Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is theological and professional education for ministry. In CPE, theological students, ordained clergy, members of religious orders, and qualified laypeople minister to people in intimate and sometimes critical life situations while being supervised. Out of intense involvement with supervisors, peers, professional colleagues, and persons in need of ministry, CPE students are challenged to improve the quality of their pastoral relationships. Through pastoral practice, written case studies and verbatims, role plays, individual supervision, seminar participation, and relevant reading, students learn how to develop and sustain genuinely caring pastoral relationships. By viewing and participating in both complicated and ordinary life situations from different perspectives, students are able to gain new insights and understandings about human relationships to God and to neighbor. Theological reflection is important in CPE as pastoral people seek ways to integrate theology with life experience.

Students will receive one unit of ACPE credit for this 400-hour course. ACPE is the only pastoral education program recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.