Office of mission and ministry
Spiritual care
Chaplains foster respect for the spiritual and emotional needs of patients, families and staff. Through compassionate service in chaotic or joyful times, chaplains attest to the sacredness of life. Baylor Scott & White chaplains are committed to providing effective ministry to people and their families who receive medical care at a Baylor Scott & White Health hospital as an aid to healing.
Baylor Scott & White chaplains assist patients and their families in emergent situations 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays. Non-emergent care is provided during the normal business hours in most hospitals.
Services provided for patients and families
- Pastoral visitation for patients and families offering spiritual and emotional support that can provide comfort and healing in both critical and non-critical situations.
- Emergent pastoral counseling, prayer, grief and bereavement support, as requested by patients and families.
- Prayer and support before and after surgery, including special blessings during transplant operations or extensive illness.
- Spiritual or religious services as requested by the patient and family, such as Holy Communion, blessings, anointing, memorial services, worship services, celebrations and/or recognitions for birthdays and anniversaries.
- Advanced care planning—Depending on the facility, chaplains may facilitate advance care planning to help your family and the medical team to honor your wishes at the end of life. Documents include such tools as a Living Will/Directive to Physicians and a Medical Power of Attorney.
- Religious resources—Chaplains facilitate connection to religious resources outside the hospital such as the pastor, priest, minister, rabbi, imam or spiritual adviser.
Services provided for the community
- Clergy Partnership Programs and pastoral care volunteer opportunities in many hospitals, offering education and mentoring for interested and qualified clergy and lay people.
- Community services and seminars offered such as advance care planning, spiritual and emotional elements of spiritual care, crisis ministry, self-care, bereavement and grief education offered and provided to local faith communities upon request.
- James Lecture—an annual program designed to create dialogue between medical professionals and clergy.
- Clinical Pastoral Education placement for service in many hospitals for qualified clergy and lay people in close cooperation with our pastoral education program.
- CISM: Critical Incident Stress Management provided in community and as requested by communities of faith, civic leaders and local businesses.
- Faith Community Caregivers—partnering with congregation to promote health in the congregation and larger community.
