Chaplains, specialized ministers gather in Chicago to network, learn from one another
VALLEY FORGE, PA (10/01/2026)—On Sept. 11, 2026, members of the Endorsement Committee of American Baptist Churches USA and local chaplains gathered at the North Shore Baptist Church in Chicago. It was one of many such meetings across the country, convened by Rev. Dr. Patricia Murphy, BCC, the ecclesiastical endorser and director of Spiritual Caregivers at American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS), and by Rev. Barbara Bullock, BCC, ACPE CE, the chair of the Endorsement Committee.
Members of the ABCUSA Endorsement Committee outside the North Shore Baptist Church in Chicago.
An ecclesiastical endorser certifies that a chaplain is qualified and in good standing within a religious tradition. This credentialing is important for certain institutions, such as the military, VA hospitals, prisons, and healthcare systems that require approval from a religious body. Murphy is committed to supporting those serving in specialized ministries and to these regional gatherings.
This support goes beyond professional recognition and development. The September 11 gathering showcased Murphy’s ongoing effort to bring chaplains and other specialized ministry professionals together to build vital relationships and connections. This is particularly important because chaplains serve outside congregational contexts.
“Our chaplains serve in many different settings, yet they are all part of the same American Baptist family,” Murphy said. “Gatherings like this give us a chance to learn together and support one another in our work.”
Such events also connect chaplains with American Baptist regions and local seminaries. In Chicago, those who offered greetings included Rev. Doug Harris, interim regional minister of American Baptist Churches of Metropolitan Chicago (ABCMC) and a member of the ABHMS Board of Directors; Revs. Michael Ware and Kathryn Ray of the North Shore Baptist Church; and Rev. Dr. J. Marshall Shamell, Judson Press author and assistant director of admissions and recruitment at Garrett Theological Seminary.
Rev. Dr. Mark Bradley, BCC, manager of spiritual care and education at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago and a member of the Endorsement Committee, introduced the plenary speaker, Rev. Pamela Floyd, MD, M.Div., a staff chaplain at Northwestern Memorial.
A learning session engages members of the Endorsement Committee during their Sept. 11 gathering.
Floyd examined how pervasive racial inequities can be in medical practice. She discussed cases in which African American patients were denied medical treatment comparable to that of white patients, noting that some medical guidelines removed guidance on racially divergent treatment only in 2025. Floyd’s presentation demonstrated how seemingly neutral systems like healthcare can produce strikingly unequal outcomes for patients.
Rev. Saeed Richardson, ABHMS’ chief technology and information security officer, gave a presentation about the functionality of artificial intelligence for chaplains. “AI cannot sit with a dying person. That is exactly why it should do everything else—so you can,” he said. At the same time, he stressed AI’s limits: “[AI] does not possess faith, emotions, or spiritual experiences. Your interpretation and your spiritual insight remain irreplaceable.”
ABHMS human resources director Dr. Laura Miraz also attended the gathering.
Shamell gave a book talk on his latest Judson Press book, “40 Years in the Wilderness: How the Church Can Support Those with HIV/AIDS,” a particularly relevant title for chaplains working in healthcare settings. Rev. Dr. Anna Piela, ABHMS’ senior writer, editor of The Christian Citizen magazine, and a co-associate regional minister at ABCMC, presented her Judson Press book, “Confronting Islamophobia in the Church: Liturgical Tools for Justice,” which was salient for those gathered, given the multifaith settings they often work in.
The gathering reflected ABHMS’ ongoing commitment to equipping chaplains and specialized ministers for the complex realities of their work and to strengthening their connections across the American Baptist family. To learn more about the American Baptist National Network of Chaplains, Pastoral Counselors, Spiritual Directors and Specialized Ministers, visit ABHMS’ website.
By Rev. Dr. Anna Piela, ABHMS senior writer and editor of The Christian Citizen