The Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc.

The International Network of the ACPE

The International Network of the ACPE is committed to connecting individuals within the ACPE community who value an international perspective within the life of our organization and its mission. In addition, we value collaborating and sharing our unique resources as an international community committed to the practice of Clinical Pastoral Education.

In Dallas at the annual ACPE meeting in October, 2007 the International Network began to reorganize itself under the new leadership of Adriana Cavina, CPE Supervisor, Wake Forest University Medical Center, Winston-Salem, N.C. and Steve Spencer, CPE Supervisor, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA. The network sponsored a preconference workshop entitled An Enrichment Approach in CPE Supervision: the Use of Bilingualism & Biculturalism. Yoke-Lye Jerrymia Lim of Clarian Health Care, Indianapolis, Indiana was the opening presenter as she addressed the workshop title.

The workshop also included Adriana Cavina presenting a method of moving towards cultural competency in her presentation “How to write your personal cultural history” and a panel of five individuals who shared their cultural and educational histories in CPE. Panelists were: Teleso Satele, Supervisory candidate, Arcadia, CA, Satoe Soga, Supervisory candidate, Cleveland, Ohio, Inbarasu Anantharaj, CPE Supervisor, Des Moines, IA, Ngan Ling Lung, Supervisory candidate, Palo Alto, CA, and Thewodros Asfaw, CPE Supervisor, Rockville, MD.

At the Network Business meeting 18 individuals gathered and began to brainstorm the direction of the newly reorganized network. The members articulated numerous shared values that the network can begin to build upon.

They were as follows:

The value of connecting with others in the ACPE community with International interests and histories.
The value of advocating for culturally proficient and knowledgeable readers for theory papers in the certification process.
The sharing of CPE opportunities internationally.
The value of networking and empowering those doing CPE internationally.
The value of bringing our needs as an International Network to the ACPE Board of reps. with the intention of advocating for astute cultural decisions.
The value of sharing what we've learned as an International community with the larger ACPE community.

Members in attendance were:

Uwe Scharf, John Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore

Yuko Uesugi, Santa Monica UCLA Med. Ctr.

Stephen O'Brien, Tampa General Hospital

Teleso Satele, Methodist Hospital, Arcadia, CA

Buffy Harper, Capital Health, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Steve Spencer, VA Puget Sound, Seattle

Adriana Cavina, Wake Forest Univ. Med. Ctr.

Celillon Alteme, Tampa General Hospital

Ron Somers-Clark, Children's Hospital, Dallas

Witek Nowosiad, Children's Hospital, Dallas

John Opiyo, Children's Hospital, Dallas

Peter Kuhn, WellSpan Health, Gettysburg

Orlando Jay Perez, Florida Hospital

Tapiwa Mucherera, Asbury Seminary, FL

Franklin Sherwin, Baylor Univ. Med. Ctr.

Abbie Coker, Baylor Univ. Med. Ctr.

Ted Hodge, Baptist Hospital East, Louisville

Inbarasu Anantharaj, Iowa Methodist Lutheran and Blank Children's Hospital

Lastly, the members explored the development of an interactive internet “forum” where concerns and issues facing the International Network could be discussed. Steve Spencer will begin to explore the development of such a forum and notify members when it is available.

The co-convenors of the International Network would be delighted in hearing your feedback and comments. Contact them at: Steve Spencer stephen.spencer@med.va.gov or Adriana P. Cavina acavina@wfubmc.edu.