What is the Attending Clergy Association?

The ACA by-laws state that the Attending Clergy Association is a non-profit interfaith clergy organization within Texas Health that enhances pastoral education for clergy, promotes physical, emotional and spiritual health in congregational and community settings, and links clergy to members of the health care team.

As spiritual leaders from many faith communities and traditions, clergy share the common experience of offering pastoral and spiritual care to members of their congregation and communities. ACA clergy are recognized by Texas Health as members of the healing team. More than 350 ACA members relate to Texas Health hospitals through this program.

Why Does Texas Health Support the ACA?

Texas Health, as a faith-based health care organization, believes that developing close relationships with clergy and congregations in our communities is an essential ingredient in extending the role of pastoral and spiritual care within the communities we serve. Since clergy are regularly in the hospital to care for their congregants, our goal is to provide continuing education and assist clergy in their essential role of offering pastoral and spiritual care to their congregants.

How Does the ACA Work?

All clergy who become part of the ACA complete a required orientation that introduces them to the goals and objectives of the ACA and to the history and practices of Texas Health Resources. In addition, clergy learn about the benefits and opportunities that come with membership in the ACA and agree to abide by the HIPAA and privacy regulations of Texas Health.

How Will the ACA Help?

For more than 20 years, the Attending Clergy Association has offered regular educational opportunities. Clergy learn about medical, psychiatric, pastoral and nursing care as a way to better understand what their congregants face while in the hospital.

Each entity is responsible for designing educational events that suit the needs of the clergy from that community. Some educational programs focus exclusively on pastoral care concerns. Others may focus on medical updates, nursing concerns or biomedical ethical challenges. Each entity has a unique focus that allows for a great variety of design and creative possibilities. 

Over time, the clergy and health care professionals (medical staff physicians, nurses, therapists) get to know each other as they work as colleagues.

What are Some Additional Benefits?

• Access to patients 24 hours a day (Critical care areas may require no visitors for short periods of time. Patient information is provided on a need to know basis with HIPAA observed at all times.)
• Employee discounts when eating in hospital cafeterias
• Employee rates for membership in Texas Health fitness centers
• Free annual flu shot
• Name badge for identification to staff and easy access to parking where needed