Civilian chaplains are those who serve in any setting where a chaplaincy role does not require the chaplain to be a member of the armed forces. Many civilian chaplain positions require the endorsement of the chaplain’s denomination. In addition, chaplains seeking certification through the Association of Certified Christian Chaplains will need denominational endorsement. You must be an ordained or district-licensed minister in the Church of the Nazarene and have received the approval of your District Superintendent to serve as a chaplain in order to receive an ecclesiastical endorsement from the Church of the Nazarene.
To receive an endorsement, your district must send a letter to the Civilian Chaplain Endorser at chaplaincy@nazarene.org confirming the following:
• Your full name and contact information
• You are in good standing with the Church of the Nazarene
• You have been approved by your District Superintendent to serve as a chaplain
• The specific type of chaplaincy in which you are requesting service (hospital, hospice, prison,
marketplace/corporate, law enforcement, firefighter, educational, Civil Air Patrol, etc.)
An ecclesiastical endorsement will then be prepared and a copy of the endorsement will be sent to both you and to your district.
Select from the list below to learn more about each area of civilian chaplaincy. Anyone interested in exploring military chaplaincy should contact the Military Chaplain Endorser for the Church of the Nazarene by sending an email to MilitaryEndorser@nazarene.org.