Spiritual Formation in Secular Spaces: A Dialogue of Spiritual Journeys in Hospital Chaplaincy

Abstract

“Spiritual Formation in Secular Places: A Dialogue of Spiritual Journeys in Hospital Chaplaincy”

Lori Giacchetta McMaster Divinity College Hamilton, Ontario Doctor of Practical Theology, 2026

This study focused on how a chaplain can influence the praxis of individuals in the physical and spiritual spheres outside of a church setting. Spiritual formation is largely facilitated within church settings, and often, the established Christian believer funnels new believers into a church where formation takes place using scriptures, fellowship, and teaching. However, individuals who are without a church often seek the care of a chaplain while in the hospital. This dissertation demonstrates how spiritual formation can effectively occur inside healthcare settings and that chaplains working in healthcare settings can facilitate spiritual formation with individuals. The chaplains can thereby offer those who do not attend church a trajectory on which their spirituality and relationship with God can grow. Furthermore, the dissertation proposes effective tools and processes to facilitate spiritual growth in non-church individuals. Spiritual formation can occur in the healthcare setting with the use of narratives as a tool. Narratives can effectively facilitate the chaplaincy intervention and provide a road map for the chaplain; narratives can also provide a framework for the chaplain to conduct the intervention and inform the chaplain about how to proceed with the intervention. Through narratives, the chaplain may also investigate what is helpful and detrimental to an individual’s spiritual formation when it occurs in healthcare settings. This research project focused on the use of narratives to facilitate spiritual formation for the unchurched—that is, those not currently part of a Christian church community—who request a chaplain for help navigating issues presented during a health crisis. This project also produced a road map for chaplains as they minister and facilitate spiritual formation in individuals in healthcare settings.