"We've got some difficult days ahead…”
April 4, 1968, was one of the saddest days of my life because it was one of the few times I saw the adults in my family and community wailing and appearing hopeless. Last Friday, April 4, 2025, marked 57 years since Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. Every year, I read Dr. King’s Mountaintop Speech, which he delivered the night before his death. And as usual, but even more emphatically this year, I noticed how relevant so much of what he said that night is today.
As I thought about all that we as an Association are dealing with, one section of his speech touched me differently this year. Dr. King imagined the “Almighty” asking him in which period of time he would like to live, and he responded: “If you allow me to live just a few years in the second half of the twentieth century, I will be happy.” He goes on to say to the congregation: “Now that's a strange statement to make because the world is all messed up. The nation is sick. Trouble is in the land. Confusion all around. That's a strange statement. But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.” These words could be used to describe the world and nation in 2025. I would despair if I did not remember that even though people felt all hope was gone on that fateful day in 1968, they somehow pulled together, coalesced around “a dream,” and found a way to move forward.
Many events since then have tested our strength and resilience, but faithful people from diverse backgrounds have pulled together and found the strength to move forward. As I reflect upon the work that has been going on in ACPE during my tenure, I see parallels that make me confidently hopeful that we’re going to find solid footing and continue the impactful work we’re called to do. You, my ACPE family, and my vocational home are some of the hardest-working people I know. Volunteering inordinate amounts of time on the Board, Commissions, Committees, and Workgroups (while simultaneously fulfilling numerous other roles at work, at home, and in your communities) to ensure that ACPE continues to provide the highest-quality CPE programs for spiritual care professionals of any faith and in any setting.
The work you are doing protects and advances our mission: “To positively affect people’s lives by nurturing connections to the sacred through experiential education and spiritual care.” You are among the “stars of ACPE” that Dr. King referred to in his speech. I appreciate you and your investment in ACPE. In that spirit, I want to acknowledge that April 3rd marked Lynnett’s first anniversary as our Executive Director. Last March, I concluded my announcement letter to you with these words: “We have much to celebrate in our Association and much good work ahead of us.” Neither of us had any idea what she would face as our new leader. However, she has handled it with the tenacity, grace, and passion that demonstrate the respect for ACPE that she articulated during her interview process. She has truly been a “bright star” during a very dark season. On behalf of our beloved Association, I thank you, Lynnett, for staying with us through some very difficult days. I thank our members for the support and prayers you have offered on her behalf during this time of transition. The Dream continues as we do this work together… brighter days are ahead!
Blessings Always,
Cecelia