1000 x 90

The Association of Professional Chaplains Honors Chaplain Melanie D. Childers for Outstanding Leadership

July 25, 2013. The Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) was honored to present its Outstanding Local Leadership Award this year to the Reverend Melanie D. Childers BBC of Vilas. The award was presented on June 29 during the 2013 APC Annual Conference in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. 

Each year, the Outstanding Local Leadership Award is given to a member of the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) who exhibits outstanding dedication to the association and promotes professional chaplaincy through active involvement and initiative at the local or regional level. 

imgres-4For 2013, APC presents this award to the Reverend Melanie D. Childers BCC, who has served as the BCCI Area 6 certification chair since 2010. Previously, she served on the APC Board of Directors as chair of the Communications and Publications Council from 2004-2007. 

Melanie Childers is the director of pastoral care at Watauga Medical Center in Boone. A board certified chaplain endorsed by the United Church of Christ, she also is a licensed professional counselor. She received a master’s in community counseling from Appalachian State University and her master of divinity from Southern Seminary. 

Her calm, professional demeanor, attention to detail and excellent organizational skills are just a few reasons Rev. Childers is a valued leader for certification committee members and candidates alike.

Said one colleague, “she is tireless in shepherding the process and candidates through the many details from beginning to end, recruiting the committee members, serving as an intermediary between candidates and committee members, and responding to the many questions candidates and committee members may ask.”

She has organized as many as six committees each year, seeing as many as four candidates per committee. Last year, she even assisted another area in assembling committees when, at the last minute, they fell short of enough committee members to interview all of the candidates.

“In the time that I have known Chaplain Melanie Childers, I have seen a chaplain who exemplifies the heart and soul of the chaplaincy vocation,” said another colleague. “She is accepting and respectful of all, and always ready to help in any way she can. I am proud to have served with her.”

About the Association of Professional Chaplains:

APC is a multifaith nonprofit organization of chaplaincy care providers endorsed by faith groups to serve persons in need, respecting their individual cultures and beliefs, in diverse settings throughout the world. 

The association seeks to promote excellence in chaplaincy care through education, research, standards of practice, support of members and promoting public support for professional chaplaincy. It also certifies chaplains according to established national standards through its affiliate, the Board of Chaplaincy Certification Inc. APC has over 4,000 members, including professional chaplains serving persons in spiritual need in diverse specialized ministry settings throughout the world, such as hospitals, long-term care, hospice, correctional institutions, the military and mental health. APC members represent more than 150 faith groups.