Chaplain

Summary The Chaplain of the VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System (TXVCBHCS) has full responsibility for providing comprehensive religious - spiritual - and pastoral care in accordance with VHA guidelines. The incumbent addresses the spiritual component of health and wellness and ensures pastoral care is fully integrated and based on the needs - desires - and voluntary consent of the Veteran - caregiver - or staff. Summary The Chaplain of the VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System (TXVCBHCS) has full responsibility for providing comprehensive religious - spiritual - and pastoral care in accordance with VHA guidelines. The incumbent addresses the spiritual component of health and wellness and ensures pastoral care is fully integrated and based on the needs - desires - and voluntary consent of the Veteran - caregiver - or staff. Qualifications Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy English Language Proficiency - Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f) Education: Master of Divinity degree or equivalent educational qualifications as evidenced by a graduate-level theological degree from a college - university or theological school accredited by a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) ( or Association of Theological Schools (ATS) ( and recognized by the U.S. Department of Education For applicants who do not possess a Master of Divinity degree or equivalent educational degree may meet this requirement with an approved educational equivalency review from a nationally recognized board certification body for chaplains This would include the Board of Chaplaincy Certification Inc (BCCI) or a U.S. certifying body that has a reciprocity agreement with BCCI Endorsement: Applicants must possess and maintain a full and active ecclesiastical endorsement and must be dated within the past 12 months A complete list of Ecclesiastical Organizations that the Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes as Ecclesiastical Endorsing Organizations is available here: Note: Current VA Chaplains do not have to get updated endorsements after they are hired Certification: Applicants must be a Board-Certified Chaplain by the Board of Chaplaincy Certifications Inc (BCCI) - or a U.S. certifying body that has a reciprocity agreement with BCCI Board Certification that requires four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is qualifying May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria) Grandfathering Provision All Chaplains employed in VHA under permanent - appropriate - and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard (07/03/2025) - are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/assignment held - including positive education and certification - where applicable For employees who do not meet all the basic or assignment-specific requirements in this standard - but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed - the following provisions apply: Employees may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the FPL - or be changed to a lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or be newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions If an assignment above the FPL level requires an additional certification over and above the basic requirements - employees must meet the assignment-specific requirement before they can be reassigned or promoted Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard Employees retained in this occupation under this provision who subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional certification(s) that meets all the basic or assignment-specific qualification requirements of this standard must maintain the required credential(s) as a condition of employment in the occupation Grade Determinations: Chaplain - GS-12 Experience: In addition to meeting the basic requirements - to qualify at the GS-12 level you must possess at least one (1) year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) Reference: GS-11 Assignment Employees at this grade level serve as a Full-Performance Level Chaplain The chaplain independently serves as a primary resource and point of contact for the spiritual needs of patients - caregivers - and staff The chaplain provides advance care planning education - information - and counsel for patients and their families The chaplain provides guidance and/or support for patients to express values through processes such as: life review - oral history - and end of life preparation and documentation The chaplain develops pastoral care programs that are measurable - outcome-driven - and evidence-based in coordination with the department guidelines The chaplain provides pastoral counseling on medical and ethical matters - including but not limited to - moral injury - problems of conscience - family or marital difficulties - justice or confinement matters - terminal diagnoses - or crisis Specialty Certification: Specialty certification is demonstrated advanced practice and/or specialization in chaplaincy beyond the board certification You must possess a Specialty Certification from a professional chaplain certifying body that is directly related to the position being filled The list of Board Certifying Chaplain Organizations and Specialty Certifying Organization is located here: Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience and specialty certification requirements above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to apply relevant theories and methodologies to their ministry specialty Ability to integrate specialized psychological and sociological theory with an advanced approach to spiritual care Skill to seek out primary research and research literature that informs the ministry specialty and one's spiritual care practice Skill in developing and implementing methods for measuring effectiveness of chaplain practice and services in the specialty area - utilizing outcome evaluations to improve treatment services and to design system changes Ability to mediate conflict - hold various emotions and diffuse moral distress among staff and complex crisis situations Ability to provide specialized consultation - teaching and mentoring to colleagues and students on advanced spiritual care interventions in the service delivery area Ability to apply advanced clinical knowledge to write policies - procedures and/or practice guidelines pertaining to the service delivery area Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12 Physical Requirements: Individuals who are required to operate a government owned or leased vehicle to successfully carry out their assigned duties must be medically cleared prior to appointment Assessment must be made for any acute or chronic medical/physical condition or medication use which interferes with the ability operate the appropriate Government-owned or -leased vehicle safely and without undue risk to themselves or others The following requirements must be met: distant vision 20/40 in one eye with or without correction - field of vision 70 degrees - ability to distinguish red - green and amber - whispered voice at five feet - or average hearing loss of not greater than 40 dbs at 500 - 1000 and 2 -000 Hz. Duties The Chaplain: provides pastoral ministry to patients with respect to the patient's faith group - including conscientious attention during emergencies and crises builds strong interpersonal relationships with patients and ensures all patients are provided opportunities for the free exercise of religion ensures Veterans are protected from proselytizing and coercing from any source provides leadership - direction - orientation - coaching - in-service training - staff development - and continuing education programs addresses the religious - spiritual - moral - and ethical problems of patients and staff provides effective counseling services to patients and staff provides face to face services and establishes a physical presence in clinics - as assigned - throughout the health care system provides a well-rounded religious ministry participates in the total care program of the medical center with other professional and para-professional staff members and services interprets the purpose and mission of TXVCBHCS - as appropriate - to the religious and civic communities serves at a facility in clinical settings where there is limited access to onsite supervision such as small health care systems - Community Based Outpatient Clinics - other Federal agencies or satellite outpatient clinics practices in a specialized program area that may include intensive and extended pastoral counseling as an integral part of the treatment program for patients facing complex moral - ethical - or spiritual problems may be assigned administrative responsibility for program development and implementation and is accountable for clinical program effectiveness and modification of service patterns - which may include research and leadership of clinical teams operates with full understanding of the relationship of chaplaincy services to institutional objectives - integrating these services within the broader healthcare system and supporting equitable access to high-quality care for Veterans provides leadership - staff development - and training for assigned chaplain staff provides guidance and religious instruction - as appropriate - to individuals or groups arranges for and conducts regular weekly religious worship services and - may - as appropriate - for those unable to attend regular chapel services devotes time to the pastoral counseling of individual patients - seeking the solution of personal problems and to the needs of patients' families - especially in times of crisis understands other religions or denominations conducts religious services and worship establishes periods for public worship - seasonal and occasional services - and individual devotions administering ordinances - rites or sacraments preparing and delivering sermons arranging for the atmosphere and symbolism of worship and conducting funeral services when needed provides religious instruction for patients by various means - such as individual or group discussions - Bible classes - instructional classes - broadcasts - films - and tutoring for courses completed by correspondence and via telehealth modalities fully participates - as appropriate - as a member of treatment team(s) to develop and address spiritual needs of Veterans utilizing medical and behavioral health services to include co-leading and/or independently leading groups on topics such as moral injury - traumatic growth - etc as well as individual work with referred Veterans participates in the Whole Health Program to inform and implement spiritual aspects of the Whole Health Model across and within all health care system facilities conducts spiritual assessments to identify patients' strengths and needs creates plans for care in response to the moral injuries and spiritual distress of patients that enhance the Holistic Treatment of Veteran patients develops and implements a tele-chaplaincy program in order to provide Veterans across all health care system locations access to Chaplain services conducts personal visits with medical facility patients in the course of regular routine rounds through the clinics of the health care system - by special visits - and interviews - or on the basis of requests and referral Such visits involve ritual administration of sacraments - or pastoral counseling conducts pastoral interviews with patients to ascertain their religious backgrounds - evaluate religious needs - and provides advice regarding the availability of chaplain services serves as spiritual counselor to patients and their families on ethical and moral matters - including problems of conscience and family and marital differences Duties are continued in the benefits section Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8 AM - 4:30 PM Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 56267-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. #J-18808-Ljbffr