 Begun in 1925, Clinical Pastoral Education—or CPE—is a form of supervised theological education, often associated with chaplaincy programs, that occurs not only in classrooms, but also in the clinical or service-service settings in which ministry is practiced.
The training represents a rigorous process at the master’s degree-level of credit and involves a minimum of 300 hours of clinical service plus 100 hours of education.
CPE training generally focuses on the sharing of examples of ministry that takes place in clinical settings so that concepts from theology and behavioral science are integrated to serve people benefiting from chaplaincy programs.
Through both action and reflection, participants can grow professionally and personally as they offer spiritual care to others. Students gain a new understanding of ministry through theological discussions, teacher and peer review, and encounters with the people they serve, as well as through new interpersonal and professional relationships.
More information on CPE can be found at http://www.acpe.edu (opens a new browser window), the Web site for the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education.
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