Faith Group Endorsement: opportunity or challenge for professional chaplaincy?

Faith Group Endorsement (FGE) is required for the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) board certification and the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) educator certification. It was established in the early days of professional chaplaincy but recent social changes, including changes in the U.S. religious landscape, create obstacles for obtaining and maintaining FGE for many candidates and raise questions about its value. We conducted focus groups and interviews with 78 key informants, examining the value of and the challenges associated with FGE. Participants reported that FGE is essential to the formation and identity of professional chaplains, but there are serious problems with the current process for obtaining FGE.