As communities across the U.S. endure the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the ongoing impact of racial violence, our programs continue to honor and support the work of chaplains of color in providing spiritual care and challenging racial inequality.
BIPOC Chaplains: Strategy and Professional Development in a Spiritual Care Career invited chaplains of color to any of 5, one-hour professional development seminars. Sessions were offered April to November 2022 and were conducted by leaders in spiritual care to discuss identity, authority, workplace dynamics, career decision points, and legacy. The series was part of our project Diversifying the Chaplaincy Pipeline.
A list of resources for chaplains of color is available here. If you want more information or would like to be involved with the Spiritual Care Networks, contact Michael Skaggs at michael@chaplaincyinnovation.org.
2022 Professional Development Sessions

Asha Shipman
Yale University
Legacy
November 15, 2022
- Who came before you and who will come after?
- Who are you a part of?
- Why and how should you build a legacy?

Ylisse Bess
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Healthcare: Identity, Authority, and Workplace Dynamics
April 12, 2022
- Case studies
- Dealing effectively with disappointment and uncertainty
- Assessing dominant norms
- Politics and leadership

Paul Minor
Massachusetts National Guard
Military: Identity, Authority, and Workplace Dynamics
May 17, 2022
- Case studies
- Dealing effectively with disappointment and uncertainty
- Assessing dominant norms
- Politics and leadership

Tahara Akmal
MedStar Washington Hospital
Decision Points
June 28, 2022
- “Should I stay or should I leave?”
- “How can I adjust or pivot?”
- Strategic, spiritual, and practical processes of decision making

John Tran Hallock
Bureau of Prisons

Chris Houston
Bureau of Prisons
Corrections: Identity, Authority, and Workplace Dynamics
September 13, 2022
- Case studies
- Dealing effectively with disappointment and uncertainty
- Assessing dominant norms
- Politics and leadership

Jackie Marquez
Wellesley College
Higher Education: Identity, Authority, and Workplace Dynamics
October 11, 2022
7 PM Eastern
- Case studies
- Dealing effectively with disappointment and uncertainty
- Assessing dominant norms
- Politics and leadership