ABSTRACT
This contribution is based on research conducted on chaplains doing pastoral care in different hospitals all over Germany. The research team consists of two theologians (Fabian Kliesch, Thorsten Moos); one biologist, specializing in medical ethics (Simone Ehm); and one medical anthropologist (Julia Thiesbonenkamp-Maag). The study is part of an ongoing research project of the Protestant Institute for Interdisciplinary Research in Heidelberg that involves conducting expert interviews with hospital chaplains and carrying out participant observation in different hospitals. The names of the hospital chaplains as well as the hospital names used here are pseudonyms. As the community of hospital chaplains in Germany is tightly knit, this is one of way of ensuring anonymity for our interlocutors. The data presented here pertains to Protestant hospital chaplains if not stated otherwise. Before detailing the work of the hospital chaplains in this study, I will provide a brief overview of the historical background of pastoral care in Germany.
