By Kristen Thomason
Chaplains and pastoral counselors share God’s love during life’s most difficult moments. To honor their calling and commitment, CBF presents the Carl Hart Award for Excellence in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Counseling Ministry to a CBF-endorsed chaplain or pastoral counselor who exemplifies excellence in ministry in a specialized setting. Nominated by her peers, and chosen by the CBF Council on Endorsement, this year’s recipient is the Rev. Dr. Cecelia Walker.
A fourth generation Baptist who grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, during the Civil Rights struggle, Walker says she learned first-hand that, “the message of Christ to love our neighbor as ourselves was not just a slogan.” The granddaughter of a Baptist minister, she was nevertheless surprised when she felt God calling her to vocational ministry. “I didn’t think as a woman there would be a place for me in ministry.” Trusting in God’s faithfulness, Walker enrolled in Samford’s Beeson Divinity School and earned her Master of Divinity degree, followed by a doctorate from the Morehouse School of Religion in Atlanta.
As she was discerning the direction of her ministry, Walker’s husband died unexpectedly. A caring hospital chaplain supported her during this crisis. “It was a sacred time for me and my mother… I was able to say goodbye with dignity.” Profoundly moved by her experience, Walker became a chaplain herself. She takes to heart the passage from 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, which says God “comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
In her work as a chaplain, Walker uses her own loss and life experiences to help those facing similar situations. Whether she’s rubbing lotion on a patient’s feet, advocating for the families of patients, or supporting the spiritual needs of hospital staff, Walker is intentional about “respecting and valuing the imago Dei in each person.” Walker works hard to ensure that everyone who enters the hospital feels the love of Jesus, no matter their religious beliefs. She says, “I am motivated to do this work, because I am called to do so. I determined a long time ago that I would do my best to serve God and His people. I am honored to serve. I show up each day because I have experiences that inform my caring in a way that supports and comforts others.”
As the executive director of Chaplaincy and Clinical Pastoral Education at Brookwood Baptist Health System in Birmingham, Walker is sharing what she’s learned from her time in ministry with the next generation of chaplains and chaplain educators. She is especially interested in teaching chaplains and students to better care for the diverse populations in their communities. Walker is also the current board chair for the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE). Under her leadership, the ACPE redesigned and implemented new outcomes for Certified Educator Certification. Walker also supported ACPE members during a difficult accreditation process with the U.S. Department of Education.
In addition to her ministry as a chaplain, Walker is the associate pastor at Greater Shiloh Baptist Church in Birmingham. She was recently named Beeson Divinity School’s Alumna of the Year and was elected to Samford University’s board of trustees.
Cecelia Walker says she would not be able to serve the way she does were it not for CBF, “To be endorsed by CBF is not just ‘jumping through a hoop’ or ‘checking off a box’. It is another level of support and accountability that helps me to serve in ways that sustain the ministry I am called to do and safeguards those whom I serve.” She has served two terms on the CBF Council on Endorsement and is currently serving on the CBF Ministries Council for CBF Global Missions as well as the Alabama CBF Coordinating Council. “As a Chaplain, I am very concerned about ministering to those suffering, and CBF’s commitment to serve underserved people wherever we can, makes it a great home for me.”
For her dedicated service to God and her community, CBF is pleased to award the 2025 Carl Hart Award for Excellence in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Counseling Ministry to the Rev. Dr. Cecelia Walker.