I Thank Our Creator with Every Remembrance of Each of You…

Written by Cecelia Walker, ACPE Board Chair

The ACPE Curriculum Committee and our awesome staff is hard at work putting the final touches on our annual conference! This year’s conference will be held May 19-23 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. When I pause and think about last year’s conference, I get a warm feeling. Like many of you have, I have lived through some awful experiences. It is usually in the aftermath that I can see areas of growth and appreciation not previously anticipated. I have come to call these gifts collateral blessings… unanticipated good that occurs alongside or in response to pain, loss, or tragedy.

 

All of us experienced trauma on multiple levels during the pandemic, and not being able to gather as an Association greatly contributed to the layers of disorientation we were burdened to carry. Having the opportunity to meet in person last year was gratifying and refreshing on multiple levels. It was great seeing so many of you in person after being separated for so long. The opportunities we had to “hear each other into speech”, to get inspired and re-invigorated by the fresh enthusiasm of our CECs and to celebrate with Certified Educators as they walked across the stage to receive their hard-earned certificates were the collateral blessings of our time together.

This year’s theme “Looking in, Reaching Out, Building Together” honors the time we shared in New Orleans and the work that has continued since. As I think about the upcoming conference I am filled with new excitement. The Committee and our staff have been working diligently to make the conference enriching, engaging and exciting. As Chair I hope that as many of you who are able will meet us in “The City of Bridges” as we celebrate our rich and complex history; encourage and support the new energy and creativity that our CECs bring to our Association; and find ways to continue making positive, impactful contributions to the field of spiritual care education and provision… building bridges together.

Some Updates:

· The ED Search Committee continues its work, and we hope to have news to report soon.

· LaPiana Consulting is working to complete final reports for the strategic plan. The Board will lead an information and Q&A session for the membership at the end of the conference.

· I have received many emails from colleagues concerning a bill designed to hire people designated as chaplains to serve as replacements for mental health professionals in public schools. As the Board discusses if and how ACPE can respond as a 501c3 Association, each of you are encouraged to follow your conscience in how you respond.

I can hardly wait to see you in May and experience all that awaits us!

Blessings Always, Cecelia

Rev. Dr. Cecelia Walker is a Certified Educator at The Ingalls Center of Pastoral Ministries in the Baptist Health System in Birmingham, Alabama. She is currently serving as Chair of the ACPE Board of Directors. She can be reached at cecelia.walker@bhsala.com.