Chaplaincy journalism fellows announced
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2023
Journalism Fellows in Chaplaincy
[Waltham, Mass.] – The Chaplaincy Innovation Lab, with support from the Templeton Religion Trust, is proud to announce the recipients of journalism fellowships to bring public awareness to the work of chaplains. The eight fellows will produce print and audio stories focusing closely on recipients of spiritual care in a variety of settings, including healthcare, corrections, and human migration. They will receive funding to support creating their stories, which are intended for publication in major national and international outlets in Spring 2024.
“This is a key moment in the history of chaplaincy’s public perception,” said Wendy Cadge, the Lab’s director and the project’s principal investigator. “We know from our own research that many, if not most, people simply don’t know what it is that chaplains do. These journalism fellows are going to tell rich stories about that work that highlight why spiritual care is of vital importance today.”
Supporting this project are editor Linda K. Wertheimer, who will accompany the fellows as they complete these projects, and Brandeis University’s Neil Swidey, Professor of the Practice of Journalism and bestselling author, magazine writer and multimedia journalist. The fellowship program is part of the Lab’s project on chaplain demand and covenantal pluralism, supported by Templeton Religion Trust.
The fellows and their projects can be found here.
About Chaplaincy Innovation Lab
The Chaplaincy Innovation Lab (CIL) brings chaplains, theological educators, clinical educators and social scientists into conversation about the work of chaplaincy and spiritual care.
As religious and spiritual life continues to change, the CIL sparks practical innovations that enable chaplains to nurture the spirits of those they serve and reduce human suffering. Our work is shaped by four central commitments maintained by all who are connected to CIL: all are welcome; we respect differences; we value learning together; and we are research-driven.
About Templeton Religion Trust
Templeton Religion Trust (TRT) is a global charitable trust chartered by Sir John Templeton in 1984 with headquarters in Nassau, The Bahamas. TRT has been active since 2012 and supports projects as well as storytelling related to projects seeking to enrich the conversation about religion. TRT is always seeking more spiritual information, more “benefits of religion,” and more spiritual growth.
Media Contact:
Michael Skaggs
Director of Programs
Chaplaincy Innovation Lab
Phone: (812) 269-2370
Email: michael@chaplaincyinnovation.org
Website: ChaplaincyInnovation.org