Chaplains
The chaplains at Christian Hospital are here to offer support to you and your family throughout your stay. They are dedicated to providing compassionate spiritual care to patients and visitors of all faiths.
Rev. Jill Walter Penn, Department Director
Rev. Jill is ordained in the United Methodist Church and has served in the Spiritual Care Department at Christian Hospital for more than 30 years. She earned her M.Div. from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, and she is a board-certified chaplain through the Association of Professional Chaplains.
Rev. Jill emphasizes the mind-body-spirit approach to pastoral care, and she believes strongly in the power of human connection and interpersonal relationships.
Fr. Ray Iwuji, Catholic Priest
Fr. Ray is ordained by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Okigwe, Nigeria, and he has served in the Spiritual Care Department since 2009. He has been active in community ministries both here and in his native Nigeria.
Fr. Ray earned his M.Div. from the Catholic Institutes of West Africa, his M.A. in Counseling Psychology and Family Therapy from University of Missouri–St. Louis, and his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology and his D.Min. in Applied Ministries from the Graduate Theological Foundation.
Rev. William L. Johnson III, Palliative Care
Rev. Bill is ordained in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion church. He earned his M.Div. from Hood Theological Seminary, his MTS from Duke Divinity School, and his D.Min. from Colgate Rochester Divinity School.
Rev. Bill has served as the shepherd of several congregations, and he is a member of the Missouri Annual Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Bill works as the Chaplain for Palliative and Spiritual Care at Christian Hospital, where he is deeply interested in the intersection of race, culture and health care.
Christian Hospital and Northwest HealthCare, members of BJC HealthCare, provide world-class medical care to the communities of North County, Greater St. Louis County and Southern Illinois.