Erlanger Medical Center offers programs of Clinical Pastoral Education accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE), the premier training institution of the industry. Alternate training sites are sometimes available, in consultation with the educators.
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 progress through further units of CPE for continued learning and growth, completing both Level I & II of training. One unit of CPE requires 400 hours of work; 300 hours are dedicated to pastoral care in the pastoral setting, and 100 hours are used for educational seminars and supervision. Programs are as follows:
Extended Unit of 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, while serving as chaplain to assigned areas of the hospital 12 hours to 15 hours per week. In addition, each participant serves in the 24 hour, in hospital, on-call rotation. Overnight sleeping facilities are provided.
Extended Clinical Pastoral Education (Parish-Based)
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 11 weeks. Participants serve full-time as chaplain in assigned clinical areas. Group seminars and individual supervision are included in the curriculum each 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 employed by Erlanger.
Program Opportunities and Advantages
Clinical Pastoral Education with Erlanger Medical Center offers:- A program structure to meet the needs of theological students, lay ministers and local clergy
- Clinical training that includes ministry with persons in the crises of illness, trauma, rehabilitation, dying, 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 Educators each come from differing faith backgrounds
- A unique program of CPE accredited by ACPE with a Profession Advisory Group made up of 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 an educator, 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 covenant for learning that is consistent with the objectives of CPE
- The CPE program must be conducted under the auspices of an ACPE Certified Educator (faculty) attached to an ACPE accredited CPE center
What kinds of things might be included in the individual learning contract?
The CPE participant's covenant 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 educator, 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
Pastoral Specialization, focusing on the student's desire to become competent and knowledgeable in a particular area of ministry, e.g. oncology, palliative care, 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 covenant may be focused on integration of theological, psychological, and pastoral insights into the role and function of a parish minister. Or the covenant may be designed with a career goal of chaplaincy or pastoral counseling.
Some students, after completing several units of CPE, choose to enroll in Certified Educator CPE working toward certification as a CPE educator. In CEC CPE, the student learns the theory and practice of supervision and has experience of supervising CPE students under the guidance and with the consultation of a CPE Certified Educator.
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 Certified Educator CPE.
Accreditation
The CPE program at Erlanger Medical Center is accredited by The Association for Clinical Pastoral Education. Persons who wish to express concern about any aspect of the EMC educational program may go to ACPE.edu to express the concern. Directions that will be found on the ACPE.edu website include:
- Policy for Complaints Alleging Violations of ACPE Education Standards
- Policy for Complaints Against the Accreditation Commission
- Professional Ethics Violations
- Whistleblower Policy
Clinical Learning Site
Erlanger is an 816-bed Level I Trauma Center that provides 24-hour emergency-room coverage both for adults and children. The system includes Baroness Erlanger Hospital, Children's Hospital at Erlanger, Willie D. Miller Eye Center, Plaza Ambulatory Care Center, the Regional Women's Center, the Diabetes Center, the Regional Heart Center, the Regional Cancer Center and the Regional Burn Center. This site offers an excellent setting in which to minister to and learn from patients in both the acute and chronic-care settings. Students may minister in more than one setting.
16-Week Overview for the Extended Clinical Pastoral Education Unit
Weeks One and Two - Orientation to the Clinical Pastoral Education program and Erlanger Medical Center.
Weeks Three through Eight - Weekly seminar sessions including student verbatim presentations, open agenda seminars, and didactic lectures led by an Educator or guest.
Clinical Visitation - Students visit 12–15 hours per week assigned hospital areas serving as chaplain to patients, family members, and staff.
On-Call Responsibilities - Students rotate on-call providing ministry to persons in Erlanger Hospital.
Supervisory Meeting - The student meets weekly with their Educator to reflect upon their pastoral ministry and personal/professional integration.
Week Nine – Mid-Unit Evaluations - Students complete mid-unit evaluations of their learning process. Areas that students address include:
- Progress in addressing learning goals
- Relationships with patients/family members and staff
- Relationships with peers and Educator
- Relationship with God/The Sacred
- Recommendations for continued learning
Weeks Ten – Fifteen - Continued learning according to the schedule described in weeks three – eight.
Week Sixteen - Final evaluations written by students and Educators, closing worship, presentation of certificates, and luncheon.
Didactic lectures are planned according to the needs of each peer group. The following is an example of the didactic lectures for a unit:
- Week 3 – Introduction to the Myers Briggs Type Indicator
- Week 4 – Initial Pastoral Visits
- Week 5 – Pastoral Listening Skills
- Week 6 – Crisis Ministry
- Week 7 – Grief and Loss
- Week 8 – Death and Dying
- Week 9 – Mid-Unit Evaluations
- Week 10 – Understanding Strokes and Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Week 11 – Ministering to the Alzheimer's Patient
- Week 12 – A Theology of Pastoral Ministry
- Week 13 – Introduction to Family Systems Theory
- Week 14 – Introduction to Genograms
- Week 15 – Cross-Cultural Issues in Pastoral Care
Summer Full-Time Clinical Pastoral Education Unit
Week One - Orientation to the Clinical Pastoral Education program and Erlanger Medical Center.
Weeks Two through Five - Daily seminar sessions including student verbatim presentations, open agenda seminars, and didactic lectures led by an Educator or guest.
Clinical Visitation - Students visit 20–25 hours per week assigned hospital areas serving as chaplain to patients, family members, and staff.
On-Call Responsibilities - Students rotate on-call providing ministry to persons in Erlanger Hospital.
Supervisory Meeting - The student meets weekly with their Educator to reflect upon their pastoral ministry and personal/professional integration.
Week Six – Mid-Unit Evaluations - Students complete mid-unit evaluations of their learning process. Areas that students address include:
- Progress in addressing learning goals
- Relationships with patients/family members and staff
- Relationships with peers and Educator
- Relationship with God/The Sacred
- Recommendations for continued learning
Weeks Seven – Ten - Continued learning according to the schedule described in weeks two – five
Week Eleven - Final evaluations written by students and Educators, closing worship, presentation of certificates, and luncheon
Didactic lectures are planned according to the needs of each peer group. An example of lectures is provided in the 16-week overview.
Full-Time Clinical Pastoral Education Year Residency
Overall Training Objective
Students in Clinical Pastoral Education learn the dynamics and practice of ministry by participating in a supervised program of clinical ministry to persons in crisis, thereby enabling formation of pastoral identity, pastoral competence, and pastoral reflection. The residency will emphasize the following four areas:
- Emphasis I: Developing Pastoral Identity as a Hospital Chaplain (Level I CPE)
- Emphasis II: Development of Pastoral Relationships for Care and Counseling (Level II CPE)
- Emphasis III: Developing a Systems Orientation for Care and Counseling (Level II CPE)
- Emphasis IV: Developing Ethical and Cultural Sensitivity in Care and Counseling (Level II CPE)
Specific Objective for Residency:
Pastoral Formation
- Develop awareness of self as minister and ways ministry may affect persons
- Develop awareness of self as a person and ways one's personality may affect ministry
- Develop awareness of self and interpersonal relationships and how one establishes and builds relationships
Pastoral Competence
- Develop awareness and understanding of the needs of persons, both individually and in relation to the social systems and structures of their lives
- Develop skills in providing pastoral care and counseling to persons
- Develop ability to utilize one's spiritual/religious heritage, and faith perspective and caring for persons
- Develop the ability to utilize and integrate knowledge of behavioral sciences and pastoral care and counseling
- Develop awareness and identity of the pastor as a professional and in relation to other professionals
- Develop one's pastoral role and function in the roles of ministry, including preaching, teaching, leadership, management, pastoral care, and counseling
Pastoral Reflection
- Develop understanding and ability to apply the clinical method of learning in ministry
- Develop the ability to utilize peers and Educator for consultation for personal and professional growth
- Develop the ability to self supervise one's pastoral development and work