NJRC Chaplain Conference 2025

Conference Focus

This year’s Chaplaincy Conference brought together faith leaders, mental health professionals, and reentry experts to explore the vital role of spiritual care in the rehabilitation and restoration of returning citizens. With a focus on Faith-Based Reentry & Restoration, Mental Health & Spiritual Wellness, and Practical Ministry in Reentry Settings, attendees engaged in rich dialogue, interfaith collaboration, and strategic knowledge-sharing to strengthen reentry support systems.

Theme Scripture

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”
— 2 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)

Keynote & Featured Speakers

Dr. Petros Levounis

President of the American Psychiatric Association & renowned addiction psychiatrist. Dr. Levounis shared his expertise in addiction, co-occurring disorders, and low-barrier outreach strategies - highlighting the critical intersection between evidence-based psychiatry and spiritual care in supporting returning citizens.

Rev. Dr. Charles F. Boyer

Founder of Salvation & Social Justice. Rev. Dr. Boyer offered a compelling vision of restorative justice, sharing how faith-rooted advocacy led to voting rights restoration, decarceration of 8,000+ people during the pandemic, and lasting community change.

Dr. Joshua Rodriguez

Lead Pastor at Cityline Church & Chaplain for Jersey City Police. As the first Hispanic police chaplain in Jersey City’s history, Dr. Rodriguez spoke on the power of pastoral leadership, advocacy, and empathy in the reentry journey, encouraging returning citizens to reconnect with identity, purpose, and hope.

Panel Highlights

The panel discussion featured an incredible range of voices from across faith traditions and professional sectors, reflecting the importance of interfaith chaplaincy, mental health, and community reintegration.

Invocation

Reverend Louis Scott-Rountree, Councilwoman, City of Newark
- – Offered the invocation, bringing a powerful blend of civic leadership and spiritual guidance to open the conference.

Chaplaincy in Addiction Recovery and Correctional Environments

Dr. Gloria Bachmann, Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Medicine; Associate Dean for Women’s Health, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
- – Women’s health equity, addiction recovery, and reentry initiatives.
Reverend Christine Davies, Director of Spiritual Care, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
- – Trauma-informed spiritual care in correctional and recovery settings.

Rich Liebler, USMC (Retired); Licensed Mental Health Therapist
- – Trauma-informed therapy and mental health care in corrections.

Helena Muhammad, Facility Director, NJ Reentry Corporation
- – The role of reentry support in faith-based healing.

Resources on Interfaith Chaplaincy and Social Care

Dr. Marwa Assar, Psychologist & Mental Health Therapist, Islamic Center at New York University; Founder, H.O.M.E Institute
- – Islamic perspectives on mental health and interfaith chaplaincy.

Rabbi Alisa Danon, Jewish Chaplain, Mountainside Medical Center, Hackensack Meridian Health
- – Jewish chaplaincy in medical settings.

Meir Goldberg, Director of Jewish Experience, Rutgers University
- – Jewish cultural care and social engagement at Rutgers.

Dr. Suzy Ismail, Founding Director, Cornerstone
- – Faith-inclusive support networks and healing.

Rev. Kirk Johnson, Chaplain, Rutgers Protestant Campus Ministries, Rutgers University
- – Pastoral care in academic and community contexts.

Dr. Rucha Kaur, Sikh; Managing Director of Education and Community Development, The Sikh Coalition
- – Sikh chaplaincy, education, and community outreach.

Sangeetha Kowsik, Hindu Chaplain, NYU; Founder, NYU Hindu Center
- – Hindu chaplaincy and cultural inclusivity at NYU.

Event Impact

The conference strengthened partnerships between faith communities, behavioral health providers, and reentry organizations. Attendees left empowered with new tools, inspiration, and networks to continue the work of restoration, rehabilitation, and reentry support through faith-rooted and trauma-informed practices.