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.
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.
Preferred Experience: -Experience providing pastoral care in a healthcare setting, especially with Veterans or in a multi-disciplinary team environment. - Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and implement staff training, wellness, or resiliency programs. - Experience with tele-chaplaincy or delivering spiritual care via remote modalities.
- Experience in specialized program areas such as PTSD, moral injury, suicide prevention, hospice/palliative care, mental health, substance abuse, or grief and bereavement. - Experience conducting spiritual assessments and creating care plans for patients facing complex moral, ethical, or spiritual challenges. - Experience with community outreach, partnership building, or program development to expand access to chaplaincy services.
- Experience providing spiritual counseling to patients and families during medical crises, including end-of-life care. - Experience working with diverse faith groups and ensuring equitable access to religious/spiritual care. - Advanced proficiency in pastoral counseling techniques, especially for patients facing trauma, moral injury, or complex ethical dilemmas. - Demonstrated leadership in developing and evaluating outcome-driven pastoral care programs.
- Skill in integrating spiritual care within Whole Health or holistic treatment models. - Ability to independently develop and implement new chaplaincy programs or curricula. - Proficiency in using electronic health records and office automation tools for documentation and communication. - Experience supervising volunteers or chaplain staff, including program effectiveness and modification.
- Ability to conduct spiritual care outreach and build partnerships with community organizations. - Skill in providing spiritual support for staff resiliency and wellness initiatives. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.
If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
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) (https://www.chea.org/) or Association of Theological Schools (ATS) (https://www.ats.edu/) 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 NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application. NOTE: If your school was accredited by a member of the CHEA or ATS (recognized by the U.S. Department of Education) at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the CHEA or ATS websites above, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.
Duties Continued: offers spiritual consolation, support and guidance to those looking to solution of personal problems in adjustment to their illness or confinement. addresses the fears that patients have when facing surgery or outpatient procedures. answers patients' questions regarding the meaning of life when they are confronted with the reality of illness, pain, permanent disfigurement, crippling, or death.
counsels patients with long-term illnesses, especially those who need aid in developing and maintaining patience, perseverance, and determination.
maintains contact with medical staff, psychologists, nurses, social workers, therapists, or others involved to exchange of information relative to the background and current condition of patients; participates in consultative discussions or conferences to evaluate patient progress and recommend care approaches; and offers informed advice on integrating religious understanding with other professional services to achieve therapeutic goals.
develops measurable, outcome-driven, and evidence-based pastoral care; and creates staff development and wellness programs. supports the development of staff resiliency by providing emotional and spiritual support and compassionate presence.
establishes and maintains contacts with the families of patients, with local pastors, church groups, and community organizations to strengthen patients' support systems and serves as a communication link between patients, the facility, and the broader community.
plans, coordinates, implements, and evaluates ongoing community outreach efforts, ensuring sustained engagement with community partners, expansion of support networks for Veterans, and increased awareness and accessibility of chaplaincy services throughout the service area.
provides the spiritual dimensions of specialized programs such as PTSD and moral injury, MST, Suicide Prevention, Veteran Homelessness, Hospice and Palliative Care, Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Grief and Bereavement, Polytrauma, Health Care Ethics, Patient Rehabilitation and Recovery, and Conflict Resolution and Mediation. Duties are continued in the Additional Information Section.
This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.
The posted pay range is $89508 – $116362/yr.
Applications close on 2026-10-06.
This position is open under the 'Fed Competitive' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government
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