1. What Is Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)?

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is a professional, experiential form of theological education that prepares individuals to provide spiritual and pastoral care in real-life settings such as hospitals, hospice programs, correctional facilities, military contexts, and community institutions.

CPE integrates:

  • Clinical ministry experience
  • Theological reflection
  • Professional supervision
  • Personal and spiritual formation

Unlike classroom-only theological study, CPE places students directly in ministry situations and helps them learn through reflection on lived experience.

2. The Core Purpose of CPE

  • The primary purpose of CPE is to help students:
  • Grow in self-awareness
  • Develop pastoral identity
  • Integrate faith and practice
  • Provide competent, compassionate spiritual care
  • Function professionally within institutional systems

CPE views the self as the primary instrument of ministry and emphasizes learning through action, reflection, and feedback.

3. What Happens in a CPE Program?

A CPE program includes four essential components:

1) Clinical Ministry

Students provide real spiritual care to people in crisis, illness, grief, or transition.

Examples:

  • Patient and family visits
  • Crisis response
  • End-of-life care
  • Grief and trauma support
  • Ethical consultations

2) Supervision

Each student meets regularly with a Certified CPE Educator for:

  • Individual supervision
  • Group supervision
  • Feedback on ministry encounters
  • Personal and professional growth

3) Verbatim Reflection

Students write detailed accounts (“verbatims”) of actual pastoral encounters and reflect on:

  • What was said and done
  • Emotional and spiritual dynamics
  • Theological meaning
  • Areas for growth

4) Group Education

Students learn with peers through:

  • Case studies
  • Group discussion
  • Didactic lectures
  • Peer feedback
  • Process groups

4. How Is CPE Different from Seminary or Bible School?

Seminary / Bible SchoolCPE
Classroom-basedExperience-based
Focus on knowledgeFocus on formation
Theology in theoryTheology in practice
Exams and papersVerbatims and supervision
Individual learningCommunal and reflective learning

CPE does not replace seminary education; it complements and completes it for pastoral care.

5. Who Is CPE For?

CPE is designed for:

  • Clergy and pastors
  • Chaplains and chaplain candidates
  • Seminary students
  • Faith leaders serving in institutions
  • Those discerning a call to chaplaincy or pastoral ministry

Participants usually have:

  • A graduate-level theological education (or are in progress)
  • Endorsement or support from a faith community

6. Why Is CPE Important?

CPE is important because it:

  • Forms emotionally mature caregivers
  • Prepares ministers for crisis and suffering
  • Develops ethical and professional competence
  • Trains leaders for interdisciplinary settings
  • Helps integrate faith, self, and service

Many hospitals and institutions require or strongly prefer CPE-trained chaplains.

7. CPE 4 Units Curriculum Framework

  • Total Units: 4 CPE Units
  • Total Hours: Approximately 1,600 hours
  • Each Unit: ~400 hours
    • Clinical Ministry: 250–300 hours
    • Education & Supervision: 100–150 hours

Each unit builds progressively from personal formation → professional competence → leadership and integration.

I. UNIT I – Foundations of Pastoral Identity & Presence (Level I CPE)

A. Focus

Personal formation, self-awareness, and foundational pastoral skills.

B. Learning Goals

  • Develop awareness of self as a pastoral caregiver
  • Explore personal faith, calling, and identity in ministry
  • Learn foundational spiritual care skills
  • Begin theological reflection on lived ministry

C. Core Curriculum Components

Clinical Ministry

  • Initial patient/client spiritual care visits
  • Basic crisis and grief encounters
  • Introduction to institutional systems
  • Observation of interdisciplinary care teams

Educational Topics

  • Introduction to Clinical Pastoral Education
  • Pastoral Identity and Calling
  • Listening Skills and Pastoral Presence
  • Theology of Suffering and Hope
  • Spiritual Assessment Basics
  • Boundaries, Confidentiality, and Ethics

Formation Practices

  • Verbatim writing and presentation
  • Group reflection and peer feedback
  • Individual supervision (weekly)
  • Spiritual autobiography
  • Book Review
  • Movie Review

II. UNIT II – Pastoral Skills & Theological Integration (Level I / Transition to Level II)

A. Focus

Skill development, theological integration, and emotional intelligence.

B. Learning Goals

  • Strengthen pastoral relationships and communication
  • Integrate theology with pastoral practice
  • Increase emotional and spiritual self-awareness
  • Respond effectively to complex pastoral situations

C. Core Curriculum Components

Clinical Ministry

  • Ongoing spiritual care with increased responsibility
  • End-of-life and family care encounters
  • Ethical and moral distress cases
  • Greater autonomy in ministry

Educational Topics

  • Advanced Spiritual Assessment
  • Grief, Loss, and Trauma Care
  • Cultural and Interfaith Sensitivity
  • Family Systems Theory
  • Use of Self in Pastoral Care
  • Theological Reflection Models

Formation Practices

  • Verbatim writing and presentation
  • Case studies and theological reflection papers
  • Peer process groups
  • Supervisor-led growth goals
  • Book Review
  • Movie Review

III. UNIT III – Professional Chaplaincy & Institutional Ministry (Level II CPE)

A. Focus

Professional identity, leadership, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

B. Learning Goals

  • Function confidently as a professional chaplain
  • Collaborate effectively within institutional systems
  • Exercise pastoral authority responsibly
  • Demonstrate ethical and professional maturity

C. Core Curriculum Components

Clinical Ministry

  • Independent spiritual care assignments
  • On-call or crisis response (as appropriate)
  • Interdisciplinary team participation
  • Documentation and charting

Educational Topics

  • Chaplaincy Ethics & Professional Standards
  • Institutional Dynamics and Systems Theory
  • Leadership in Spiritual Care
  • Moral Injury and Compassion Fatigue
  • Pastoral Care in Diverse Faith Contexts
  • Conflict Resolution and Boundaries

Formation Practices

  • Advanced Verbatims
  • Leadership-focused verbatims
  • Institutional case presentations
  • Mid-unit and final evaluations
  • Professional development planning
  • Professional Spiritual Accessment

IV. UNIT IV – Integration, Leadership & Vocation (Advanced Level II CPE)

A. Focus

Integration of learning, vocational clarity, and leadership readiness.

B. Learning Goals

  • Integrate faith, self-awareness, and professional practice
  • Demonstrate readiness for certification-level chaplaincy
  • Articulate a clear vocational and professional identity
  • Mentor and support others in spiritual care contexts

C. Core Curriculum Components

Clinical Ministry

  • Senior-level chaplaincy functions
  • Leadership or mentoring roles
  • Program development or project leadership
  • Advanced ethical and crisis cases

Educational Topics

  • Chaplain as Spiritual Leader
  • Vocation, Calling, and Sustainability in Ministry
  • Supervision, Mentorship, and Teaching
  • Self-Care and Spiritual Resilience
  • Global and Ecumenical Chaplaincy Perspectives
  • Certification Preparation and Professional Identity

Formation Practices

  • Advanced Verbatims
  • Capstone theological reflection paper
  • Comprehensive self-evaluation
  • Final supervisory review
  • Vocational discernment plan
  • Advanced Report
  • Clinical Practice