The National Association of Catholic Chaplains

Menu
  • Membership
      • Apply for Membership
      • Frequently-Asked Questions about Membership
      • Request Retired Membership
      • State Liaisons
      • Newest Members
      • Membership Directory
      • Member map
      • Celebrating Our Members’ 25-year Membership and Certification
      • In Memoriam: deceased NACC members
    • Close
  • Certification
    • Initial Certification
      • Board Certified Chaplain (BCC)
      • Certified Associate Chaplain
      • Palliative Care and Hospice Advanced Certification (PCHAC)
      • VA Initial Board Certification
      • Recognition of Strategic Partners Certification
      • Newly Certified Chaplains
      • Close
    • Renewal of Certification
    • Certification Competencies & Procedures
      • Certification Competencies & Procedures
      • Important Background on NACC Certification Competencies
      • Professional Code of Ethics for Spiritual Care Professionals
      • Certification Commission
      • Certification Appeals Panel
      • Ethics Appeals Panel
      • Close
    • Mentors
    • Recognition of Strategic Partners Certification
    • Verifying Certification
    • Maintaining Certification in Retirement
    • Graduate Theological Programs
    • Close
  • Education Resources
      • 2023 Retreat
      • 2023 Webinar Series
      • Recorded webinars (2009-2022)
      • Calendar of Events
      • Graduate Theological Programs
      • CPE Programs
      • NACC Professional Networking Calls
      • Continuing Education Hour Requests – Guidelines and Forms
      • Ongoing Educational Opportunities
      • Local/Regional Gatherings & Events
      • Past Conferences (2004 – 2022)
      • Vision
    • Close
  • Resources
    • Antiracism Resources
    • Administrator Resources
    • Awareness Resources
    • Chaplaincy Care Resources
    • Coronavirus Resources & Updates
    • Job Listings
    • The Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling
    • Partners in Pastoral Care
    • Research
    • Specialty Care Resources
    • Spirituality and Prayer Resources
    • Spiritual Care Department Resources
    • Vision
    • Close
  • About NACC
    • About the NACC
      • Mission/Vision/Values
      • Constitution and ByLaws
      • Strategic Plan
      • History
      • Close
    • Annual Awards
    • Association Leadership
      • NACC Board of Directors
      • Committees, Commissions, and Panels
      • National Office Staff
      • Episcopal Advisory Council
      • Close
    • Catholic Prison Ministries Coalition (CPMC)
    • Choose Chaplaincy
    • Health Care Collaborators
    • NACC Merchandise
    • NACC Publications and Documents
      • Vision
      • NACC Now
      • Annual Reports & Financial Reviews
      • Documents and publications
      • NACC Blog
      • Close
    • Partners in Pastoral Care
    • Partners for Professional Excellence in Spiritual Care
    • Vision
    • Close
  • Choose Chaplaincy
  • Contact Us
      • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

    • Close
  • Donate Now
  • Member Login
Home » Vision » May-June 2016 » NACC business meeting considers new directions

NACC business meeting considers new directions

By David Lewellen
Vision editor

The National Association of Catholic Chaplains is in good financial shape for now, but the trend lines are troubling.

At the annual conference’s business meeting, Executive Director David Lichter said that the association has net assets of $1.1 million, slightly more than a year’s budget, which is considered a good margin. But forecasts for revenue, as well as for membership, point downward. Current membership is 2,186, and Lichter said that the NACC has been budgeting for an annual membership drop of 4 percent. The average age of a certified member is 61, he said, and he has been telling bishops and educational programs that “the presence of Catholic pastoral care in hospitals is in jeopardy unless more women and men are encouraged to consider chaplaincy as a ministry.”

Looking for long-term solutions, the NACC is exploring how best to coordinate efforts with other Catholic ministry groups to provide the highest quality pastoral care where it is needed, such as prisons, airports, and parishes. Through a letter from Bishop Donald Hying, the episcopal liaison, the association has also reached out to archbishops to get on the agenda of provincial meetings. The NACC is considering adding membership categories so that dioceses or other organizations could join, and is discussing other levels of certification categories. “This wasn’t thought up in the last two weeks,” Lichter said, alluding to the recent move by HealthCare Chaplaincy Network to create a competing organization with lower standards.

Elaborating on that development, Board Chair Mary Lou O’Gorman praised the quick and unified response by the NACC, APC, NAJC and ACPE. “We believe the Common Standards are the gold standard,” she said. Along with ecclesial endorsement, “It roots our identity and makes us accountable and credible.”

During the question period, new board member Tim Serban said that the NACC would be willing to work with HCCN, if an invitation were extended, rather than “just play offense or defense.” But, he pointed out, disruption can represent opportunity.

Serban also announced that four candidates will compete for two open spots on the Board of Directors, to be elected this summer and take office in January. The four are Bev Beltramo, Nancy Cook, Carolanne Hauck, and Hyun Underwood.

The National Association of Catholic Chaplains
Become a Member Would you like to get Certified?

Free Publications

Don’t miss the latest news, subscribe to our newsletter today! You don’t have to be a member to subscribe.

National Association of Catholic Chaplains
4915 S. Howell Avenue, Suite 501
Milwaukee, WI 53207
Get Directions

Phone: (414) 483-4898
Fax: (414) 483-6712
Email: info@nacc.org

Our office hours
Mon-Thur 8:00am – 5:00pm Central Time
Friday 8:00am – 12 Noon
Sat-Sun closed

Job Listings

Current job opportunities for chaplains, priests, CPE residents, supervisors, directors of pastoral care, managers, mission directors, and more.

Job Listings

Free Publications

Don’t miss the latest news, subscribe to our newsletter today! You don’t have to be a member to subscribe.

Donate Now

Learn more about making a tax-deductible donation to NACC.

Donate Now

Connect with us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
© 1997 - 2023 National Association of Catholic Chaplains - Sitemap

Built by Westwords