-We are already seeing it. An increase in interfaith and humanist/atheist chaplains. Two of my cohorts have Satanic Temple humanist students that fully intend to pursue chaplaincy as a calling. -Tele-chaplaincy is going to continue to grow especially if insurance reimbursement becomes a thing.
As CPE instructors and supervisor retire there will be an increased shortage of instructors which also paves the way for younger chaplains to help reshape CPE curriculum and take up the mantle of educators. CPE educator hiring can be almost incestuous in how it can boil down to who you know.
Chaplaincy has to wrestle with AI and the unethical nature of it in general. On a specific note it has to reckon with how AI is changing death and grief with grief bots and digital resurrection. It's packaged as helping the grieving, but it's fundamentally about denying death and grief.
agree. If there was ever a time when someone needs a human being, it is when they are dying, or are struggling with the death of someone they love.