Clinical Pastoral Education is interfaith professional education for ministry. Theological students and ministers and lay persons serve as Resident, Intern, or Extern Chaplains providing spiritual care to patients and families at our clinical sites.

Out of in-depth involvements 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 that occur in a healthcare environment, they gain a new understanding of ministry.

Working as a part of the interdisciplinary team process of helping persons, CPE students develop rational skills and a deeper understanding of issues related to spirituality and health.

Clinical Pastoral Education:

• Is experiential, supervised learning
• Develops skills for pastoral care to persons in crisis
• Uses clinical/case method
• Seeks to enhance self-understanding as related to ministerial functioning
• Undergirds self-integration of pastoral/ministerial identity
• Utilizes interpersonal group process for reporting and reflecting on ministry
• Practice individualizes learning goals
• Explores practical and conceptual aspects of theology and behavioral sciences