Loading...
The professionalization of chaplaincy: A Comparison of 1997 and 2017 Surveys in The Netherlands
den Toom,J.N. Kruizinga,Renske Liefbroer,Anke I. Körver,Jacques
den Toom,J.N.
Kruizinga,Renske
Liefbroer,Anke I.
Körver,Jacques
Abstract
Chaplaincy has become increasingly professionalized in response to both the standardization in healthcare and the changing religious landscape. Whereas several studies have paid attention to the professionalization of chaplaincy as a whole, no research has been found that describes the implications for individual chaplains. The present article describes the professionalization of Dutch chaplains in the last two decades. We compared the results of two surveys conducted with chaplains in the Netherlands in 1997 and 2017. We describe professionalization by distinguishing between the changed values, expertise, and positioning of chaplains. We found that chaplains’ expertise has been developed by a growing but highly diverse body of knowledge. Furthermore, a pluralization of chaplains’ worldviews was observed, including non-religious and non-affiliated positions. Lastly, no major changes were observed in the embedding of chaplains.
Description
Date
2023
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Keywords
Chaplaincy, The Netherlands, pluralization, professionalization, spiritual care
Citation
den Toom, J N, Kruizinga, R, Liefbroer, A I & Körver, J 2023, 'The professionalization of chaplaincy : A Comparison of 1997 and 2017 Surveys in The Netherlands', Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 14-29. https://doi.org/10.1080/08854726.2021.1996810