More Than Medicine: VA Chaplains Celebrate 40 Years of Caring for the Spirit

The Charleston VA joined medical centers across the country this week to celebrate Pastoral Care Week. This year was the 40th iteration of the Week that recognizes the vital role of Chaplains in health care.

“Although this is the 40th anniversary of Pastoral Care Week, VA Chaplaincy has been serving Veterans since the Civil War,” said John Painter, Chief of Chaplain Services at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System. “It began with a single mission: to care for the whole Veteran. While medicine, technology and even the definition of health have evolved, that mission hasn’t changed. The spiritual dimension of healing remains essential.”

The Charleston VA’s celebration brought together more than 30 local clergy, health care providers and staff for an event focused on faith, fellowship and the Veteran experience. The keynote speaker was Lt. Clebe McClary, USMC (Ret.), who served as Ralph H. Johnson’s Platoon Leader in Vietnam. During combat, Johnson threw himself on a grenade, sacrificing his life to save Lt. McClary and several fellow Marines. McClary’s story of survival, faith and purpose reminded attendees of the deep moral and spiritual roots of the VA mission.

“Ralph’s sacrifice represents everything we stand for,” said Scott Isaacks, Director and CEO of the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System. “That willingness to put others first is the same calling our Chaplains answer every single day. Their work brings light to moments of darkness and helps our Veterans and staff find hope when they need it most.”

The event also focused on community partnership. Visiting clergy discussed the unique challenges Veterans face, from moral injury and PTSD to the transition back into civilian life. The goal was to help faith leaders understand how to identify Veterans in need and connect them with resources at Charleston VA.

“We want local pastors and Chaplains to feel connected to us,” Painter said. “They’re often the first ones Veterans turn to in times of crisis. If those faith leaders understand the resources available here, we can work together to provide care that’s both spiritual and clinical, care that truly addresses the whole person.”

“Ralph’s sacrifice represents everything we stand for,” said Scott Isaacks, Director and CEO of the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System. “That willingness to put others first is the same calling our Chaplains answer every single day. Their work brings light to moments of darkness and helps our Veterans and staff find hope when they need it most.”

Painter leads a team of six Chaplains representing diverse faith traditions, including Roman Catholic, African Methodist Episcopal, Presbyterian, Lutheran and Baptist. Together they care for Veterans from every background, and for those who claim no faith at all, with equal respect and compassion.

“Our team is small but mighty,” Painter said. “Because we’re a smaller department in such a large and growing health care system, not everyone realizes the depth of our training or the breadth of our support. Our Veterans know us because they’ve served alongside military Chaplains, but we want our colleagues to know that we’re part of their team too. We’re here 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Charleston VA Chaplains are deeply integrated into clinical care. They lead moral injury recovery groups, provide individual grief and trauma counseling and work closely with Mental Health and Palliative Care teams. They also serve on the Palliative Care Consult Team, Ethics Committee and Institutional Review Board for Human Subjects Research, ensuring that care for Veterans remains compassionate and ethically grounded.

“The Chaplain as a spiritual and pastoral caregiver connects beyond boundaries,” Painter said. “We listen, we sit in silence, and we walk alongside Veterans through moments of pain, doubt and recovery. Our presence helps turn despair into resilience. It’s not about preaching; it’s about meeting people exactly where they are.”

Beyond their work with Veterans, Charleston’s Chaplains also care for staff members. They offer moments of reflection, debriefings after emotionally challenging events and programs such as the annual Blessing of the Hands ceremony.

“Health care is demanding, and it takes a toll,” Isaacks said. “Our Chaplains help our employees process those moments, regain balance and renew their sense of purpose. They care for the caregivers, and that’s something truly special.”

Painter agreed, adding that spiritual care benefits the entire organization. “A spiritually healthy staff member provides stronger, more compassionate care. When we take care of our employees’ spiritual health, we strengthen the care Veterans receive.”

For Charleston VA, the connection between Ralph H. Johnson’s act of valor and the Chaplain Service’s mission runs deep. Both are rooted in courage, compassion and service to others.

“The story of Ralph’s sacrifice isn’t just our namesake; it’s our daily reminder,” Isaacks said. “He gave his life to protect his brothers in arms. Every time a Chaplain sits with a Veteran in pain or stands beside a family in grief, that same spirit of service is alive and well within these walls.”

As Pastoral Care Week concludes, the message from Charleston VA’s Chaplain Service is clear: spiritual care remains a cornerstone of Whole Health.

“Our work isn’t about religion,” Painter said. “It’s about humanity. It’s about bringing understanding where there’s confusion, light where there’s darkness and love where there’s hate. That’s what VA Chaplaincy has always been about, and that’s what we’ll keep doing for generations to come.”