Carrying the Story Forward: Dr. Eva Bleeker’s Vision for Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care at Denver Seminary
Following in the footsteps of a legend, Dr. Eva Bleeker steps into her role as the Rev. Dr. Jan McCormack Endowed Chair, bringing a passion for storytelling, mentorship, and equipping students for transformative ministry.
The saying goes: You don’t want to follow a legend. But when Dr. Eva Bleeker was announced as the Rev. Dr. Jan McCormack Endowed Chair of Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care at Denver Seminary in January, that’s precisely what she did. Fortunately for the Seminary, she’s not one to shy away from a challenge. Dr. Bleeker is an accomplished educator and chaplain in her own right, whose diverse ministry expressions have prepared her for this next chapter in leadership.
Continuing the legacy of Dr. McCormack—who built Denver Seminary’s Chaplaincy Program from scratch over twenty years ago—presents quite the challenge, but Dr. Bleeker sees it as a privilege. One of her greatest joys comes from seeing students embrace God’s unconditional love, allowing it to transform their lives as it equips them to serve others with compassion and excellence.
The Power of Story
For Dr. Bleeker, storytelling is the heart of any meaningful relationship and, by extension, any form of ministry.
“For my doctorate, I studied narrative frameworks in pastoral development,” she explained. “Storytelling is all too human—a way to connect with others. It’s how we share ourselves and our hearts. It’s also how the Lord communicates with us.”
The arc of Dr. Bleeker’s life in ministry and education is based on one person telling their story to another. That’s why she believes that effective chaplaincy and pastoral care are built on the ability to listen to and honor what others have to share—helping individuals align their stories with God’s greater story.
What Sets Denver Seminary Apart
Dr. Bleeker believes it’s essential that students not only study and understand pastoral care approaches but also experience these ministry practices for themselves. This is possible through blending mentorship, theological training, and real-world skill development.
“I want to honor both the students in the pastoral care degree tracks and those pursuing chaplaincy,” she said. “My goal for our students is that they can slow down enough to align the story they’re telling themselves with the story God is telling through their lives. If we graduate students who are aligned with the big story God is telling in the world, then we have set them up well for the rigors and rewards of a career in pastoral care.”
Who Is Called to This Work?
Reflecting on the attributes that contribute to professional success, Dr. Bleeker acknowledges the need for a diversity of gifts in vocational chaplaincy and pastoral care.
“I don’t see specific characteristics that qualify or disqualify a person from this work,” she said. “We need every number on the Enneagram and every combination of letters in the Myers-Briggs rubric. But, when I’m looking for someone who is answering God’s invitation into this work, I want to see someone who doesn’t back away from the suffering of others.”
Chaplaincy and pastoral caregiving require individuals who can tolerate a very powerful tension in their lives. They are often called upon during the most difficult moments in people’s lives—times of crisis and great personal distress.
“We need to be able to move toward suffering and chaos without losing ourselves,” Dr. Bleeker noted. “What prepares a person for this is first doing the work within your own story. Then you can ask the Lord how He wants to use your experiences to move pastorally toward others.”
Why Denver Seminary?
Dr. Bleeker is passionate about helping students realize they don’t need to be exceptional to do extraordinarily meaningful work.
“It’s such a joy to discover that our pedestrian lives can prepare us to accompany people through great suffering,” she said. “The Lord uses our stories, and If we have the sensibility to look for it, we bring a paltry offering to Jesus, and He makes it more than enough to meet the needs of others.”
“I often say this is the best work in the world,” she added. “Every day on the job is an opportunity to embody the love of God for people who may not think it’s available to them.”
For those who feel called to pursue chaplaincy or pastoral care training, Dr. Bleeker makes a compelling case for Denver Seminary.
“Our programs offer an extraordinary blend of biblical and theological learning, mentored formation, and real-life skill development,” she shared. “We integrate wisdom from the psychological sciences and other behavioral disciplines—something fairly unique among evangelical seminaries.”
“Every program within the department includes a clinical internship that helps develop essential pastoral skills,” she emphasized. “It goes well beyond the classroom. You’re learning in relationships, applying and utilizing your studies in the real world with the support of professors and peers before you’re entirely on your own.”
Looking Ahead
If the past is any indication, the Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care department at Denver Seminary is in more than capable hands. And as she steps into her new role, Dr. Bleeker is excited about what the future holds.
“I love to see the diversity of students God is inviting here,” she stated. “They can surpass so many boundaries and will go places I will never go; places Jan McCormack will never go.”
“Our students take what they learn in the classroom and move it into who they are,” she added. “Then, they take that beyond the boundaries of Denver Seminary. That’s exciting to me.”
Under Dr. Bleeker’s leadership, the program will continue to equip students with essential skills while shaping them into individuals deeply rooted in God’s love. She finds great joy in witnessing her students integrate their learning, bridging theology with real-life experience, all grounded in God’s love for others.
“At the end of the day, my greatest hope is that our students leave seminary with a genuine experience of God’s love—and a desire to share that love with others. That’s what truly matters.”
At Denver Seminary, students are challenged to grow in knowledge, relationships, and the practical expression of their faith. The impact of the Seminary’s Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care program is best seen in the lives and ministries of those who practice it. With top-tier theological training and hands-on experience, they enter their fields of ministry equipped to think critically and love deeply as they lead God’s people in accomplishing His mission in the world. Their stories speak volumes about the program’s effectiveness and its profound impact on equipping leaders to provide compassionate, faith-driven care in diverse ministry settings.
That’s why we’re taking a moment to spotlight eight students, past and present, by asking the following question:
How did your education and experiences at Denver Seminary, particularly in the Chaplaincy and Pastoral Counseling Program, equip you for success in your vocation?
Alexandr (Sasha) Kim
Class of 2022, Master of Arts in Counseling with a certificate in Chaplaincy
Alexandr leads the Leaders Development and Human Resources (LDHR) of the CRU mission in Kazakhstan. He serves national staff in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, applying counseling and chaplaincy skills.
“Studying at Denver Seminary helped me to look at a person’s psychological struggles differently, to accept them on the basis of Scripture and the love of God without judging or condemning them, but making every effort to understand, accept, and help in difficult situations. Especially in the post-COVID years, I have seen a surge in psychological and emotional challenges in the lives of ministry workers. They need outside help from professionals, and there is a severe shortage of such professionals in our region.”
Annette Rochelle Callahan
Class of 2024, Master of Divinity with a concentration in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Counseling
Annette serves as a hospital chaplain, providing spiritual care and emotional support to patients, families, and healthcare staff. This deeply rewarding role allows her to embrace her God-given mission and practice the skills and values she learned and honed at Denver Seminary.
“Denver Seminary pushed me to grow in knowledge, cultivate strong interpersonal skills, and develop a posture of curiosity and humility in my relationships with others. In the Chaplaincy and Pastoral Counseling program, I was trained to navigate the complexities of interfaith understanding and collaboration without compromising my own beliefs. This was invaluable in a hospital setting, where chaplains often minister to individuals of many faith traditions.
Denver Seminary challenged me to deepen my theological knowledge and develop my relationships with God and others. The Chaplaincy and Pastoral Counseling program was both rigorous and nurturing—I learned to approach pastoral care with a heart of empathy, compassion, and divine wisdom, but I also gained practical skills to meet the needs of diverse communities. The Seminary’s emphasis on practical ministry prepared me to engage in deep, meaningful conversations with people facing crises, whether in hospitals, prisons, or the community.”
Long D. Pham
Class of 2025, Master of Divinity with a concentration in Chaplaincy
Long serves as an intern chaplain with Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center in Denver’s City Park West neighborhood. He also works with Open Door Ministries, an outreach organization that supports unhoused individuals, helping them find stability, practical help, and spiritual hope.
“I am a hands-on person and entered ministry before enrolling in seminary. The academic experience at Denver Seminary has added more tools to my kit. I’ve been able to use different approaches, paradigms, and knowledge learned to provide better care for the people I work with. Also, attending seminary challenged and stimulated my self-growth, and that contributes to my ministry exponentially.”
Cathy Romero
Class of 2022, Certificate of Completion with an emphasis in Chaplaincy
Cathy is the lead chaplain for The Denver Complex, which encompasses the men’s and women’s prisons in Denver. She started as a volunteer in 2017 and has been on staff as a chaplain for the past two years serving the incarcerated population and officers.
“Studying at Denver Seminary stretched and grew me in every way possible. Returning to school at forty required a lot mentally, physically, and spiritually. I went from having information to gaining knowledge. When God led me to Denver Seminary, I had minimal information about the role of a chaplain. The more I learned, the more it confirmed my calling.
As chaplains, we are taught to serve people of all faiths, but the only way to do this effectively is to know who you are, what you believe, and why you believe it. Working in the prison system challenges my faith daily, and I am grateful for the foundation Denver Seminary and my professors provided. Prison is the most complex, most oppressive environment I have ever experienced, and I know without a doubt that I can walk into this darkness because of God’s faithfulness and the educational foundation I received at Denver Seminary.”
Gwen Hanna
Class of 2017, Master of Arts in Counseling
Gwen serves as a self-supported Chaplain at Car-ynne4kids, an organization specializing in providing physical and occupational therapy to children and adults with special needs through “Hippotherapy”—therapy with horses. Her ministry is focused on caring not only for clients with special needs, but also for their families, staff, and volunteers.
“Denver Seminary equipped me to transition from my thirty years in nonprofit and ministry communications roles to chaplaincy work thanks to the great training and practice in counseling theory and application. The balance of theology and pastoral counseling courses gave me a great foundation to apply to my work. The opportunity to complete one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) was an in-depth personal experience that God used to clarify my calling and direction. I serve a multicultural and religiously diverse population that provides me with many opportunities to offer counsel and care.”
Steven Matkins
Class of 2023, Master of Divinity with a concentration in Chaplaincy
Steven is a Chaplain in the United States Navy (LTJG). He is stationed with the USS George Washington, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in Yokosuka, Japan.
“One reason I transferred to Denver Seminary was for its concentration in chaplaincy. I realized that the practical courses in counseling, therapeutic communication, and especially Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) were exactly the tools I needed to pursue Navy Chaplaincy. It sounds simple, but being trained to listen and reflect without responding is a considerable skill I use daily in my vocation. Chaplaincy is a ministry of presence that embodies the incarnational presence of Jesus Christ. Being fully present in another person’s story is not an easy skill, but it’s one that Denver Seminary teaches exceptionally well.”
Krystal Thomas
Third-year student at Denver Seminary, Master of Divinity with a concentration in Pastoral Care and Counseling
While earning her degree, Krystal serves as the Hospitality Ministry Director at The District Church, a multicultural church in Washington, DC. She was brought to ministry by her passion for Christ and creating spaces for belonging. In her role, Krystal led The District Church’s hospitality efforts and supported the church’s anchor of becoming more multicultural.
“As someone who loves people and has a heart for those who are unseen and marginalized, I was seeking a way to utilize my experience and discern what this could look like in the context of ministry. In my current role, I help lead our church to become a truly multicultural community. We have over eighty nationalities—people with different abilities and life experiences. I have been able to take what I am learning and directly apply that knowledge to support people from various backgrounds and stages of faith.”
Ron Biegler
Class of 2016, Master of Divinity with a concentration in Chaplaincy
After a career as a full-time firefighter and EMT serving Denver, Ron was appointed as the Denver Fire Department’s lead chaplain in 2016, becoming the department’s only chaplain. His top priority was helping the Denver Fire Department build a more formal and sustainable chaplaincy program while serving employees and their loved ones.
“Denver Seminary has a reputation as an educational institution with rigorous demands for its students, and I desired an education with substance. I entered Denver Seminary with no clear vocational calling. Still, God began to open my eyes to the void in organized spiritual support for firefighter families following the suicides of several coworkers, and I grew in awareness of trauma exposure’s impact on firefighters and those who live with them. Dr. Jan McCormack helped me design a chaplaincy MDiv degree plan integrating trauma research and biblical counseling.
The instruction I received was formational for my work as a chaplain. It taught me how to hear what people are trying to articulate, follow their thoughts and emotions with good questions, and restrain my ‘fix-it’ impulses. Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) immersed me in real-life crises that demanded the application of new skills. The program provided training in theology and counseling, which helped me integrate firefighter experiences with academic knowledge to improve my ability to perform and teach crisis intervention and lead formal Bible studies with emergency responders and families.”