Jacques Körver is associate professor chaplaincy/spiritual care, and director of the University Center for Chaplaincy Studies. Since 2015 he is leading the large scale Dutch Case Studies Project in Chaplaincy Care, together with professor Martin Walton (PThU). In this participatory and practice-driven effect research on goals, interventions, and effects of chaplaincy (in care, prison, army, and primary care) 56 chaplains participate, and 10 researchers from 4 different universities in the Netherlands. In addition, he is chief editor of the Dutch Tijdschrift Geestelijke Verzorging (Journal of Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care), and the chair of the Research Board of the professional association of chaplains / spiritual care givers in the Netherlands. He is also the chair of the sub-project research in the national project on spiritual care at home.

Since 2018 he is leading a research project subsidized by ZonMw (PLOEG 2). In this project an intervention for chaplaincy primary care is developed and tested for effectiveness, aimed at palliative patients living at home. This project collaborates with the VU University Amsterdam, the PThU in Groningen, and several Networks Palliative Care and Centers for Existential Problems spread all over the Netherlands.

In 2021, a Small Data Project, subsidized by DANS (an organization of KNAW and NWO), will start under his leadership, based on data from registration by chaplains in hospitals. This quantitative project links up with the qualitative Case Studies Project - under the common denominator: 'What do spiritual caregivers actually do?’

Jacques Körver is also a pastoral supervisor and a CPE-supervisor (Clinical Pastoral Education). In the beginning of his career, he has been a chaplain (hospital, elderly care, psychiatry). In 2013 he finished his PhD on spiritual coping strategies of lung cancer patients. Previously, he specialized in the personality of ministers, conflicts in pastoral settings, the organizational context of pastoral work, and the development of the spiritual care profession.

2018-until now: director University Center for Chaplaincy Studies

2007-until now: associate professor Tilburg School of Catholic Theology

2000-2007: coordinator postgraduate education School of Theology Tilburg

1994-2015: supervisor Clinical Pastoral Education (Vught, since 2000 in Tilburg)

1994-2000: chaplain Reinier van Arkel Vught & Den Bosch (psychiatry)

1994-1996: chaplain Van Neijnsel Stichting Vught (psycho-geriatric nursing home)

1982-1994: chaplain / head of chaplaincy department Catharina Hospital Eindhoven

Jacques Körver teaches in the Master Theology, mainly practical courses on conversation skills, and methods of pastoral accompaniment.

Click here for my courses.

2017-2018: Myriam Braakhuis - TST (research into criteria and good practices of chaplaincy / spiritual care, Dutch Case Studies Project Chaplaincy / Spiritual Care).

2017-present: Niels den Toom - PThU (research into the professionalisation of chaplains / spiritual caregivers, Dutch Case Studies Project Chaplaincy / Spiritual Care).

2019-present: Bernice Brijan - TST (Rising Rooted.  Personal recovery in light of phenomenology, psychopathology, and the sense of reality and belonging).