Clinical Pastoral Education

Memorial Hermann Health System is accredited by the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. (ACPE) and recognized by the Department of Education, Washington, D.C., and the American Association of Theological Schools.

The ACPE contact information is:

ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care and Education
We Work, Floor 4
120 West Trinity Place
Decatur GA 30030
Phone: (404) 320-1472
Website: www.acpe.edu

To become a Board-Certified Chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains, CPE is required. Our program is a theologically based, experiential education program that equips clergy, seminarians and lay people with knowledge and skills to provide spiritual care.

Programs

Summer CPE is a 10- or 11-week ministry and training experience. The course of study focuses on ministry formation, development and pastoral skills. It provides clinical education for theological students, clergy and lay persons.

Community CPE (extended) is designed for the seminary student, local clergy or lay person who wishes to complete one or more units of training on a part-time basis. These units usually begin in the fall and end in the spring. No stipend is available.

CPE Residency is a ministry and training experience designed for the clergyperson or advanced seminarian. It provides a more in-depth learning opportunity for those wishing to increase their pastoral care skills in preparation for parish or institutional ministry. Stipends and employee benefits are provided.

Certified Educator Training is a two-year residency for the clergyperson who has successfully completed minimally four units of CPE, has additional pastoral experience and is seeking certification to teach clinical pastoral education. This residency is renewable on a year-to-year basis.

For more information about stipends for residencies and tuition for all programs, contact CPE Director at (713) 704-0733.

The CPE residency will provide:

A developmental perspective of human growth and personality
Various literature and perspectives on theology and behavioral sciences in pastoral care
The rationale and procedures for referral
Theories and models of pastoral care and counseling

As a CPE resident, you will:

Develop your own personality and spiritual path
Learn how your thoughts, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors affect the way you do ministry
Explore the relationship between your beliefs and behaviors
Identify your weaknesses and strengths as person and pastor
Learn to articulate and modify your goals for personal and professional development
Fine-tune your skills and knowledge through assessment and supervision
Cultivate effective pastoral relationships with the health care team through your emerging understanding of self
Articulate a theological perspective congruent with your understanding of people
Make pastoral assessments using psychological, social and faith perspectives
Develop a pastoral plan in ministry
Lead worship using your pastoral identity and the needs of patients and hospital staff

The CPE residency may include seminars and other learning opportunities such as:

Bioethics
Case conference seminars
Death, dying and grief ministry
Interpersonal relationship seminar (IPR)
Multidisciplinary seminars (MDS)
Multidisciplinary rounds
Pastoral conversation seminars
Theological integration seminars
Theological and psychosocial dynamics of the human life cycle seminars
Theological reflection seminars
Worship and spirituality
Verbatim seminars
Family systems theory
Preparation for board certification

How to Apply

For summer CPE:

Send a completed ACPE application and a non-refundable $25 application fee
Send a screening interview from ACPE Certified Educator(or interview in Houston when possible)
Have completed the first year of seminary (exceptions may be made for lay people)

For CPE residency and extended programs:

Send a completed ACPE application and a non-refundable $25 application fee
Send a copy of previous CPE evaluations (ACPE Certified Educator)
Interview with Memorial Hermann supervisors and screening committee
Have completed or in process a Master of Divinity degree or equivalent (not required of extended CPE students)

For supervisory CPE residency:

Send a completed ACPE application and a non-refundable $25 application fee
Send a copy of previous (ACPE Certified Educator) CPE evaluations
Interview with Memorial Hermann supervisors and screening committee
Have successfully completed minimally four units of CPE
Have completed a Master of Divinity degree or equivalent
Have ecclesiastical endorsement

Notice Regarding Privacy of Records

This ACPE CPE Center/Program guarantees to its students the rights to inspect and review education records, to seek to amend them, to specified control over release of record information, and to file a complaint against the program for alleged violations of these Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) rights.
A student has the right to object to record content. If not negotiable, the written objection will be kept with and released with the record. Grades are exempted from this right.
Violations of these protocols may be reported to the Chair of the Accreditation Commission at:
ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care and Education
We Work, Floor 4
120 West Trinity Place
Decatur GA 30030