Implicaties voor rollen en competenties van geestelijk verzorgers

Samenvatting

As chaplaincy is situated on the intersection of institutional religion and the public domain, societal changes in religion affect the position and meaning of chaplaincy care. Recent research shows that while secularization in Dutch society continues, other developments can be observed, such as increasing religious illiteracy, cultural homogenization and heterogenization, fragmentation, and a growing discrepancy between the official perspectives and creeds of churches and the lived faith of church members. Reflecting on these developments, we argue that some roles and competences of the chaplain will become more important or will change from character: the roles of interpreter and spiritual guide, hermeneut, representative, moral counselor, and ritualist. To prepare future chaplains to accompany persons in their existential needs in Dutch society, some competencies will become more important to acquire in chaplaincy training.