Gerald E. Marsh
Center for Chaplain Studies

Our Mission

The Marsh Center partners to equip chaplains, to provide solutions for their ministry, and to advocate on behalf of chaplaincy.

Our Team

The Marsh Center partners to equip chaplains, to provide solutions for their ministry, and to advocate on behalf of chaplaincy. It leverages an interfaith advisory team of highly experienced professional chaplains to bring critical insight, guidance, and support from many perspectives.

We collaborate with other chaplain agencies, faith groups and educational institutions to prepare chaplains to meet tomorrow’s ministry needs.

Our ‘think-tank’ is a forum for chaplains of all types to research issues, provide adaptive and creative solutions, and advocate publicly for chaplain ministry.

Our Leadership

Jim Browning
Director, Marsh Center for Chaplain Studies

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (DMin, MDIV); Boston University (MS); Air War College Strategic Studies, Air University at Maxwell AFB (MS); University of Texas at Arlington (BA).

Prior to his appointment to lead the Marsh Center, Dr. Browning served for 30 years as a U.S. Air Force chaplain, retiring at the rank of colonel.

Email: jbrowning@bhcarroll.edu

Jim Spivey
Associate Director, Marsh Center for Chaplain Studies

University of Oxford (DPhil); Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MDIV); Auburn University (BA); U.S. Army Command and General Staff College; U.S. Army War College.

Prior to his appointment to the Carroll Institute, Dr. Spivey taught at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and was dean of the seminary’s Houston campus. He has pastored churches in Brackley, Northamptonshire, England, and Texas. He is currently the pastor of Gambrell Street Baptist Church in Fort Worth. Dr. Spivey achieved the rank of brigadier general in the U.S. Army Reserves and was deployed to numerous theatres. He was assistant chief of chaplains at the Pentagon and deputy director of the Pentagon’s Family Assistance Center in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks. He retired from the Army, highly decorated, in 2003. He has served on the boards of numerous service organizations and taught in England, Romania, Russia, and Turkey.

Email: jspivey@bhcarroll.edu

Our Purpose

Chaplaincy is the fastest growing ministry in America. Chaplains minister to persons of all faiths in a wide variety of non-religious settings. This requires a specialized set of knowledge and skills to meet a broad range of human needs.

We work with theological institutions to develop materials to train both new and experienced chaplains and to engage them in lifelong learning. This curriculum cultivates competencies for a unique ministry that reaches beyond the scope of traditional seminary coursework. It provides solid academic preparation that is theological, practical, and relevant for those who minister in settings where other religious workers rarely go.

The Marsh Center epitomizes the legacy of Dr. Gerald E. Marsh: U.S. Air Force Mobilization Assistant to the Chief of Chaplains and 40-year seminary professor of pastoral ministry.

Our Objectives

We provide

• collaborative opportunities to develop and share master’s and doctoral curricular material designed to address basic and advance chaplain skills and competencies.
• an inter-faith forum that researches issues and develops solutions related to chaplain ministry.

We advocate

• in the public square concerning issues that influence, promote, and sustain effective chaplain ministry.