News
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Midwifery to the MourningJul 24, 2023
Touching wet cloth to their mouths— A refreshing reprieve as their souls cry out, Thirsting for the Divine Or maybe their dad, child, or wife. It all feels the same oftentimes.
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Reflections from the Interim Executive DirectorJul 24, 2023
I have just returned from the funeral of my 94-year-old aunt, my father’s eldest living sister. While there, news came that my uncle, who was 88 years old, had died. It seems my family has been in a season of grief and loss for a long time.
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Uniting Through Common Concepts: Updates and Initiatives within ACPEJul 3, 2023
This column comes to you as we celebrate July 4th across the United States of America. Recently it seems there is so much that divides us and less that unites us. Regardless, there are times like July 4th where we celebrate common concepts that people have certain Inalienable Rights including Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness. All people are created equal; Individuals have a civic duty to defend these rights for themselves and others.
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Professional Ethics EdificationJul 3, 2023
Once a month the ACPE Professional Ethics Commission (PEC) posts a section of our Code of Professional Ethics for ACPE Members. Each posting is accompanied by a brief personal reflection from a PEC member sharing some ways this person has experienced the referenced code section*. July’s statements are:
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Embracing the Tapestry of Celebrations: July 4th, Juneteenth, and PrideJul 3, 2023
I didn’t grow up in the United States and didn’t know about the July 4th holiday until I moved here in my early twenties. I learned that the holiday celebrates freedom from British tyranny, an uncomfortable invitation to deepen my knowledge of British imperialism. At the same time, celebrating this holiday is one of the things that helped me connect with the country that has become my home. As a young adult and then as a parent with children of my own, attending July 4th parties and fireworks displays became part of the annual cycle of the passing years.
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Your gifts make a difference!Jun 25, 2023
This has been an exciting season for the Foundation! After years of prudent financial stewardship and investments, the Foundation can make up to $300,000 available for innovative programs and projects which will helps us to impactfully advance justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in ACPE and to support future spiritual care providers, educators, and psychotherapists from underrepresented communities. Below, I would like to highlight two recent initiatives funded because of your contributions to the Foundation for ACPE.
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Sacred Listening: Reflections on the ACPE Annual ConferenceJun 18, 2023
We communed at the 2023 ACPE Annual Conference after years of COVID keeping us at a distance. Despite all the excitement, deep sorrow and pain pervaded our time together. This year we made significant changes to our learning outcomes, evaluated Certification, and wondered about the future of ACPE. The grief many of us felt at the conference is a heavy burden affecting our ability to connect with others and see beyond our experiences. When working to become an anti-bias organization, grief can dim our vision and makes it difficult to recognize, trust, and learn from the authentic experiences of others.
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Reflections from the Interim Executive Director
Jun 18, 2023
I have always been drawn to little children and elders. In many ways they are similar; They are dependent on us to care for and protect them. They teach us to enjoy life, to remain curious and open, to see what sometimes is hidden.
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Professional Ethics EdificationJun 17, 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*. June’s statements are:
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Queering Delight, Queering CareJun 16, 2023
Every day I walk into the hospital as a chaplain resident, I show up as a visibly queer person in ministry. Whether the patients, families, and staff are aware or not, it’s important for me to show up authentically as myself. I have complicated feelings about how corporations celebrate Pride Month, because I believe queer celebration must always be rooted in resistance.
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Completion of Fourth International Unit: CHRISTUS Health Latin American MinistryJun 12, 2023
Under the prior Educational Placement arrangement through accredited CPE Centers, CHRISTUS Health provided four CPE units in our Latin American ministry (comprised of Mexico, Chile, and Colombia) between 2019- 2023.
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The Joy of a Great Harvest
Jun 5, 2023
June is the month in western Kansas when the hard red winter wheat is ripe and ready to be harvested. For the grains to get to the point of harvest, they endure quite a journey of development. The wheat is planted in the fall. Once it is in the ground, it depends on the forces of mother nature to cooperate. Some precipitation in the fall sets the process in motion.
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In Honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage MonthMay 29, 2023
As a Chinese American within the AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) community, I am reaching to actualize and nurture a redemptive vision of a future for this community. I have often returned to poems written by Chinese imprisoned on Angel Island under the Chinese Exclusion Act in the first half the 1900’s.
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2023 ACPE Annual Conference: The Memorial ServiceMay 15, 2023
As we gather in person for the first time since the pandemic, we will enjoy many traditional conference events, including the annual memorial service.
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For your professional ethics edificationMay 8, 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*. May’s statements are:
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Thoughts and Reflections from the Interim Executive DirectorMay 8, 2023
Every day we are faced with having to make decisions. Some that require tremendous thought, others that seem to just happen without much thought at all.
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A Forest Knows Things
May 1, 2023
I’ve always been drawn to the woods; the book The Overstory gave me a sense of why that might be. Connection has always fascinated me and drives a theological sense of where the divine appears. ACPE’s work is tied to internal connections that impact our lives in a larger spiritual care and education ecosystem.
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Summer CPE Down UnderApr 10, 2023
I was fortunate to be invited by ACPE CE colleague Michael Hertz to lead a summer unit of clinical pastoral education for Royal Perth Hospital in Perth, Western Australia. My husband enthusiastically agreed to come along. We didn’t know what to expect, but we expected to have the time of our lives. And we did!
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Come to the 12th International Council on Pastoral Care and Counseling (ICPCC) Congress on July 3-6, 2023 In Potchefstroom, South AfricaApr 3, 2023
In 2015, the ICPCC Congress met in San Francisco in conjunction with the ACPE annual meeting. This amazing group of international chaplains, theologians, and educators comes together every four years for learning and collaboration with one another.
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For your professional ethics edification in AprilApr 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 member of the PEC discussing some ways this person lives these commitments*. April's statements are: