CPE @ Community

If you have never participated in a dynamic, interpersonal, process educational experience, you may be concerned about what it will be like. A foundational task will be for the other students, your supervisor and you to share with each other in such a way that all are cared for, supported and challenged without being belittled. Furthermore, since an individual best knows his or her own limits, everyone will need to respect other’s boundaries and work to negotiate appropriate learning relationships. Developing a learning environment that is supportive, stimulating and safe will make the risks of interpersonal learning and growth work taking

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is theological and professional education for ministry. In CPE, theological students, ordained clergy, members of religious orders and qualified laypeople minister to people in crisis situations while being supervised. Out of intense involvement with supervisors, other students, people in crisis and other professionals, CPE students are challenged to improve the quality of their pastoral relationships. Genuine caring pastoral relationships are enhanced through pastoral practice, written case studies and verbatims and individual supervision. Through viewing complicated life situations from different viewpoints, students are able to gain new insights and understandings about the human situation. Theological reflection is important in CPE as pastoral people seek ways to integrate theology with life experience.

Guided by the mission and values of Community Health Network and the Pastoral Relations Department in an agreement with Clarian Health Partners, Inc., we are committed to providing a superior Clinical Pastoral Education program. CPE is a supervised educational process through which the minister, priest, rabbi, Imam, religious or layperson may learn the practice of the art of pastoral care in a clinical setting. Ministry opportunities are offered through service lines of a comprehensive and integrated healthcare delivery system: cardiovascular, oncology, women and children, medical/surgical units, neuroscience, emergency medicine, rehabilitation services and behavioral health. Pastoral care is provided to patients, family and staff.

Accreditation

Community Health Network is a provisional satellite of Clarian Health Partners, Inc., which is an accredited institution to offer CPE by:

The Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc.
1549 Clairmont Rd, Suite 103
Decatur, GA 30033
Phone: 404-320-1472 Fax: 404-320-0849
E-mail the ACPE

Applicant Requirements

Qualified applicants should be seminary students and/or an ordained, licensed or commissioned clergy person who has successfully completed one year of seminary education in an accredited theological school and is currently enrolled in a degree program, or a member of a vowed religious community, OR a layperson who has completed an undergraduate degree or has some theological education and has been engaged in pastoral care and/or is preparing for pastoral ministry.

Programs

Community Health Network offers Level I CPE, an introduction to basic pastoral care skills; and Level II CPE, a more advanced program of pastoral development and functioning. Community Health Network currently offers two programs of CPE:

• Summer Intensive Program. Begins in early June and runs for 11 weeks through mid-August. Classes meet daily with day and evening on-call responsibilities.
• Extended Unit Program. There are two 16-week extended units of training. The fall unit begins in early September and lasting through early January, and the winter unit begins in late January and lasting through mid-May. Class meets from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. one day per week, generally on Tuesdays. Students have two overnight on-call responsibilities per month.

Fees

• Application fee: $25.00 non-refundable
• Tuition: $500 per unit of training for Summer and Extended Programs

How to Apply

The process for selecting applicants is continuous or is based on a rolling admissions policy. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible. To submit an application, please use the ACPE application which can be downloaded from our national website at www.acpe.edu/forms. Upon completion of the application mail a hard copy with the $25.00 application fee in a check or money order made out to Community Health Network to:

Rev. Barbara Means
ACPE Supervisor
Pastoral Relations Department
7150 Clearvista Drive
Indianapolis, IN 46256
E-mail Rev. Means

This program is currently a satellite of Clarian Health Partners, Inc., I-65 at 21st St., P.O. Box 1367, Indianapolis, IN 46206. Clarian Health Partners, Inc. is accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education Inc., 1549 Clairmont Road, Suite 103, Decatur, GA, (404) 320-1472, www.acpe.edu.