The Work of the Religion and Values Task Force of the Anti-Bias Work Group

As our entire organization moves more deeply into its commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI), the Religion and Values Task Force (RVTF) of the Anti-Bias Work Group is tasked with exploring religious and values-based exclusion in the ACPE. 

The roots of Clinical Pastoral Education lie in theological and pedagogical frameworks developed by people who were predominantly white Protestants.  Over the decades, CPE and the ACPE have diversified and expanded to teach, certify, and be changed by Catholics, Christians from Black Churches, Evangelical Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, humanists, and others beyond mainline and largely white Protestant denominations. 

The RVTF solicited input from colleagues from non-Christian and non-theistic communities, and also from Christians from more conservative traditions.  Many of our respondents expressed relief and gratitude that the ACPE is interested in their stories and is looking at patterns of exclusion related to religious, spiritual, and/or values-based identity.  They described how these patterns of exclusion sometimes overlap with racism and xenophobia.  They told us about some of their struggles as CPE students, as CECs, and as CEs.  They also told us about steps individual CEs and the organization as a whole have – and can – take as we all move forward.

Our respondents repeatedly said that there is a need for education at all levels of CPE and within every part of our organizational structure.  Stay tuned for some programs later this year.  In the meantime, I invite all of us to ask ourselves:

  • What are the gaps in my religio-spiritual-values competence?
  • What do I need to learn so I can better meet the needs of students from traditions and communities different from mine? 
  • How do my basic assumptions (which I may refer to as my theology or my spiritual worldview) limit my ability to recruit, support, and teach diverse groups of students?

I look forward to continuing this work together and in partnership with all those who are looking at other aspects of interpersonal and systemic bias, discrimination, and exclusion within the ACPE.

The RVTF is composed of the following members:

  • Rev. Baba Carlos Alejandro, BCC, ACPE Certified Educator
  • Joel Berning, MDiv, BCC, ACPE, Manager, Pastoral Care & Education Department, New York-Presbyterian/ Columbia University Irving Medical Center
  • Rabbi Jo Hirschmann, BCC, ACPE Certified Educator, Director of CPE, Mount Sinai Health System
  • Rev. Dr. David C. Johnson BCC, ACPE Educator, Mentor
  • Rev. Dr. Michelle Oberwise Lacock, ACPE Educator, theory paper mentor
  • Veronica Martinez-Gallegos, BCC, ACPE Associate Certified Educator, Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC
  • Dr. JoAnne S. Morris, ACPE certified educator and CPE Coordinator for Baptist Health Louisville and The Center for Contemplative Chaplaincy at Naropa University