News

Updates from the Accreditation Commission

Oct 14, 2024

Happy Fall! As the leaves change colors and we enter a new season, I am pleased to share an update on the work of the Accreditation Commission. As I prepare to conclude my term at the end of December, I am quite proud of the work that the Commission has done during these two years full of change and want to say thank you to the Commissioners for their tireless and faithful work. I also have much gratitude for the three-person review teams led by a National Site Team Chair, NSTC, to complete 114 site visits during this term. I am also grateful to Amy Seat, and excited to be passing the torch of leadership to Amy, who accepted the chair-elect role in May.

New Grants to Promote Justice, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility through ACPE

Oct 4, 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."

Duality of Hope

Sep 30, 2024

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.

ACPE 2025 Annual Conference: Call for Workshops

Sep 18, 2024

You are invited to submit a workshop proposal for the 2025 ACPE Annual Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota, May 19-22,2025!

ACPE Fall 2024 Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapist Conference "Psycho-Spiritual Liberation: The Role of the Practitioner"

Sep 18, 2024

October 11 – 13, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia Join us at the Fall SIP gathering! Dr. Deborah Haskins will be the keynote speaker, presenting on the timely subject of Finding Grace and Beauty in Brokenness: Healing Psychological and Spiritual Wounds from Adversity, Trauma, and Loss for Practitioners, Clients, and Community Members.

ACPE's 2025 CoP Funding Request Applications are Now open!

Sep 6, 2024

Deadline extended until October 7! Dear CoP Convener: Communities of Practice play an important part in sustaining and enhancing the work and lives of ACPE, our Educators, CECs, practitioners, and psychotherapists. They provide community, learning, and growth, and offer an important connection to the larger organization of the ACPE. Thank you for all you do in leading and supporting your CoP!

For Your Professional Ethics Edification

Sep 2, 2024

The ACPE Professional Ethics Commission (PEC) purpose is to educate our members about ethics issues and processes. Each month we post a commissioner’s reflection* on ethics concerns, including our ethics process. 5. In conducting business matters, ACPE members: implement sound fiscal practices, maintain accurate financial records, and protect the integrity of funds entrusted to their care. For September, Jarda Alexander, ACPE Certified Educator, Decatur, GA writes: ACPE Certified Educators, regardless of positional authority, have responsibility for implementing sound fiscal practices, maintaining accurate financial records, and protecting the integrity of funds entrusted to our care.

The Call to Care for People

Sep 2, 2024

Happy Labor Day, Colleagues. I hope that each of you are taking some time for yourselves and your families. The “Call to Care for People” can become all-consuming, and we often neglect ourselves and those we love while “serving” others. During this last summer holiday, I hope you intentionally enjoy the moments. As with all tragedies, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our lives at an inconvenient time for our Association. Many of us were wrestling to acclimate to several changes throughout the organization, and the addition of our psychotherapist colleagues was of great significance.

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.