Congregrational CPE Network

The Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc.

Information about

Congregational/Community-based CPE

provided by the ACPE Congregational/Community-based CPE Network

    Congregation/Community-based Clinical Pastoral Education differs from the more traditionally based (medical centers, military and mental institutions) programs in a variety of ways. The most significant difference is that it occurs on the student’s own "turf." Instead of students having to travel to distant hospitals where their clinical work and supervision would occur, the supervisor travels to a locale geographically accessible to students. Clinical work is done where the student is already, or will be, providing spiritual care and counseling.

    The curriculum for each unit is flexible and is developed in accordance with the expressed needs of students. It also takes into consideration the context in which the students minister. Such topics for study and discussion can include, for example, calling on inactive church members, hospital and nursing home visitation, responding to crisis situations, conflict management, and how to make referrals, as well as the development of listening skills and grief ministry.

    The time and place of group meetings and individual supervision is also flexible. The same standards for an accredited unit apply; 400 hours of supervised education, at least 100 of which must occur in group and individual supervision. Some groups meet monthly, some every other week, some each week. These schedules are negotiated by the availability of the supervisor/s and the work schedules of the students.

    The tuition charged varies from program to program. Some supervisors contract with students or local institutions to provide units of CPE on a cost plus expenses basis. In this format, students together pay some or all of the total cost of the supervisor’s salary and expenses, and tuition for the unit. Other programs are more subsidized by sponsoring churches or institutions so that students pay their own tuition and expenses like---books and other materials.

    Many students take CPE to fulfill their denomination’s requirement for ordination. Some receive academic credit for it through seminaries or other graduate institutions. Still many others take CPE periodically as a way of re-examining their ministry and being renewed in it. A few take additional units to increase their options in ministry.

Community/Congregation-based CPE has grown from an experiment just a few years ago to a new and exciting alternative of providing education to an increasing number of persons for whom it would otherwise be unavailable, and/or who wish to specialize in ministry other than institutional chaplaincy. The application process is the same as for other CPE programs. Click here to access the CPE Application form as a Microsoft Word document: CPE Application Form or in a PDF format:CPE Application Form Complete the application and send it directly to the center where you wish to enroll.

The following is a list of known ACPE Accredited Centers offering CPE in the Community or Congregational based models. The list is arranged by ACPE Region. Click on the Region heading link to get complete contact information for a Center.
Eastern Region

Cooper Health System, Camden NJ

The Healthcare Chaplaincy, New York NY

Mid-Atlantic Region

Rex Healthcare, Raleigh NC

Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Harrisonburg VA

Southeast Region

Baptist Health, Jacksonville FL

James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, Mountain Home TN

East Central Region

Hospice of the Bluegrass, Lexington KY

Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, Grand Rapids MI

Spiritual Care and Education Center, Toledo OH

North Central Region

Advocate Health Care, Oak Brook IL

Urban CPE Consortium, Inc, Chicago IL

HealthEast Care System, Saint Paul MN

Meriter Health Service, Madison WI

Bethesda Christian Counseling Midwest, Inc., Sioux Falls SD

South Central Region

Centura Health CPE System Center - St. Anthony Hospitals, Denver CO

Counseling & Mediation Center, Wichita KS

St. Louis Cluster, Rolla MO

Southwest Region

The McFarland Institute, New Orleans LA

Pacific Region

Crystal Cathedral, Garden Grove CA

If you have further questions about Congregational/Community-based CPE, contact the Network Convenor, The Rev. Kenton T. Derstine at derstine@emu.edu.