News

ACPE Foundation Announces 2024 Mission Advancement Program (MAP) Fund Grant Awards to Support Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy Projects

Aug 26, 2024

At their August 2024 board meeting, the ACPE Foundation approved funding the following grant projects to support ACPE Psychotherapist and Practitioner members in advancing and raising awareness about pastoral counseling and spiritually integrated psychotherapy. These grants are made possible through the generous gifts of our donors to the ACPE Foundation MAP Endowment Fund. To support this meaningful work, make a gift here or contact Jasmine Okafor for more information.

Accreditation and Student Unit Fee Increases

Aug 26, 2024

Dear ACPE Community, During our spring meeting, the ACPE Finance Committee carefully examined the need to increase membership dues and program fees. The committee deemed it imperative to the organization's health and vitality to consider changes to meet programmatic and administrative needs as ACPE looks to increase member services and continue support for our programs and members. Notably, accreditation fees have remained unchanged since 2020, and individual memberships have remained unchanged for over 20 years. Given this long-standing stability in our fee structure, the Finance Committee has emphasized the necessity of some fee increases to address the impact of inflation and the need to grow our membership services resources.

2023 Year in Review Now Available

Aug 12, 2024

ACPE's 2023 Year in Review highlights a year of significant achievements, transitions, and community engagement.

Solidarity in Action

Aug 5, 2024

Greetings ACPE. Today, I am writing to call attention to the recent violence and rhetoric against Black women in our country. While political figures are referenced and essential to my personal observation of bias within our organization, the central point of this article is to lift Black women students, educators, therapists, and staff within our association who may be feeling extremely vulnerable at this time and to call forward our shared commitment to care for all. Last month, I received emails from members inquiring whether ACPE would issue a statement about the political (gun) violence at the former President's July 13th rally. While our thoughts are extended to all of the families impacted, we chose not to focus on one instance, considering the increase of gun violence everywhere. July, in particular, was a difficult month with thousands of shootings across the nation, resulting in numerous injuries and hundreds of heartbreaking fatalities.

Summer Giving Challenge

Jul 29, 2024

Hello ACPE Members and Friends, I hope you are enjoying your summer so far. Whether its travel, family reunions, or hunkering down for work with students or clients, may your summer be full of everything you need. In my recent time away from work, I’ve been reminded of the importance of community and collaboration. I am grateful for our community of donors. Your donations make the Foundation for ACPE work. In last month’s newsletter, we shared the 2024 Grant recipients. I’d like to congratulate again our grant recipients:

ACPE Now Accepting Applications for Volunteer Leaders

Jul 29, 2024

Friends Want to get more involved in ACPE? Looking for Leadership Development Opportunities? As part of my role as Chair-Elect of the Board, I also serve as Chair of the Leadership Development Committee. And we are officially in that season--when we begin planning for who will help to lead our association in the year(s) ahead. The application process has now opened for you to self-nominate to serve in a leadership capacity within the ACPE.

Prairie Precarity

Jul 18, 2024

In October of 2023, while driving in my hospice territory, I found myself on an unfamiliar stretch of rural North Dakota road. Suddenly, like a strange oasis in the desert, a dilapidated structure appeared to the southeast of me. My eyes fell on the building’s crumbling bell tower, and I knew instantly the structure had been a church. Looking at it, I couldn’t even begin to imagine when a congregation had last gathered there for worship or study; I certainly hoped it had been like an oasis, offering spiritual nourishment for thirsty souls on the often-harsh prairie. That October day, I didn’t have much time for daydreaming or exploration, but I did pull over to snap a picture on my phone.

Considering the Liberating Effects of Contemplative Care

Jul 18, 2024

In a world which is becoming increasingly smaller, spiritual care demands attention to a global population. July is minority mental health month. It is, therefore, a time set aside to emphasize the unique needs of those whose challenges do not fit mainstream paradigms. My twenty- year experience of providing spiritual care to a primarily minority population has motivated me to research and verify the peculiar contexts, concepts and concerns effective for individuals with unemancipated ancestors. The work engaged in these efforts has generated a contemplative approach. This strategy is applied as a means to facilitate internal liberation for individuals restrained by ancestral histories of enslavement.

BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month and ACPE Psychotherapy

Jul 15, 2024

In 2008, the US House of Representatives announced July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month (also known as BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month). While growing up, Campbell was one of my mom’s favorite authors and a regular feature in her book club. I often waited patiently for her to finish reading a new book by the New York Times bestselling author before I quickly absorbed it into my own little library. Campbell’s first four novels, “Singing in the Comeback Choir,” “Brothers and Sisters,” “Your Blues Ain’t Like Mine,” and “What You Owe Me,” held me captive for days even after I finished them. Equally as captivating, however, was Bebe herself. She was beautiful and a staunch advocate for mental health due to her support for a family member.

Here To Serve

Jul 1, 2024

“Each of you should use whatever gift[s] you have received to serve others…” (1Peter 4:10)  A week after our annual conference concluded, I attended the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship 2024 General Assembly. While giving his annual report and several other times during the week, Executive Coordinator Dr. Paul Baxley reminded us that CBF exists to serve. The idea of service is not a new concept to me. In my faith tradition, Scripture teaches that we should rather serve others than be served. There was not a time that he spoke that I did not think of my role in ACPE. I have just completed the sixth month as the Chair of the Board… and it has been a busy six months! I am here to serve.

ACPE Foundation Announces 2024 Justice, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility Grants

Jun 24, 2024

At their May 2024 board meeting, the ACPE Foundation proudly unveiled the recipients of its 2024 grants aimed at advancing justice, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within the ACPE community. These grants mark a significant investment in transformative projects, made possible by the generosity of our dedicated donors. "This year's grants exemplify our commitment to fostering a more inclusive and equitable ACPE environment," said Brooks Heard, Board Chair of the ACPE Foundation. "We are thrilled to support initiatives that will enhance spiritual care education, research, and practitioner diversity across our network."

Commencement

Jun 17, 2024

Greetings ACPE, I am truly delighted to share my first editorial with you as the Executive Director/CEO of this beloved and remarkable organization. In just over two months’ time, I have met so many of you, either virtually or in person, during our wonderful conference in Pittsburgh[LG1] , and time and time again, I have been deeply moved by the passion and devotion you each express for ACPE and the impactful work done in its name. As I have mentioned before, both CPE and therapy helped to heal and change my life for the better. I simply would not be the woman I am today if not for either. For this great work alone, I count it a tremendous blessing and honor to serve ACPE and the Foundation in this esteemed capacity.

Imperfect but Impactful

Jun 2, 2024

I’ve been to the mountaintop, and I’m so grateful! When I arrived at my office at Princeton Baptist Medical Center almost 13 years ago, I stood at the window and vocalized my thank you to as many people as I could think of and acknowledged the Spirits of those whose names I don’t know… shoulders I stood on, stand on. I am aware that their sacrifices and courage have paved the way for me to serve as ACPE Chair of the Board of Directors. Last week, at the Chair Banquet, I experienced a great cloud of witnesses leaning over heaven’s balcony cheering me on. At the front, my son, Jeffery shouting “do your thang Momma!” and my daughter, Gabrielle in her sweet voice saying: “I’m so proud of you Mommy!” The memory of my colleagues standing, clapping and cheering for me is etched in my heart and mind.

ACPE Office Closed

May 27, 2024

The ACPE Office will be closed Monday, May 27-June 3, 2024.

Spotlight on New ACPE Anti-Bias Working Group Members: Leaders Committed to Diversity and Inclusion

May 19, 2024

The ACPE Anti-Bias Working Group recently welcomed three new members who each bring passion, creativity and commitment to our vision of championing the anti-bias orientation and practices that are essential to cultivating spiritual health and wellbeing.

Margins

May 6, 2024

I have always enjoyed reading books with wide margins. Recently, Lynnett and I attended the annual conference of the Canadian Association of Spiritual Care (CASC). As I have reflected upon the theme: “Making Space for Meaning,” the idea of margins has come to mind. At the opening of each day, there was an acknowledgment that the land on which we were gathered was the occupied/seized territory of Indigenous people. Additionally, we were led into a space of worship by native people and invited to participate in activities that helped us to connect with and appreciate all that the Creator has given.

Giving Back

Apr 27, 2024

One of the opportunities to support ACPE students offered by the Foundation for ACPE is the Hemenway Scholars Program, named after Joan Hemenway, to honor her contributions to ACPE, spiritual care and education theory and research, as well as countless students and care recipients. As many CPE summer internships do not provide stipends, we offer this scholarship to summer interns to help offset educational debt, housing costs, living expenses, etc. This is one of the many ways, as donors, you give back.

Environmental Chaplaincy: The Call is Still Open

Apr 13, 2024

In 2008, Rev. Judith Cowles published an essay titled “At the Bedside of Mother Earth: A Call to Eco-chaplaincy” (Cowles, 2008). In 2015, Rabbi Katie Allen wrote “A Call for a New Kind of Chaplain,” urging chaplains practicing in conventional settings to consider becoming eco-chaplains, nature chaplains, earth chaplains, or creation chaplains (Allen, 2015). In 2024, the call is still open.

Celebrate AAPI Month and AANHPI Mental Health Day: Looking Beyond the Covid-19 Pandemic

Apr 7, 2024

Rev. Anton Boisen is known as the father of the clinical pastoral education movement. He was one of the first chaplains in a psychiatric hospital - Worcester State Hospital in 1925. Boisen’s legacy comes out of his life story as one who suffered mental illness. In 1920, six policemen took him to Boston Psychopathic Hospital. Years later, Boisen was to observe that being plunged as a patient into a hospital for the insane may be a tragedy or it may be an opportunity.

A Time For Everything

Apr 1, 2024

I never need a calendar to tell me that spring is near, my runny eyes and sinus pain, let me know. Although I experience significant discomfort, I look forward to spring every year. Watching stems and leafless bark that appear to be dead transition to blooming flowers and budding trees full of color and life restores my hope and refreshes my soul. I look forward to spring with anticipation and excitement.