The Joan B. and William G. Spears Center for Pastoral Research houses The HealthCare Chaplaincy’s Research Department and library. The Center’s staff and facilities provide support for chaplains and student chaplains as they conduct research, contribute knowledge to the field of pastoral care, and improve spiritual care practices across the nation and around the world.

The Center’s library contains one of the nation’s most comprehensive collections of books, periodicals, audio and video recordings, and other materials in the field of pastoral care and its cognate disciplines. Some of these related disciplines include integrative medicine, death and dying, spirituality, theology, psychology, and hospice and palliative care. Recently, the Center greatly increased its holdings in group process, trauma, and biomedical ethics.

A place of hospitality and service, the Center is fittingly named for a life trustee and his recently deceased wife. The Spears Center acknowledges a faith which grounded and motivated nurturing activities within the family and reached outward to the wider community. “This center is part of Joan’s legacy,” said William G. Spears at dedication ceremonies in April 2002. “It will always mirror her love, indomitable spirit, and strong commitment to providing quality spiritual care for people of all faith traditions.”

The Joan B. and William G. Spears Center for Pastoral Research is located in    The HealthCare Chaplaincy at 307 East 60th Street. The library is open Monday through Friday to chaplains and currently registered students. The facility is open to the public via appointment; please call 212-644-1111 x 235.