PURPOSE
​The purpose of the North Dakota Chaplains Association is to foster mutual support for one another, provide continuing education, foster professional and spiritual growth, establish personal and group networking and promotion of the profession of Chaplaincy at our annual meetings and throughout the year, and to provide spiritual ministry to all individuals in our care without any discrimination.

HISTORY
The North Dakota Chaplains Association (NDCA) was organized in 1978 in order to provide mutual support and advocacy for Chaplains throughout the state. Originally, a spring and fall meeting was held at a specified location in the state. The fall meeting of NDCA was held in conjunction with the North Dakota Hospital Association’s meeting in a location designated by NDHA; NDCA was an Allied Group of NDHA. In 1997, NDCA became an associate member of the North Dakota Long Term Care Association and continues to enjoy partnering with the NDLTCA. As with any organization, the Association has evolved over the years, always containing threads of the forefathers’ initial vision. Even as pastoral and spiritual care ministries change and evolve, we hold to the major threads of our purpose for being an Association.
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Our profession of chaplaincy continues to be a calling and a privilege wherein we do the sacred work of being with others in some of their most vulnerable moments of their lives. Together we strive to be God’s instruments in whatever arena our profession dares to tread, always with God’s help!