Clinical pastoral education

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Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is education to teach pastoral care to clergy and others through a process of action and reflection. CPE is both a multicultural and interfaith organization that uses real-life ministry experiences of students to improve the ministry and pastoral care provided by caregivers of all different faith and cultural backgrounds.[1]

CPE is the primary way of training chaplains in the United States. Some seminary students are required to take a unit of CPE, typically by spending one summer, full-time in a hospital or a part-time 'extended unit' stretching over a period of months. Those seeking professional certification as chaplains normally are required to do four units of CPE[2]. This can be done through single units and extended units, but is often done during a full-time, year long CPE residency.[3]

Learning in CPE is largely focused on the students' development of their self. The students are thus introduced into encounter with persons in crisis. Out of an intense involvement with persons in need, and the feedback from peers and supervisors, 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 interprofessional relationships[4].

Reflection in CPE can be done individually, in meetings with the supervisor, or in peer group meetings where students present reports on their ministry work to each other. These reports are often word-by-word accounts, called a verbatim, of an encounter with a patient or client that is accompanied by reflections the student makes on the content and dynamics of the conversation. CPE groups can have between three and thirteen students in them.

Students are asked to create learning contracts, which are 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.

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.
  • CPE develops the capacity for the pastoral and spiritual care of individuals, families, and systems.
  • Many seminaries require one unit of CPE as a part of a theological degree program.
  • Some schools accept a year of CPE as the required ministry internship for a theological degree program.
  • A number of theological schools have graduate degree programs which combine academic study and CPE Supervisory CPE.

Certification can be by the religious body or one of the relevant professional bodies.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Student_FAQs
  2. ^ APC
  3. ^ Student_FAQs
  4. ^ Student_FAQs

[edit] External links

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