in this area. But we hope the standards of practice will be established for other settings, as well.

We, like Russell Dicks writing about professional standards in 1940, affirm that “It is not our thought that all the suggested standards which follow shall be considered minimum standards but that they shall present a goal toward which the [organization] and the chaplain shall aim in serving the [spiritual/existential/]religious needs of their patients. However, there are certain practices which we consider indispensable in the chaplain's work; where such practices are not being followed, we suggest that serious attention be given to an investigation of why they are not by someone in authority.”

Building on the work of the Council on Collaboration, which established common standards for professional certification, education and a common code of ethics, the Spiritual Care Collaborative Steering Committee affirms the Standards of Practice for Professional Chaplains in Acute Care Settings that were recently developed by the APC Commission on Quality in Pastoral Services that included representatives from other SCC participating associations. In keeping with the mission and vision of the SCC to advance excellence and to be a forum for promoting the highest standards of practice, these standards can viewed and downloaded here.