Mission and Ministry is one of the four primary areas of strategic and philanthropic focus for Baylor Scott & White Health. Baylor was founded in 1903 with the understanding that it would be a humanitarian institution, open to all persons – regardless of their faith – and prepared to minister to each patient as a whole, multi-dimensional human being.
Since our inception, we have never forgotten that physical health is inexorably tied to a person’s spiritual, emotional and social well-being.
The task of the office of mission and ministry is to bring together three programs to deliver compassionate care: pastoral care for those of all faiths, clinical pastoral education and medical missions. Three programs with one mission: to make a difference in our patients, our community and the world.
After the earthquake in Haiti, Faith In Action Initiatives sent a team to provide medical and spiritual support to the people who were sick and hurting.
Chaplains provide spiritual care, comfort and guidance to patients and their families. Baylor has 83 staff chaplains and 158 pastoral care volunteers representing all major faiths, with dedicated chaplains for every major medical specialty. Our chaplains, residents and volunteers are available around the clock every day to offer pastoral care in our hospitals and communities. With the help and support of more than 150 volunteers, Baylor chaplains offer spiritual support to more than 158,000 patients and their families each year.
Baylor's clinical pastoral education program is celebrating 40 years as an accredited Association of Clinical Pastoral Education Program and is recognized as one of the nation’s finest and oldest accredited programs. Baylor educates ministers and lay people from around the world in a learning environment that allows people from all faiths and traditions to grow personally and professionally. Although the influence of our pastoral education faculty is felt worldwide, it is immensely important to those we touch closer to home. Baylor has trained more than 900 ministers who serve both here and across the globe.
Faith in Action Initiatives provide mechanisms to support hospitals in developing countries, raises funds to purchase critically needed drugs for disaster relief, supports local community clinics and enhances the spirituality of Baylor leaders as they serve the needs of communities beyond Baylor. Through Faith in Action Initiatives, 45 Baylor nurses were provided funds to help offset expenses as they volunteered internationally in more than a dozen countries, including aboard the Mercy Ship Africa. Faith in Action Initiatives provided 40-foot containers of medical supplies and equipment to hospitals in the Philippines, Guatemala, Nigeria, Liberia, Zimbabwe, Peru, including more than 75 medical volunteers for international mission trips.
For more information related to Mission and Ministry and ways you can support, please contact Craig Foster at 214-820-8196 or Craig.Foster@BSWHealth.org.
Donate Now
View the latest issue
View More Events