Reflection on the Joint Congress of the International (ICPCC) and European (ECPCC) Council for Pastoral Care and Counseling

Theme: “Out of the Depths: Contours of Spiritual Care in a Wounded World”

This international conference brought together 80–90 scholars and practitioners invested in CPE and pastoral/spiritual care from the USA, Netherlands, France, Tanzania, Germany, Belgium, Indonesia, Czech Republic, Ghana, Lithuania, Australia, Poland, Ireland, Sweden, India, South Africa, Hungary, Suriname, Switzerland, Norway, and Japan to learn, engage, renew, and enrich our shared theory and practice. 

As an Afghan American Muslim educator, attending this Joint Congress left me feeling deeply connected to our shared vocational values and reflective on how they manifest in each global context. I was reminded of the importance of slowing down to gain mutual understanding—of letting curiosity undergird our engagement—so that meaningful connection can grow across our diverse languages, cultures, and traditions of care.

ACPE was well represented throughout the Joint Congress with both ACPE educators and psychotherapists. You’ll notice this in the group photograph, which was taken during one of the lunch hours when ACPE members gathered:

• Front row from left to right: Christopher Okoli, Jawad Bayat, Jenny Lannom, Linda Wilkerson, Janice Yusk, Teresa Snorton, Silvia Crowe, Inba Inbarasu, Mirjam Berger, Jacob George, Keith Wakefield, Frank Macht
• Back row from left to right: Fred Ehrman, Mark Grace, Richard Rathbun, Ted Hodge, Lee Ann Rathbun, Sunghee Han, David Fleenor, Daniel Nuzum, and Inetta Reddell
  

Across plenaries, workshops, and coffee conversations, common themes emerged. Teresa Snorton and Mark Grace offered thought-provoking keynote presentations on CPE’s impact in our respective contexts. Workshops included:

• Jawad Bayat: “Journeys of Sacred Striving: Advancing CPE Praxis through the Hajj Pilgrimage”
• Silvia Crowe: “Innovative Distance Learning in CPE”
• David Fleenor: “Who Are We Becoming?”—a dialogical exploration on the future of chaplaincy education
• Daniel Nuzum: “CPE in England” and “Perinatal Loss in Spiritual Care”
• Keith Wakefield: “Stay with Me, I Want to Be Alone: The Ultimate Concerns in Chaplaincy,” based on his recently published memoir

Throughout these moments, many of us experienced a renewed sense of global belonging—a reminder that our commitment to spiritual care transcends geography. Fred Ehrman reflected, “Hearing perspectives outside the North American and European contexts made me more aware of my own biases and assumptions. I came away humbled and encouraged by their example.” Similarly, David Fleenor shared, “I was delighted to learn that CPE is taking place in Japan, Tanzania, Poland, and all over the world. I’m walking away feeling very enriched and excited again for the work that I do in a multicultural context in New York City.”

Others spoke of rediscovering the heart of our shared vocation. Mirjam Berger reflected on both her own experiences as an East German American ordained UCC pastor and the insights of colleagues, noting the phrase contributed by Lee Ann Rathbun during a world café discussion: “Our oneness - Us is them, them are us.” She connected this to Paul Osterhoff’s poem for the stained glass artwork, “I see you” (click here to visit the artwork).” For Mirjam, these words highlighted the themes explored of polarization and othering toward genuine encounter and mutual recognition during the time spent at the Congress. 

Sunghee Han was deeply moved by hearing the stories of Indonesian women ministers, Polish CPE developers, and Japanese spiritual care providers, which resonated with her own heritage as an ordained Korean American woman who immigrated to the US: “Sharing our stories and honoring our differences has been a comforting and inspiring journey—one that beautifully embodies Boisen’s passion through our collective love for Spiritual Care.”

Mark Grace, a spiritual care administrator for 26 years who aimed to build an enterprise at his health system reflecting these global values, called the experience “a dream come true,” given how he bore witness to the best we have to offer among the participants in “vulnerability, compassion, commitment, and willingness to break free from our parochial narrowness toward a new kind of freedom.” Ted Hodge, who has attended six-seven Congresses, added, “Being reconnected with the international community of those invested in pastoral care and counseling is heartening, as was the content being so stimulating.”

“This was my first time attending the ICPCC & ECPCC conference,” shared Inba Inbarasu. “It was wonderful to connect with people from all over the world who are passionate about providing pastoral care to a wounded and broken world.” Jenny Lannom, who brought greetings from the ACPE Board of Directors, echoed this sense of awe and gratitude: “It was almost surreal to be commemorating the 100th anniversary of CPE with colleagues from around the world—Anton Boisen had no idea when he began bringing seminary students to the psychiatric hospital, how his vision would spawn a literal international community of CPE trained professionals!”

Participants also reflected on the deeper challenges present in our global contexts. Christopher Okoli shared, “I learned that all countries are working hard to address their own wounds—political instability, economic struggle, and abuses in religious communities, especially against women.” He added, how enriching it was to “interact with spiritual/pastoral caregivers from different countries.” Keith Wakefield affirmed this interconnected spirit, saying, “The principles of CPE are universal. Meeting so many people invested in forming confident spiritual caregivers helped me feel more bonded and connected across country and cultural lines.”

And as Linda Wilkerson beautifully summarized, “Interacting and learning from colleagues across the globe was my favorite part of the conference—seeing how the movement begun by Anton Boisen continues to have incredible relevance for our world, with all its pain and beauty.”

The Joint Congress reaffirmed what many of us already know but can easily forget amid our daily work: that the practice of spiritual care is strengthened through our connections with one another—across borders, contexts, and traditions. Together, we continue to shape the evolving contours of CPE in a wounded world.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the International Relations Committee (IRC) and International CPE CoP members,

Jawad Bayat, Chair of IRC with support from Mirjam Berger and Sunghee Han, Chair-elect of IRC