Covenant Health Alberta recently sent out the following Community Clergy Partnership Program Update. This program allows churches to apply for parking placards for clergy members visiting Covenant Health sites to support members of their faith community. Read on for full details!

From Covenant Health:

Dear Community Clergy Partners,

Thank you for your continued partnership and for the compassionate spiritual and religious care you provide to patients, residents and families across Covenant Health. Your presence offers comfort, hope and connection during some of life’s most difficult moments, and we are grateful for the important role you play.

Earlier this summer, we shared that the Community Clergy Partnership Program had been paused while Covenant Health reviewed the program. That review is now complete and we are pleased to share details of the updated program.

The Community Clergy Partnership Program has been refreshed to strengthen program administration while continuing to support community clergy in providing spiritual care at participating Covenant Health sites.

What’s changing

To better support the program and align with current operational practices:

  • Covenant Health will administer the Community Clergy Partnership Program for Covenant Health sites. Alberta Health Services (AHS) will administer its own program separately for AHS facilities.
  • Community clergy identification cards will no longer be issued. Community clergy remain welcome as valued visitors to participating Covenant Health sites, with visits intended to support members of their faith community.
  • Churches and/or faith communities may apply for up to three parking placards for clergy (faith leader) use.
  • Parking placards will be linked to approved license plates to help ensure appropriate use.
  • Participating churches (faith communities) and organizations will manage the assignment and tracking of their parking placards.

Applying for the program

Applications will now be submitted by a church and/or faith community rather than by individual clergy members.

As part of the application, organizations will provide: 

  • A completed application form.
  • A letter of endorsement identifying the clergy members (faith leaders) authorized to use the program.
  • The licence plate information for approved clergy members so parking placards can be linked appropriately.

Parking placards remain the property of Covenant Health and are intended for use in accordance with the program guidelines. Covenant Health reserves the right to withdraw a placard if the guidelines are not followed.

Returning current identification cards

As part of the redesigned program, Covenant Health Community Clergy identification cards are being discontinued.

If you currently have a Covenant Health Community Clergy identification card, please return it to your local Covenant Health Parking Services Office or mail it to the appropriate Parking Services Office.

Next steps

The application materials are linked below for your review. Please review the materials carefully before completing and submitting an application.

Community Clergy Partnership Program Guidelines (PDF)

Clergy Application (PDF)

Endorsement for Clergy Partnership Program Application (Word doc. that will download to your computer)

Program FAQ (PDF)

*If you have questions about the Community Clergy Partnership Program, please contact: chspiritualcare@covenanthealth.ca.

Thank you again for your ongoing partnership and for the meaningful spiritual care you provide to those we serve. We look forward to continuing to work together through this renewed program.