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News

  • Doubly Conscious Reflective Practitioner

    Feb 26, 2024

    In honor of Black History Month, the ACPE Anti-Bias Work Group invited newly Certified Educator, Reverend Jeremiah Page, to reflect on his experience as an African-American man who has journeyed through the ACPE Certification process. It is our hope that Jeremiah's poignant reflection can provide much-needed wisdom to all of as we better understand the many identifies we reconcile in becoming the most authentic versions of ourselves. Do you have a personal reflection you wish to include in the Anti-Bias Work Group's monthly newsletter column? If so, please email it to Jasmine Okafor, ACPE Director of Development & DEI Initiatives.

  • Buongiorno da Roma!

    Feb 16, 2024

    I am pleased to be writing to you from Rome, Italy, where I have just spent a magnificent week attending the Pontifical Academy for Life conference and the inauguration of the new Center for Ethics launched by The Seminario Rabínico Latinoamericano and Isaac Abarbanel University Institute (IUIA). The conference included a special Papal Audience where I had the privilege of meeting Pope Francis and an opportunity to attend panels and workshops with distinguished speakers from all over the world. These offerings covered issues such as: The human being in the techno-scientific age; Human Originality and Responsibility; From domination to responsibility: rethinking human centrism; Body and soul, heart and conscience, mind, and will. Opening and closing remarks by Mons. Vincenzo Paglia, the President of the Pontifical Academy for Life.

  • Call for Poster Presentation Proposals – 2024 ACPE Annual Conference

    Feb 16, 2024

    The deadline to submit proposals is March 29. Poster presentations will highlight and integrate research, evidence-based practices, and innovations to inform CPE, spiritually integrated psychotherapy, and spiritual care. Posters share knowledge by providing a visual summary of a project or initiative. They present information, graphics, charts, etc. in accessible and...

  • Insights from a Therapist's Journey

    Feb 15, 2024

    I am Kim Nichols, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist practicing at The Armstrong Center for Hope (ACFH) in Durham, North Carolina. I also work full-time as program coordinator of Learning Together, a service-learning program for health professional, graduate, and undergraduate students at Duke University. I am not a member of ACPE, but I participated in ACPE’s Level 1 Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy training in January. I emailed my trainer some of my reflections after the training, and he invited me to shape them into an article for the ACPE newsletter.

  • Accreditation Updates- Outcomes and Indicators

    Feb 5, 2024

    I am excited to share that over 150 Certified Educators and CECs are participating in the current round of cohort implementation groups. The feedback from so many is that these are helpful and supportive opportunities to engage with colleagues and that the time together is valuable. Thank you to all our colleagues who stepped up to facilitate these groups! Related to the Outcomes and Indicators, I am pleased to share that, based on feedback we received expressing this need, we have numbered the Revised Outcomes and Indicators in the accreditation manual so that they will be easier to reference.

  • Moving Forward…Together

    Feb 5, 2024

    The last two years serving as Chair-elect of the ACPE Board gave me a view of the association that I had previously not experienced. I have always respected the commitment that our members make to keep ACPE running by volunteering their time, talents, and treasures.

  • For Your Professional Ethics Edification

    Feb 2, 2024

    This month’s article is to update you on changes to the Professional Ethics Manual. These changes were recommended by the Professional Ethics Commission (PEC) to the ACPE Board of Directors and received their approval. Additionally, the board approved changes to The Policy to Ensure the Wellness and Fitness of Educators. You are encouraged to use the links to review the changes on the ACPE websites and read through them below. TOPIC "Why we sign the Accountability for Ethical Conduct Policy Report Form every year” For January, Julie Hanada, ACPE Certified Educator, Seattle, WA writes:

  • Staff Transitions

    Jan 29, 2024

    ACPE is bidding farewell to two cherished members of our team. ACPE Director of Finance Jennifer Rochner’s last day was Friday, January 26th, and Rachel Starmer, our Psychotherapy Coordinator, will end her contract with us at the end of January.

  • Call for ACPE Service Award Nominations

    Jan 29, 2024

    Can you think of a colleague who has provided distinguished service throughout their career? Which one of your colleagues has demonstrated innovative leadership? Who do you think deserves special recognition?

  • Four people looking at camera smiling
    New Funding Opportunities Available to Advance ACPE Justice, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility!

    Jan 29, 2024

    The 2024 ACPE Foundation Grants Cycle is now open! The ACPE Foundation is excited to announce our expanded grants program to support initiatives that advance justice, diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility within ACPE. Through the generosity of our donors and prudent management over the years, the ACPE Foundation endowment has grown so that we now have significantly more funds available to support strategic priority areas for ACPE. This is our second year offering this grants initiative. This year, we will grant up to $210,000 to support projects that align with ACPE’s commitment to be an anti-racist organization, and that advance ACPE’s leadership as the gold standard in spiritual care & education.

  • Standards Review Process

    Jan 26, 2024

    As part of the process of recognition by the US Department of Education, ACPE has committed to review its procedures and accreditation criteria every 5 years. This includes a review of the Standards. For more information about the review process, click here to view the Accreditation Manual. Below is the timeline for the review of ACPE’s Standards. Please note that any proposed revisions will be made available for public comment during the specified time frame. To provide initial feedback to the Accreditation Commission, please click here to complete an online form.

  • Gratitude

    Jan 22, 2024

    As I consider the work of the Foundation over the past year, I find myself grateful for the ways the Foundation has become even more intentional about how we are using the resources provided by our generous donors. From socially responsible investing to financial support for summer CPE students, our funding initiatives and investments align with our values.

  • For Your Professional Ethics Edification

    Jan 8, 2024

    The ACPE Professional Ethics Commission (PEC) purpose includes education for our members about ethics issues and processes. Each month we post a commissioner’s reflection* on ethics concerns, including our ethics process. TOPIC "Why we sign the Accountability for Ethical Conduct Policy Report Form every year” For January, Julie Hanada, ACPE Certified Educator, Seattle, WA writes:

  • Marc Medwed Named Interim Executive Director

    Jan 1, 2024

    At the beginning of the year, we embarked on a search for a new executive director, a process that has moved along well and will wrap up in early 2024.

  • Cecilia looking at camera smiling
    In Search of the Beloved Community

    Jan 1, 2024

    Dear Colleagues, my heart’s desire for each of you for 2024 is that you will prosper in every area and that you will enjoy good health. Let me introduce myself - I am Cecelia Ann Walker the eldest daughter of Walter Cecil and Annie Laura Walker.

  • Reflections from the Interim Executive Director

    Dec 18, 2023

    My contract with ACPE will end December 31, 2023. I leave with sadness and grief, and at the same time I am looking forward to reclaiming my retirement and having more time to spend with Miriam, and my granddaughter, Aubree. The past 13 months have been filled with many moments of joy as I have become acquainted with my Beloved Association in different ways. While there have been a few challenges, the joys have far outweighed the challenges. I have been grateful for the support received from the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors during my time as Interim.

  • Advent and CPE: The Frustrations of Becoming

    Dec 15, 2023

    CPE is frustrating. Even though I know this mentally, it can sometimes surprise me how frustrating it can be. Verbatims in particular are frustrating. All attention is on you. Questions needle you to try to get at your core. You risk being misunderstood. No matter how much you want perfection, it won’t be perfect. The process is not designed for that. There’s always something to grow in. This can be frustrating. It’s frustrating when you’re trying the best you can to be honest with yourself and speak truthfully with the group, but you still may have blind spots. It’s frustrating when you’re asked to explore how you’re feeling but being limited in finding the words to express yourself.

  • How do Care Recipients View Chaplains?

    Dec 11, 2023

    Most chaplains and chaplaincy students describe themselves as versatile, able to offer spiritual care to adherents from any tradition or none. But recent research shows in many cases, that is not how they are perceived by the people to whom they offer care. When a chaplain goes into a room and introduces themself as “chaplain,” prospective recipients of care often hear “religious figure,” not “spiritual care provider” or “versatile spiritually informed professional.”

  • For Your Professional Ethics Edification

    Dec 3, 2023

    Once a month the ACPE Professional Ethics Commission (PEC) posts a couple of statements from our Code of Professional Ethics for ACPE Members. Each posting is accompanied by a brief personal reflection from a commissioner of the PEC sharing some ways this person lives these commitments*. December’s statements are: Explaining Differences Between Legal Process and Ethical Complaint Process. For December, Rabbi Michael Tevya Cohen, J.D., ACPE Certified Educator, Dallas, TX comments: ACPE members of our community may wonder what the differences are between the ACPE Ethics Process and that which one would find in a court of law. There are quite a few differences, including the following:

  • Reflecting on our Journey

    Dec 2, 2023

    As my tenure as Chair of the Board comes to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey we have embarked on together. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve this organization and witness the profound impact it has on the field of spiritual care and education. Over the past year, we found ourselves in a time of transition. At the beginning of the year, we began a search for a new executive director and continued to chart a course for our association’s work over the next years in a strategic planning process. Both processes have moved along well and will most likely wrap up in early 2024.