Community

Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, approximately half of U.S. chaplains practiced telechaplaincy. Since then, telechaplaincy has grown rapidly and is increasingly used throughout the world. It poses unique challenges and opportunities that require new skills to master.

However, there are few resources for chaplains to learn and improve their work, and chaplains and providers regularly request training to implement or improve telechaplaincy.

To meet this need, the Telechaplaincy Community of Practice, an international group of healthcare chaplains and researchers hosted by the Transforming Chaplaincy Initiative and the University of Zürich, was founded.

The Community of Practice meets regularly via Zoom to

  • Network with other spiritual care providers, managers and researchers
  • Exchange best practices
  • Acquire and practice practical telechaplaincy skills

Next meeting: When Griefbots Take on the Persona of a Deceased Loved One: Reflections and Research Insights

January 30, 2026, 12-1 PM ET (6-7 PM CEST)

Large language models are pushing into the space of death and grief, through the development of so-called griefbots, which are chatbots trained on a deceased loved one’s digital footprint (e.g., their messages and texts). Griefbots are primarily designed as tools to support grieving individuals after the loss of a loved one by simulating the deceased loved one’s style of communication, yet there exists little to no empirical research on griefbots. This presentation reviews the potential ethical implications of using griefbots with clients from a research perspective. Drawing on insights from social science, the presentation overviews how griefbots work, summarizes existing research on the topic, and aims to stimulate reflection within participants on the use of technology with clients. 
 
Marco Dehnert (PhD, Arizona State University) is an Assistant Professor of Communication and Technology at the University of Arkansas, USA, where he also directs the AI and Robots for Connection (ARC) Lab. He is a multi-method scholar who studies human-machine communication, human-AI communication, and the social impact of communication technologies. Central to his work are questions on profoundly human connection with and through technology, including intimacy, relationships, and communication between machines and humans.
 
For past meetings, visit “events”.

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If you would like to join the next meeting, sign up here. 

We currently meet several times per year. 

The meetings are free of charge and you may opt out at any time.

Once signed up you will be notified when the next meeting is scheduled, and receive a Zoom link to join.

To access previous meetings, visit “Events“.

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Join the Telechaplaincy Community of Practice

An international group of telechaplaincy practitioners and researchers hosted by Transforming Chaplaincy and the University of Zürich.

Participation is free.

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