Duality of Hope

Dear ACPE Community:

September came crashing through this year.

Merciless acts of war and senseless gun violence in schools and elsewhere rode its opening days. Nature commanded her reverence once more as four hurricanes struck the U.S. Gulf Coast this season (Beryl, Debby, Francine, and Helene) and politics have been ‘politicking’.

The blows kept coming as we said goodbye to beloved cultural icons and giants of the faith who mentored many of us near and far. As dear ACPE colleagues and loved ones made their final transitions, our sorrow multiplied. Here in the national office, more than half the team is navigating grief from the loss of parents, grandparents, and other significant figures in their lives this year. As of early Friday morning, I joined my colleagues on this journey.

Our hearts are broken, our souls are weary, but our spirits prevail. Such is the duality of hope.

As nature runs through her turbulent spells, her awesome and striking transitions cannot be denied.

While we take slow, deep breaths to steady ourselves for tear-laden goodbyes, our spirits (for those who believe) harness joy in the hope of seeing our loved ones again "on the other side."

As we grin and bear the absurdities of another political season, we hold fast to our dreams and desires for joy, peace, and prosperity, equitable access and equality, safety and longevity, and national leadership that understands and believes in it all.

It is in this place that we also find ACPE.

This May, while in Pittsburgh, I was immersed in the cautionary hope so many of you hold for ACPE. Your voices and faces remain present with me as the Board of Directors, national staff, and I work to operationalize the strategic plan together. I am happy to report progress is underway!

As we delve deeper into the main strategic objective – enhancing the member experience by building community , we realize much of our plan hinges on one essential achievement: adding a dynamic and dedicated Director of Member Engagement to our national staff. After much consideration and invaluable consultation, I am delighted to share the opportunity to do just that with you. Please visit the link below to review the job description. If you or someone you know are interested in serving in this vital role, we encourage you to apply and/or share it today!

 

Director, Member Engagement Job Description

To the best of our ability, ACPE is aspiring to become the ‘professional home of choice’ for all spiritual care educators, providers, and psychotherapists. While membership is closely tied to the specific vocation of some, my hope is that we will make strides in our vision of becoming an organization that all rooted in and adjacent to spiritual care want to be a part of.

That said, thank you to everyone who shared their response to my previous article. You were heard. May we all continue leaning in to see and attend to one another as we navigate life's stressors in its full context.

Blessings to all, and thank you for joining me in the tender realm of hope.

 

“…helping one another become more thoroughly aware of and willing to share the flow of what is affecting each of them in the immediate situation may be the greatest gift of CPE peers to one another.”
– Gordon J. Hilsman, DMin. How to Get the Most Out of Clinical Pastoral Education (2018)