News

Planting Seeds, Bearing Fruit

Sep 29, 2023

Each year when autumn rolls around, I reach for Parker Palmer’s “The Paradox of Fall.” Living in the northern US, there is a chill in the air that speaks of changes coming. Fall stirs my soul. Parker reflects: Autumn is a season of great beauty, but it is also a season of decline: the days grow shorter, the light is suffused, and summer’s abundance decays toward winter’s death. Faced with this inevitable winter, what does nature do in autumn? She scatters the seeds that will bring new growth in the spring—and she scatters them with amazing abandon.

Intentional and Inclusive: Crushing Pressure Pastoral Care

Sep 25, 2023

Dr. Patricia Williams, ACPE Psychotherapist, SIP Trainer and Member of the Anti-Bias Work Group, shares this insightful essay in honor of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.

Expanding our Contributions, Expanding our Future

Sep 20, 2023

This has been an unprecedented year of the Foundation investing in the ACPE values of justice, equity, diversity, inclusion and access. As the spiritual landscape of our world changes, we as the membership of ACPE wrestle with how we will address the changing world while we move our profession forward. I want you to know that the Foundation will continue to invest in innovative projects and social change.

For Your Professional Ethics Edification

Sep 15, 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*. September’s statements are:

Chaplain: A sailor in the Ocean

Sep 6, 2023

For me, CPE was one simple thing- a boat in a big ocean. This image was in my mind when I entered a room of an elderly woman who was immensely proud to be a sailor for the US Navy. She was struggling with loneliness at the hospital, and I had a beautiful conversation with her. I planned to chat for five minutes, and I ended up spending almost fifty minutes with her because she felt so lonely.

Seasons and Becoming

Sep 1, 2023

Dr. Gregory Ellison, a professor of pastoral care and counseling at Emory University (with the words of Luther Sim), penned a poem entitled Canyons in Me. why question who I become? a canyon of lives span in me. having their wisdom, having their diversity, having their years, is how my life is Grand.

Reflection on New Outcomes and Indicators

Aug 27, 2023

When the Eastern Area CoP met before the new Outcomes and Indicators (O&I) release, there was a lot of buzz! The buzz ranged from “We’ve just been through new Standards! It’s too much!!” to “Can’t we just ditch the DoE?” to “It’s about time! Those Outcomes are awful.”

Accreditation Updates

Aug 25, 2023

As many of us have or will soon be wrapping up our summer units, accreditation is still remarkably busy! In addition to the regular work of site visits, we are actively engaged in continuing to refine the various changes that we are making. We are making good progress in addressing the compliance report of the USDE and I hope that this update will provide you with additional needed information.

Holy Moments

Aug 21, 2023

I stare off deep into the void that lays before me I can't quite make out what comes next Or what might be coming for me. As I prepare to take the next step That will carry me into the unknown I replay a thousand moments in my mind Moments of fear and trembling Moments of power and strength And I am reminded of so many things

Want to get more involved in ACPE? Looking for Leadership Development Opportunities? Submit a Nomination TODAY!

Aug 20, 2023

The Leadership Development Committee (LDC) invites you to consider serving in one of the open leadership positions in 2024. Nominations are open now for ACPE’s fall election. The deadline to submit a nomination is September 22, 2023.

Beginning Your Residency: Practical Tips from an Anti-Bias Perspective

Aug 14, 2023

Wherever you are in the residency year, ACPE’s anti-bias working group would like to offer a few invitations. Consider using what you know will work but also consider using what you wonder about, what you’re less confident will work but might enrich your practice toward integrating anti-bias pedagogies.

I Was Wrong about the ACPE SIP Training

Aug 14, 2023

I Was Wrong about the ACPE SIP Training. I signed up for ACPE’s Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy training as a long-time pastoral psychotherapist who thought: “I will likely know whatever they share, but I could use the CE hours and it won’t tax my brain too much.”

Professional Ethics Edification

Aug 7, 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*. August’s statements are:

Outcomes and Indicators Implementation Cohorts

Aug 7, 2023

This summer, 14 programs piloted the revised Outcomes and Indicators in their summer units and as part of the pilot, the programs met on a weekly basis for consultation and found it to be very helpful. Building on this, as additional educators begin to utilize the revised Outcomes and Indicators in their programs, ACPE wants to provide opportunities for collegial engagement and consultation for many more folks and the opportunity to share resources and ideas.

Decades of mentorship help CPE educator create new community

Aug 7, 2023

I walked towards the back pew of the church on Mother’s Day alone. Then, to my surprise, one of my former chaplain interns from five years ago waved and motioned me to sit with her family. Sliding closer together, they made room for me. She shared her joys and sorrows, including her bittersweet pride over her newly graduated daughter’s college plans. When she later posted about her Mother’s Day on social media, she wrote, “And the icing on the cake was running into my mentor who just so happened to be visiting our church.”

Outcomes, Address Change, and Announcements

Aug 7, 2023

There was some wisdom I appreciated from the psychiatrist and writer Jorge Bucay that comes to mind in times such as these where there is so much tumult and hurt domestically and globally. I must discipline myself to step away from my iPhone, take a break from the news, take a walk, and find perspective. The perspective I appreciated from Jorge Bucay is “Bad stuff won’t last forever…keep pushing” and “Good stuff won’t last forever…enjoy the moment.”

Supporting Justice, Equity, and Inclusion: ACPE's Summer Highlights and Initiatives

Jul 31, 2023

I hope that you have had a wonderful summer so far. If you have not had the chance to attend a reunion or take vacation, I hope you will soon. The work that we do is so meaningful, and summer can be one of the busiest times of the year. Remember that July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.

Midwifery to the Mourning

Jul 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.

Reflections from the Interim Executive Director

Jul 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.

Uniting Through Common Concepts: Updates and Initiatives within ACPE

Jul 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.