Spiritual Care Basics for Lay People
Companioning one another spiritually is an important ministry of a faith community. Lay members of the community play a key role in this work of nurturing each other. In this course, we will explore why people seek out spiritual support, the skills of active listening and caring accompaniment, and the art of making referrals.
Video One: Why we seek spiritual care and the work of grief
Video Two: Active Listening and Responding
Video Three: How and When to Make Referrals
Cohort facilitated by Rev. Tiffany Chaney
Rev. Chaney is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, serving as Pastor Developer for Gathered by Grace, a mission community based in Montgomery, Alabama, with participants connecting virtually from across the nation.
A Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, she is the Vice President, Mission and Spiritual Care for Advocate Health, providing executive leadership for chaplaincy, clinical pastoral education, clinical ethics, and faith and health partnerships across the Illinois and Wisconsin Divisions.
Rev. Chaney is a professional coach and is founder of Relatable Insights, LLC, where she equips leaders and organizations for meaningful and sustainable change through coaching, leadership development, strategic planning, and organizational transformation. She is known for creating spaces where thoughtful conversation, faithful reflection, and practical leadership come together.
Rev. Chaney holds an MBA, an MS in Health Administration, an MDiv from Lutheran Theological Seminary, and several certifications. She serves on the boards of Lutheran Services in America, the Council for
Health and Human Service Ministries, and Inspiritus, where she is Board Chair.
Cohort created by Rev. Kristen Leslie, PhD.
Dr. Leslie is a feminist pastoral theologian whose research focuses on spiritual care with survivors of sexualized violence in the United States military, on college campuses, and in post-genocide Rwanda. An ordained United Methodist minister, she has served as a parish pastor, college chaplain, pastoral counselor, rape counselor, and seminary professor. She has taught pastoral care and counseling for 27 years, recently retiring from her post as the Harold Peters Schultz Professor of Pastoral Theology and Care at Eden Theological Seminary.
Dates: 6-7:30pm CT, Sept. 8, Oct. 13, Nov. 17, Dec. 8, 2026
All Cohort meetings will be online
Ministry Cohorts
Ministry Cohorts allow you to sample many theological themes, offering peer learning with your ministry context in mind. Scholars have chosen a specific lens on a particular topic and share their expertise through digital content you watch on your own time. Four monthly online meetings are interspersed, where you and your Cohort members gather for facilitated discussion with an experienced church leader.
Cohorts support lifelong learning and are for anyone- authorized clergy, chaplains, Christian educators, lay leaders and anyone interested in the topic. UCC members will recognize the Marks for Ministry woven throughout the cohorts, though anyone from any denomination, or no denomination, is welcome to attend.
Completion of this Ministry Cohort provides 9 contact hours of continuing education, subject to approval by the participant's credentialing body.
