Clinical Pastoral
Education FAQ's
The following is a listing of frequently asked questions (FAQ's) on the topic of Clinical Pastoral Education as assembled by the Pastoral Care Services Department at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital.
1. What is Clinical Pastoral Education?
Clinical Pastoral Education is interfaith professional education for ministry. It brings theological students and ministers of all faiths (pastors, priests, rabbis, imams and others) into supervised encounters with persons in crisis. Out of an intense involvement with persons in need, and the feedback from peers and teachers, students develop new awareness of themselves as persons and of the needs of those to whom they minister. From theological reflection on specific human situations, they gain a new understanding of ministry. Within the interdisciplinary team process of helping persons, they develop skills in interpersonal and inter-professional relationships.
2. What do the essential elements of 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 Learning Contrace for learning 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.
3. What kind of things might be included in the Individual Learning Contract?
CPE participant's contract is developed around the learning goals of:
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Pastoral Reflection– the reflection on one's self as a person and pastor in relationship to persons in crisis, the supervisor, and peer group members, as well as the curriculum and institutional setting.
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Pastoral Formation– the focus on personal and pastoral identity issues in learning and ministry.
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Pastoral Competence– the deepening and unfolding of competence in pastoral function, pastoral skills and knowledge of theology and the behavioral sciences.
4. What are the different types of CPE?
Under ACPE guidelines, the AHC-CPE program is designed to be a minimum 400 hours of education for ministry work under the facilitation of a Certified ACPE Supervisor. There are 300 hours of practicum and 100 hundred hours of didactic. Currently, we offer two program formats:
The ministerial internship commitment has a stipend amount of $27, 000 for the year. The cost per unit tuition is $650. There is a $25 application fee and a $50 fee for a supervisor interview for another center.
5. 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 pastoral functioning for parish work. 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. The AHC-CPE Program currently does not offer a Supervisory CPE.
- 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 who are members of the ACPE have graduate degree programs, which combine academic study and CPE Supervisory CPE.
6. Who is eligible to enroll in CPE?
To be eligible to enroll in the AHC-CPE Program, you must be an individual who, through a written application and an admissions interview, has demonstrated the ability to participate in CPE, usually one who has successfully completed at least one year of theological school. For more information, contact the AHC-CPE office at 301-279-6497.
7. I am an international student. How do I enroll in CPE?
International students should submit an application to the AHC-CPE Program. Once accepted, the student should contact the ACPE national office (Email: acpe@acpe.edu) to apply for a visa. The visa process can take from six to nine months to complete. The visa must be obtained before you can begin CPE. Additional considerations are discussed on the ACPE International Student Information site.
8. Additional Information for Prospective Students:
CPE is an experience in process education, which has been shaped by history and yet remains responsive to the present-day cultural developments, and ultimately affects your pastoral formation. The heart of CPE is your ministry with people and learning from that ministry through reflection, discussion, and evaluation with other students and your supervisor. In your CPE experience, you will utilize case study seminars (often referred to “Verbatim” that are form of Pastoral Care Reports), case studies, and other ministry descriptions to present your ministry to supervision. The focus in some seminars will be on what is happening to you, the caregiver, as much as on what is happening to the people receiving your ministry. There will be discussions that assist you in understanding theological issues arising from experience. There will be opportunities to learn from behavioral sciences while also reflecting theologically, so you can draw from both in understanding the human condition. You will be challenged to think about groups and social structures as well as individuals in defining your ministry. You also will be part of a dynamic learning group with other students and your supervisor, which will provide opportunities for mutual supervision, care giving, challenge and appreciation.
9. Where will you be ministering?
The AHC-CPE program sites are at Shady Grove Adventist Hospitalin Rockville, MD and Washington Adventist Hospitalin Takoma Park, MD.
10. What does a typical day in CPE look like?
CPE units may be either full time or part time. Either schedule will include an equivalent number of ministry and education hours. Some extended CPE units meet one day per week for structured educational sessions, and ministry is performed at other times. A more common day, however, is one in which time is provided for ministry and for several education events. Since the heart of CPE is ministering and learning from the experience, a day’s schedule frequently includes a clinical seminar in which a student presents a pastoral encounter to other students and the supervisor for discussion and feedback. Other typical sessions are: didactic seminars in which discussion follows a lecture; discussion of a book or article; exploration of theological concerns; peer group meetings or interpersonal group sessions for mutual sharing, caring, support and relationship concerns are explored; and worship or sharing occasions which provide opportunity for spiritual nurture. Field trips, workshops, and clinical observations may be periodically included. Evaluation experiences with the other students and your supervisor are also part of a CPE program and may be scheduled at the end of a unit to sum up the experience, midway to assess your learning objectives, and, at other times, such as with the other care providers in your ministry area. You will discover that a CPE schedule asks for active investment but also provides time for sharing, reflection, preparation, and relaxation.
11. The CPE Learning Environment
If you have never participated in a dynamic, interpersonal, process educational experience, you may be concerned about what it will be like. A foundational task will be for the other students, your supervisor and you to share with each other in such a way that all are cared for, supported, and challenged without being belittled. Furthermore, since an individual best knows his or her own limits, everyone will need to respect other’s boundaries and work to negotiate appropriate learning relationships. Developing a learning environment that is supportive, stimulating, and safe will make the risks of interpersonal learning and growth work taking.
12. ACPE Membership
There is a Student Affiliate level of membership with ACPE. Membership with ACPE allows you the opportunity to participate in the National and Regional conferences, a subscription to The Journal of Pastoral Care and Counseling, and the ACPE News, our bi-monthly newsletter. In order to receive and application for an ACPE membership forms the main office in listed below. CPE supervisor, regional director, or ACPE seminary liaison professor is available for consultation concerning opportunities for CPE students.
Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc.
1549 Clairmont Rd, Suite 103
Decatur, GA 30033
Phone: 404-320-1472 Fax: 404-320-0849
Email: acpe@acpe.edu