[What is Clinical Pastoral Education?]
The Chattanooga Association for Clinical Pastoral Care (CACPC) was formed
and incorporated in 1984 by a coalition of persons interested in the training
of those who minister. CACPC received full accreditation in 1988 from the
Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. (ACPE). ACPE is the standard-setting,
accrediting and certifying agency nationally recognized for this purpose
by the U.S. Department of Education.
CACPC is governed by a Board of Directors, including medical doctors, psychologists,
nurses, parish ministers, institutional chaplains, social workers and others.
Its mission is to provide clinical training for those who minister.
THE PROGRAM
The Chattanooga Association for Clinical Pastoral Care offers programs of Clinical Pastoral Education through Erlanger Health System and Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation. Alternate training sites are sometimes available, with Erlanger and Siskin Hospitals as the central sites.
Participants in the program are expected to:
- Minister to persons in crisis within an interdisciplinary team setting;
- Develop a learning path with objectives and goals addressing one's particular needs as a person and minister;
- Increase self-awareness of one's ministry impact on others, enabling the development of pastoral identity and function;
- Minister and learn alongside colleagues who will offer mutual support and critique;
- Receive pastoral supervision of one's ministry, focusing on the development
of personal and professional gifts and abilities;
perspective with other persons from a variety of social and faith experiences; - Become more aware of ministry within the social systems, structures
and conditions that impact our lives.
PROGRAM TYPES
Level I and II units of CPE are offered on a unit-by-unit basis. Level I CPE is a person's initial unit. With completion of expected learning outcomes, a person may then enroll for further units of CPE for continued learning and growth. Programs are as follows:
Extended Clinical Pastoral Education (Hospital-Based)
In the Fall (late August) and Winter (early January), 16 and 18-week programs of part-time CPE are offered. The part-time schedule and extended time period enables participants to serve in the hospital setting while attending school or serving in their own ministry setting. Participants attend seminars on two half-days per week (usually Monday and Wednesday), while serving as chaplain to assigned areas of the hospital 12 hours to 15 hours per week. In addition, each participant serves in a weekend 24 hour, in hospital, on-call rotation. Over night sleeping facilities are provided.
Extended Clinical Pastoral Education (Parish-Based)
As requested, a nine-month extended program of CPE is offered beginning in
September or October for persons interested in using their parish or institutional
setting for ministry and learning. Full-time clergy are usually attracted
to this program, as it enables them to remain in full-time service while
gaining clinical training.
Full-Time Summer Unit of Clinical Pastoral Education
A full-time unit of CPE is offered during the summer months for 10 ½ weeks.
Participants serve full-time 40 hours per week as chaplain in assigned clinical
areas. Daily seminars and weekly individual supervision are included
in the work week. Each student also participates in 24-hour, in-house chaplain
on-call responsibilities. Overnight sleeping facilities are provided.
Full-Time Residency Year of Clinical Pastoral Education
A full time residency year of Clinical Pastoral Education is offered. The program normally begins in late August and continues to the end of August the next calendar year. Participants serve full-time, 40 hours per week, as chaplain to assigned clinical areas. Daily seminars and weekly individual supervision are included. Each student participates in 24 hour, in house, chaplain on call responsibilities. Over night sleeping facilities are provided. Chaplain residents are paid a stipend.
PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES AND ADVANTAGES
CPE with CACPC offers:
- A program structure to meet the needs of theological students, lay ministers and local clergy;
- Clinical training sites that include ministry with persons in the crises of illness, trauma, rehabilitation and aging; Experience with persons from diverse cultural and social backgrounds from the tri-state area of Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. The rich and varied religious culture of the South and the surrounding mountain areas is a central aspect of the training site;
- Experience with colleagues in ministry from diverse backgrounds. The CPE supervisors each come from differing faith backgrounds;
- A unique program of CPE governed by a board of directors made up of professional persons, who are supportive of pastoral ministry and education;
- Participation in a "teaching hospital" setting that includes medical students, nurses and other allied health professionals.
What is Clinical Pastoral Education?
Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is a method of theological education
for ministry. It is experiential, person-centered education focusing
on learning and developing pastoral skills in a clinical setting. Ministers,
theological students and other persons interested in learning ministry participate
in CPE for personal and professional growth. Under the guidance of a supervisor,
CPE students from all faiths provide pastoral care to hospital patients,
family members and staff. Increased confidence and competency in pastoral
function and identity occur as one learns by experience.
The Essential Elements in CPE include:
- The actual practice of ministry to persons
- Detailed reporting and evaluation of that practice
- Pastoral Supervision
- A process conception of learning
- A theoretical perspective on all elements of the program
- A small group of peers in a common learning experience
- A specific time period
- An individual contract for learning that is consistent with the objectives of CPE
- The CPE program must be conducted under the auspices of an ACPE certified supervisor (faculty) attached to an ACPE accredited CPE center.
What kinds of things might be included in the individual learning contract?
The CPE participant's contract is developed around the learning goals of
- Pastoral Reflection - reflection on one's self as person and pastor in relationship to persons in crisis, the supervisor, and peer group members, as well as the curriculum and institutional setting.
- Pastoral Formation - focus on personal and pastoral identity issues in learning and ministry.
- Pastoral Competence - deepening and unfolding of competence in pastoral function, pastoral skills and knowledge of theology and the behavioral sciences.
Some centers also offer Pastoral Specialization, focusing on the student's desire to become competent and knowledgeable in a particular area of ministry, e.g. oncology, urban ministry, parish ministry, hospice ministry, etc.
What does CPE prepare a person to do?
CPE serves as a part of one's preparation for parish ministry, chaplaincy, lay ministry, teaching and counseling. A student's learning contract may be focused toward integration of theological, psychological, and pastoral insights into the role and function of a parish minister. Or the contract may be designed with a career goal of chaplaincy or pastoral counseling.
Some students, after completing several units of CPE, choose to enroll in Supervisory CPE working toward certification as a CPE supervisor. In Supervisory CPE, the student learns the theory and practice of supervision and has an experience of supervising CPE students under the guidance and with the consultation of a CPE supervisor.
CPE develops the capacity for the pastoral and spiritual care of individuals, families and systems.
Many theological schools require one unit of CPE as a part of a theological degree program.
Other schools accept a year of CPE as the required intern year of ministry for a theological degree program.
A number of theological schools which are members of the ACPE have graduate degree programs which combine academic study and CPE Supervisory CPE.