Many students and pastors have found great benefit in their participation in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). The Phoenix metro area has three CPE sites available to students, and interested students are encouraged to consider the importance of ministry training in a clinical setting to their vocational plans.
Clinical Pastoral Education is interfaith professional education for ministry. It brings theological students and ministers of all faiths (pastors, priests, rabbis, imams and others) into supervised encounters with persons in crisis. Out of an intense involvement with persons in need, and the feedback from peers and teachers, students develop new awareness of themselves as persons and of the needs of those to whom they minister. From theological reflection on specific human situations, they gain a new understanding of ministry. Within the interdisciplinary team process of helping persons, they develop skills in interpersonal and inter-professional relationships.
Elements of CPE include:
- The actual practice of ministry to persons
- Detailed reporting and evaluation of that practice
- Pastoral Supervision
- A process conception of learning
- A theoretical perspective on all elements of the program
- A small group of peers in a common learning experience
- A specific time period
- An individual contract for learning consistent with the objectives of CPE
- The CPE program must be conducted under the auspices of an ACPE certified supervisor (faculty) attached to an ACPE accredited CPE center.
CPE Centers accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education are located nationwide. CPE programs in Arizona are operated through at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center and their satellite program at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center (Phoenix), at Banner Desert Medical Center (Mesa) and at Yuma Regional Medical Center (Yuma).
Phoenix Seminary grants credit for completion of up to two units of CPE as elective credit. It is also possible to take Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) to fulfill internship requirements of the Seminary. See the Registrar for current policies on the amount of credit hours available for CPE units completed.
The Director of Field Education is available to answer your questions about CPE and its place in your ministry development and your degree program.
