Clinical Pastoral Education Resident (Chaplain)

Baton Rouge General Medical Center

Clinical Pastoral Education Residency Program 2026-2027

Program Summary

The Baton Rouge General Clinical Pastoral Education Program is now accepting applications for the 2026-27 Chaplain Residency. The CPE Residency program is a 12-month position in which students serve as full-time hospital employees while earning four (4) units of CPE training.

• Residency Year: Begins Monday, August 31, 2026
• Full Time Day Shift: Rotational Weekend Shifts and On Call Required
• Up to six (6) positions available
• Compensation: $35,600 +
• For additional program, credentialing, and faculty information, please visit our page.

Description

The Clinical Pastoral Education Resident is responsible for active participation in the Baton Rouge General Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program for up to one (1) year.

Baton Rouge General is dedicated to the development and training of individuals called to provide ministry for the sick through our Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Residency program. Our CPE Residency program delivers graduate-level theological and professional ministry education through a clinical setting that combines action and reflection learning skills.

As full-time hospital employees, Chaplain Residents learn first-hand pastoral care experience by providing spiritual support to patients, patients’ families, and hospital staff and through guided reflection on their ministry experiences with certified CPE supervisors and with the students’ peers. This method of learning expands the students' skills and knowledge while deepening their self-awareness of how their personal histories, faith perspectives, and individual gifts influence their pastoral and professional function.

The CPE Residency program’s curriculum follows the Standards and Objectives of and incorporates pastoral formation, pastoral competence, and pastoral reflection. The program guides students to embrace the role of minister and to develop self-reflection and self-awareness, and to use peers and supervisors as resources for learning. The mission of CPEI is to provide quality, inclusive, and life-transforming clinical pastoral education internationally through online and hybrid modalities to develop competent pastoral clinicians and supervisory educators.

Essential Functions

• Through participation in the daily life of Baton Rouge General, create a positive, supportive environment for BRG patients, family members, visitors, employees, and physicians via personal alignment with our .
• Assess the spiritual, religious, emotional, and existential needs of patients and their loved ones of all and no religious and spiritual traditions in diverse clinical settings and provide appropriate pastoral interventions. Focus is offered particularly for referrals, pre-operative, critically ill and dying patients.
• Accurately and thoroughly document patient visits and pastoral interventions provided in the patient’s electronic medical record (EMR). Escalates issues/requests to ensure quality in services provided.
• Provide crisis intervention for patients, visitors, and employees. Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members by actively communicating in a positive, supportive, non-judgmental manner.
• Participate in overnight, weekend, and holiday on-call rotations. Please note that Pastoral Care Chaplains may be required to be on-site and/or on call during emergencies (i.e., disasters, severe weather events, etc.).
• Contribute toward meeting/exceeding department and organization goals for employee engagement, employee retention, quality and safety, patient satisfaction, and fiscal responsibility.
• Assist with administrative/clerical support as needed by department and leadership.
• Responsible, efficient use of hospital supplies. Self-motivation to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks, minimizing incidental overtime. Service-focused and willing to assist fellow team members.
• Actively participate in the Baton Rouge General Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Residency program, including completion of all writing, reading, and evaluative assignments and engaging actively in Group and Individual Supervision, with the goal of completing the educational and clinical requirements for chaplaincy certification.
• Adhere to the
• Working knowledge of Windows desktop computers and Microsoft Office 365 programs/apps. Capacity to learn additional computer programs for purposes of maintaining patient records and interacting with CPE program’s online Learning Management System (LMS).

This description and essential functions are not intended to be all-inclusive; the CPE Resident will also perform other reasonably related duties as assigned. Baton Rouge General reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college, university, or theological school is required.
• Master’s degree in Divinity or related field from an institution accredited by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), or equivalency is preferred.
• One successfully completed unit of CPE is desirable but not required.

Experience

Two years of affiliation/membership or experience in pastoral ministry in a congregational or clinical setting is preferred, as well as good standing with one’s faith group.

Work Attire

Business Professional Dress and Personal Grooming are expectations for the Chaplain Resident position.

Application Process

Residency positions will be posted annually in the Spring via Baton Rouge General Careers. Applications for the CPE Residency program will only be received during the posting period. Application for the CPE Residency is highly competitive and is limited to six (6) students.

1. Apply for the Clinical Pastoral Education Resident position.

• Visit Baton Rouge General’s? Career.
• Search-Clinical Pastoral Education Resident? In the search bar.
• Click Apply for Job Button and complete the application.

1. CPE Residency program applicants should reference the to choose the appropriate 12 Week Fall Intensive Term (begins in September each year) and submit a completed . Any prior CPE supervisor evaluations should be submitted with the CPE application. Submission of BOTH applications is required for consideration for the CPE Residency program.
2. Upon review of prospective students’ application materials, selected candidates will be asked to interview with Baton Rouge General’s CPE Faculty and members of the CPE Advisory Committee.

Company Profile

is a community owned, not-for-profit that began as the city’s first hospital in 1900. With over 600 licensed beds between three campuses (Mid City, Bluebonnet, and Ascension), Baton Rouge General offers the full spectrum of care from delivering newborns to providing end of life support through hospice. From our acclaimed Regional Burn Center to our award-winning cancer and heart programs, it’s our vision to excel as a locally led, independent health system dedicated to the health of our communities. Baton Rouge General has grown to become a fully integrated medical community with a robust physician network of more than 800, a staff of more than 4,200, and more than 40 clinical and medical facilities. Since the Pastoral Care Department’s founding in 1946, Baton Rouge General has continually valued the contribution of chaplains and the importance of developing chaplains for the future.

About Baton Rouge

Named by French explorers as "the Red Stick City," is where Louisiana's capital, flagship university (), and distinctive Cajun and Creole cultures all come together. Located in Southeast Louisiana, Baton Rouge is the fifth largest city on the Mississippi River (metro population of over 880,000) and home to Louisiana's largest parish. Strategically seated at the mouth of the Mississippi River, the Baton Rouge area's assets are integral to the nation's logistics and energy networks. Additionally, the city boasts a thriving arts culture and food scene making it a hub for unique festivals all year long.