Department History

The Chaplaincy Service at the University of Virginia Hospitals was begun in 1956 through the gift of an anonymous benefactor. This first Chaplain, Walter A. Henricks, remained in this position until 1964. During part of this time, he was assisted by Deaconess Mary Sandys Hutton in providing pastoral care for patients, families and staff. After Mr. Hendricks left in 1964, chaplaincy services were provided on a part-time basis by various local clergymen.

On October 1, 1965, Clyde M. Watson, Jr. became the chaplain for the University Hospital. The first accredited Clinical Pastoral Education program was offered during the summer of 1966. Another such program was offered again during the summer of 1967.

On July 1, 1968, a full-time, year-round residency program in Clinical Pastoral Education was begun. This program continues to the present. Vernon Maxa was a member of that first residency group. After completing his residency and being certified as a Chaplain Supervisor in 1970, he was appointed to the faculty of the Chaplaincy Service.

Agnes Barry completed her supervisory residency here in 1977 and was appointed to our faculty in July, 1978. She took another position in June, 1989 and Jennifer Cobb joined our faculty March 1, 1991. Vern Maxa accepted another position in April, 1991 and Russell H. Davis joined our faculty on June 1, 1991. Jennifer Cobb accepted another position in June, 1993 and Joan L. Murray joined our faculty on July 1, 1993. In January, 1995, Russell Davis became the Executive Director of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education. He remained on our faculty on a part-time basis through June, 1995. Richard B. Haines joined our faculty in July, 1995.

In February, 1967, The Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care (VIPCare) was founded as a Cluster accredited by the Council for Clinical Training, Inc. Initially there were three CPE centers in this VIPCare Cluster, the Medical College of Virginia Hospital (MCV), the University of Virginia Hospital and Richmond Memorial Hospital. One of the primary reasons for founding this Cluster was to help in providing funding for the CPE programs at MCV Hospital and UVA Hospital. In the fall of 1967 when ACPE was formed from the four existing CPE organizations the VIPCare Cluster became affiliated with the ACPE and in 1971 the name was changed to the Virginia Cluster for Pastoral Education.

The original financial gift supported the Chaplaincy Service from 1956 to 1958. From 1958 to 1966, the chaplaincy program was sponsored jointly by the University Hospital and the interdenominational Chaplain Service of the Churches of Virginia, Inc. From 1967 to 1970, the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care replaced Chaplain Service as a co-sponsoring agency.

In 1970, the University of Virginia Medical Center assumed full responsibility for the Chaplaincy Service which was designated as the Division of Patient and Family Counseling.  This designation was very significant and resulted from a positive ruling by the Attorney General of Virginia. Historically, the Commonwealth of Virginia has held that employment of a clergyperson as a clergyperson by the state would violate its understanding of the doctrine of the separation of Church and State. In essence, the Attorney General's ruling stated that it was within the provisions of the Constitution of Virginia to provide programs for counseling the sick and their families, provided that participation in such programs is not limited to or conditioned upon any religious affiliation. So, in 1970, when the outside funding was terminated and the Medical Center assumed full financial responsibility for the Chaplaincy Service the title, Division of Patient and Family Counseling, was adopted.

In 1988, the title, University of Virginia Health System was adopted to replace the old title of Medical Center.

In 1995, the CPE programs of the Department were re-accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education. This accreditation is in effect for seven years.

On October 1, 1996, Dr. Watson retired after completing 31 years of service to the University of Virginia. His vision has guided more than just this department, but has also helped establish the Department of Biomedical Ethics at the University. He leaves us with a solid record of accomplishment in both education and in pastoral service.

In January of 1997, the name of the department changed to better reflect our nature and purpose. We are now named the Department of Chaplaincy Services and Pastoral Education. An administrative assistant, Catherine Bowers, was appointed to our staff.  On May 1, 1997, Dr. Richard B. Haines was appointed director of the department.  Dr. Joan L. Murray was appointed Director of Pastoral Education. 

Another development occurred in the summer and Fall of 1997.  During this time, the Medical Center approved the establishment of two staff chaplains for weekend coverage.  The Rev. Philip McCarley was hired and began ministry in November of 1997.  The Rev. Dr. Donald Moore began his ministry in December of 1997.  The Rev. Mildred Best was appointed to the faculty and began her ministry with us in January of 1998.

In the Spring of 1998, the department sponsored its first major guest lecturer. With help from the Virginia Cluster, the UVa Medical School, and the Center for Organizational Development, we hosted the Rev. Dr. Jeanne Stevenson Moessner for a series of presentations on Pastoral Care of Women.

In 1999, the name of the organization was changed to the University of Virginia Health System. Also in 1999, we began sponsoring the satellite program at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, with clinical sites at Rockingham Memorial Hospital and the Mennonite Retirement Community. This satellite began offering Level I summer and extended units of clinical pastoral education. Under the leadership of Dr. Lonnie Yoder and ACPE Supervisor, Jay Stearns, the seminary began to work toward standing as a fully accredited center. In the summer of 2000, Eastern Mennonite Seminary hired The Rev. Kenton Derstine to be their full time ACPE accredited supervisor.

In December of 2000, the Virginia Cluster for Pastoral Education was formally disolved.  The members of the Virginia Cluster decided that Centers would better relate through a sub-regional structure.  On January 1, 2001, the Virginia Sub-Region of the Mid-Atlantic Region became the official title for ACPE Centers in the State of Virginia.

In June 2001, Dr. Joan Murray resigned her faculty position to become Director of Pastoral Care at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York , NY .  Mildred Best assumed the position of Associate Director. The Rev. Melvin Janzen was hired as a staff chaplain. In 2002, the Supervisory Education Program was resumed, and The Rev. Angie Flack, Chaplain Fellow, became the department’s first Supervisory Education resident in over ten years. She was certified as an Associate Supervisor, ACPE, in February, 2006.

A combination Chaplain/Program Coordinator was established in 1996 for the Cancer Center . The Rev. Susan Goins-Eplee was the first person to fill this position. In 2005, when Susan left to become a nursing student, the Rev. Gordon Putnam was called to the position and is the current Cancer Center Staff Chaplain.